Genesis 20:4

Genesis 20:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
• New International Version (NIV)Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, "Lord, will you kill an innocent people?
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also?

Context of Genesis 20:4

2Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. 3But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife.” Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation? 5Did Abraham not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!” 6Then in the dream God replied to him, “Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience. That is why I have kept you from sinning against me and why I did not allow you to touch her.

Genesis 20:4 word by word

וַאֲבִימֶ֕לֶךְ לֹ֥א קָרַ֖ב אֵלֶ֑יהָ וַיֹּאמַ֕ר אֲדֹנָ֕י הֲג֥וֹי גַּם־צַדִּ֖יק תַּהֲרֹֽג׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• had not come nearקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
• her: and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• wilt thou slayהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
• also a righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• nationגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471

Cross-references for Genesis 20:4

• Genesis 20:6Then in the dream God replied to him, “Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience. That is why I have kept you from sinning against me and why I did not allow you to touch her.
• Genesis 20:17Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, as well as his wife and female slaves so that they were able to have children.
• Genesis 18:23Abraham approached and said, “Will you sweep away the godly along with the wicked?
• Genesis 19:24Then the Lord rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah. It was sent down from the sky by the Lord.
• 2 Samuel 4:11Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth?”
• 1 Chronicles 21:17David said to God, “Was I not the one who decided to number the army? I am the one who sinned and committed this awful deed! As for these sheep – what have they done? O Lord my God, attack me and my family, but remove the plague from your people!”

Commentaries on Genesis 20:4

• 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
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Abimelech was innocent (20:6). He knew of no wrong he had done. But he was close to committing adultery. Not knowing the truth does not remove guilt (Leviticus 4:13–14). would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?: Abimelech's plea to God echoes Abraham's earlier words (compare 18:23–32). It shows Abraham's lack of faith at this time.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-181. Abraham journeyed from thence ... and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur--Leaving the encampment, he migrated to the southern border of Canaan. In the neighborhood of Gerar was a very rich and well-watered pasture land.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 20:4

• Condescension of God
• Cowardice
• Heathen
• Ignorance
• Nation
• Sarah

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• Abraham
• Dream
• Restore
• Wander
• Atonement, Day of
• Genesis
• Gerar
• Leviticus
• Philistines

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