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.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again,
• 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;

Context of Genesis 20:17

15Then Abimelech said, “Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.” 16And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.” Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children. 18For the Lord had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with 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 woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”
• Genesis 29:31When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive.
• 1 Samuel 5:11The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.” For the deadly plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town.
• Ezra 6:10Then they will be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the welfare of the king and his sons.
• Job 42:9So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
• Proverbs 15:8The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright.
• Isaiah 45:11This is what the Lord says— the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?
• Matthew 7:7“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
• Matthew 21:22You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
• Acts 3:24“Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today.
• Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:25Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.
• James 5:16Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

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