Genesis 20:17

Genesis 20:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children;
• New Living Translation (NLT)Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children.

Context of Genesis 20:17

15And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.” 16To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.” Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, 18for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

Genesis 20:17 word by word

וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיִּרְפָּ֨א אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־אֲבִימֶ֧לֶךְ וְאֶת־אִשְׁתּ֛וֹ וְאַמְהֹתָ֖יו וַיֵּלֵֽדוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• So Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• prayedפָּלַלpâlal · to prayH6419
• unto Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• healedרָפָאrâphâ' râphâh · to healH7495
• Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• and his wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• and his maidservantsאָמָה'âmâh · maidservantH519
• and they bareיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205

Cross-references for Genesis 20:17

• Genesis 20:7Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”
• Genesis 29:31When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless.
• 1 Samuel 5:11So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it.
• Ezra 6:10so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.
• Job 42:9So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
• Proverbs 15:8The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
• Isaiah 45:11“This is what the Lord says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?
• Matthew 7:7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
• Matthew 21:22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
• Acts 3:24“Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days.
• Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:25Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
• James 5:16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Commentaries on Genesis 20:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17So Abraham prayed - This was the prime office of the נביא nabi ; see Genesis 20:7.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. 14-18Verses 14-18 We often trouble ourselves, and even are led into temptation and sin, by groundless suspicions; and find the fear of God where we expected it not. Agreements to deceive generally end in shame and sorrow; and restraints from sin, though by suffering, should be thankfully acknowledged. Though the Lord rebuke, yet he will pardon and deliver his people, and he will give them favour in the sight of those with whom they sojourn; and overrule their…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18The inability to have children suggests that some time had passed. God controls births. He decides when women can have children (25:21; 29:31; 30:2, 17, 22–23; 1 Samuel 1:19–20; Psalms 113:9; 127:3; Luke 1:13).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 20:17

• Barrenness
• Good for Evil
• Ignorance
• Intercession
• Miracles
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

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

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