Genesis 20:11

Genesis 20:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.
• New International Version (NIV)Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, 'There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.

Context of Genesis 20:11

9Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that would cause you to bring such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done!” 10Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do this thing?” Abraham replied, “Because I thought, ‘Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.’ 12What’s more, she is indeed my sister, my father’s daughter, but not my mother’s daughter. She became my wife. 13When God made me wander from my father’s house, I told her, ‘This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, “He is my brother.”’”

Genesis 20:11 word by word

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֗רְתִּי רַ֚ק אֵין־יִרְאַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֔ים בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וַהֲרָג֖וּנִי עַל־דְּבַ֥ר אִשְׁתִּֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Surelyרַקraq · exceptH7535
• the fearיִרְאָהyir'âh · fearH3374
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• not in this placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• and they will slay meהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
• for my wife’sאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• sakeדָּבָרdâbâr · word: becauseH1697

Cross-references for Genesis 20:11

• Genesis 22:12“Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.”
• Genesis 42:18On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do as I say and you will live, for I fear God.
• Nehemiah 5:15But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God.
• Job 1:1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was pure and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
• Job 28:28And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
• Psalms 14:4All those who behave wickedly do not understand – those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the Lord.
• Psalms 36:1An evil man is rebellious to the core. He does not fear God,
• Proverbs 1:7Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Proverbs 2:5then you will understand how to fear the Lord, and you will discover knowledge about God.
• Proverbs 8:13The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances.
• Proverbs 16:6Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the Lord one avoids evil.
• Romans 3:18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
• Genesis 12:12When the Egyptians see you they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will keep you alive.
• Genesis 26:7When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he replied, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” for he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me to get Rebekah because she is very beautiful.”

Commentaries on Genesis 20:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11And Abraham said - The best excuse he could make for his conduct, which in this instance is far from defensible.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-18Verses 1-18 - Abraham in Gerar 2. אבימלך .2 'ǎbı̂ymelek Abimelekh, “father of the king.” 7. נביא nābı̂y' “prophet,” he who speaks by God, of God, and to God, who declares to people not merely things future, but also things past and present, that are not obvious to the sense or the reason; related: “flow, go forth.” 13. התעוּ hı̂t‛û is plural in punctuation, agreeing grammatically with אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym ו (w), however, may be regarded as the third…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-13Verses 9-13 See here much to blame, even in the father of the faithful. Mark his distrust of God, his undue care about life, his intent to deceive. He also threw temptation in the way of others, caused affliction to them, exposed himself and Sarah to just rebukes, and yet attempted an excuse. These things are written for our warning, not for us to imitate. Even Abraham hath not whereof to glory. He cannot be justified by his works, but must be indebted…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-13Abraham's deceit was not just a brief loss of faith. Even after being scolded in Egypt, he used this strategy everywhere he traveled (compare 12:12–13). Living by faith requires perseverance.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. And Abraham said ... I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place--From the horrible vices of Sodom he seems to have taken up the impression that all other cities of Canaan were equally corrupt. There might have been few or none who feared God, but what a sad thing when men of the world show a higher sense of honor and a greater abhorrence of crimes than a true worshipper!Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 20:11

• Cowardice
• Doubting
• Ignorance
• Marriage
• Sarah

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• God
• Abraham, Abram
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Abimelech
• Dream
• Restore
• Wander
• Atonement, Day of
• Fear

Commentaries on Genesis 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings