New King James Version
Genesis 20:5
5Did 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.”
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 Living Translation (NLT)Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”
Context of Genesis 20:5
3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? 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.” 6And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
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“The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, He knows, and let Israel itself know—if it is in rebellion, or if in treachery against the Lord, do not save us this day.
- 1 Kings 9:4Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments,
- 2 Kings 20:3“Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
- 1 Chronicles 29:17I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.
- Psalms 7:8The Lord shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me.
- Psalms 25:21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.
- Psalms 78:72So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
- Proverbs 11:3The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
- Proverbs 20:7The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
- 1 Timothy 1:13although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
- Job 33:9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
- Psalms 24:4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.
- Psalms 26:6I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
- Psalms 73:13Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence.
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries