Genesis 12:11

Genesis 12:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
• New International Version (NIV)As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.

Context of Genesis 12:11

9Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev. 10At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman. 12When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ 13So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”

Genesis 12:11 word by word

וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הִקְרִ֖יב לָב֣וֹא מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ הִנֵּה־נָ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֛י אִשָּׁ֥ה יְפַת־מַרְאֶ֖ה אָֽתְּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, whenכַּאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · as whichH834
• he was come nearקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
• to enterבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• into Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
• that he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Saraiשָׂרַיώâray · SaraiH8297
• his wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• Beholdהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• nowנָאnâ' · pleaseH4994
• I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• a fairיָפֶהyâpheh · beautifulH3303
• womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• to look uponמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758

Cross-references for Genesis 12:11

• Genesis 12:14And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty.
• Genesis 26:7When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.”
• Genesis 29:17There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face.
• Genesis 39:6So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man,
• 2 Samuel 11:2Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.
• Proverbs 21:30No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.

Commentaries on Genesis 12:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Thou art a fair woman to look upon - Widely differing in her complexion from the swarthy Egyptians, and consequently more likely to be coveted by them. It appears that Abram supposed they would not scruple to take away the life of the husband in order to have the undisturbed possession of the wife. The age of Sarai at this time is not well agreed on by commentators, some making her ninety, while others make her only sixty-five. From Genesis 17:17, we…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10-20Verses 10-20 - XXXVIII. Abram in Egypt 15. פרעה par‛oh Paroh, “ouro.” Coptic for “king,” with the masculine article pi. or p. P-ouro, “the king.” If we separate the article p. from the Hebrew form, we have רעה re‛oh for king, which may be compared with רעה ro‛eh “pastor, leader,” and the Latin rex, king. This is the common title of the Egyptian sovereigns, to which we have the personal name occasionally added, as Pharaoh-Necho, Pharaoh-Hophrah. Genesis…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-20Verses 10-20 There is no state on earth free from trials, nor any character free from blemishes. There was famine in Canaan, the glory of all lands, and unbelief, with the evils it ever brings, in Abram the father of the faithful. Perfect happiness and perfect purity dwell only in heaven. Abram, when he must for a time quit Canaan, goes to Egypt, that he might not seem to look back, and meaning to tarry there no longer than needful. There Abram dissembled…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-13Abram's scheme came from fear, putting his family and God's promises at risk. He lacked faith when he went to Egypt. He stopped building altars, and deception became the main pattern of his behavior. Deception would trouble his family throughout Genesis (26:1–11; 27:1–29; 29:15–30; 30:34–36; 31:6–11; 37:18–35; 39:7–20). Abram's plan probably followed a custom where a brother arranged his sister's marriage (compare 24:29–61). Abram may have thought that…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1311-13. Sarai's complexion, coming from a mountainous country, would be fresh and fair compared with the faces of Egyptian women which were sallow. The counsel of Abram to her was true in words, but it was a deception, intended to give an impression that she was no more than his sister. His conduct was culpable and inconsistent with his character as a servant of God: it showed a reliance on worldly policy more than a trust in the promise; and he not only…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 12:11

• Abraham
• Beauty
• Cowardice
• Egypt
• Egyptians
• Falsehood
• Ignorance
• Sarah

In the dictionaries

• Egypt
• Sarai
• Sarah; Sarai
• Egypt, Egyptian
• Abraham
• Appear
• Fair
• Grievous
• Journey
• Noah

Commentaries on Genesis 12

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings