New English Translation
Genesis 20:5
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!”
Genesis 20:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
- New International Version (NIV)Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”
Context of Genesis 20:5
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.” 4Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation? Did 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. 7But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don’t give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you.”
Read all of Genesis 20Genesis 20:5 word by word
הֲלֹ֨א ה֤וּא אָֽמַר־לִי֙ אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֔וא וְהִֽיא־גַם־הִ֥וא אָֽמְרָ֖ה אָחִ֣י ה֑וּא בְּתָם־לְבָבִ֛י וּבְנִקְיֹ֥ן כַּפַּ֖י עָשִׂ֥יתִי זֹֽאת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- he not unto me, Sheהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
- my sisterאָחוֹת'âchôth · sisterH269
- evenגַּםgam · alsoH1571
- my brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
- in the integrityתֹּםtôm · integrityH8537
- of my heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
- and innocencyנִקָּיוֹןniqqâyôn niqqâyôn · innocenceH5356
- of my handsכַּףkaph · palmH3709
- have I doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
Cross-references for Genesis 20:5
- Joshua 22:22“El, God, the Lord! El, God, the Lord! He knows the truth! Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord, don’t spare us today!
- 1 Kings 9:4You must serve me with integrity and sincerity, just as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations.
- 2 Kings 20:3“Please, Lord. Remember how I have served you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion, and how I have carried out your will.” Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.
- 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you examine thoughts and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you.
- Psalms 7:8The Lord judges the nations. Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent, because I am blameless, O Exalted One!
- Psalms 25:21May integrity and godliness protect me, for I rely on you!
- Psalms 78:72David cared for them with pure motives; he led them with skill.
- Proverbs 11:3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the unfaithful destroys them.
- Proverbs 20:7The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.
- 1 Timothy 1:13even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,
- Job 33:9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.
- Psalms 24:4The one whose deeds are blameless and whose motives are pure, who does not lie, or make promises with no intention of keeping them.
- Psalms 26:6I maintain a pure lifestyle, so I can appear before your altar, O Lord,
- Psalms 73:13I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.
Commentaries on Genesis 20:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5In the integrity of my heart, etc. - Had Abimelech any other than honorable views in taking Sarah, he could not have justified himself thus to his Maker; and that these views were of the most honorable kind, God himself, to whom the appeal was made, asserts in the most direct manner, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart.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
- 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 20:5
In the dictionaries
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
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