New Living Translation
Genesis 20:6
6In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her.
Genesis 20:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
- New International Version (NIV)Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And 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.
Context of Genesis 20:6
4But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5Didn’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.” In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. 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.” 8Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified.
Read all of Genesis 20Genesis 20:6 word by word
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלָ֨יו הָֽאֱלֹהִ֜ים בַּחֲלֹ֗ם גַּ֣ם אָנֹכִ֤י יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ כִּ֤י בְתָם־לְבָבְךָ֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ זֹּ֔את וָאֶחְשֹׂ֧ךְ גַּם־אָנֹכִ֛י אֽוֹתְךָ֖ מֵחֲטוֹ־לִ֑י עַל־כֵּ֥ן לֹא־נְתַתִּ֖יךָ לִנְגֹּ֥עַ אֵלֶֽיהָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him in a dreamחֲלוֹםchălôm chălôm · dreamH2472
- Yeaגַּםgam · alsoH1571
- I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- that thou didstעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- this in the integrityתֹּםtôm · integrityH8537
- of thy heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
- for I also withheldחָשַׂךְchâώak · to withholdH2820
- thee from sinningחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
- against me: therefore sufferedנָתַןnâthan · to give: allowH5414
- I thee not to touchנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
Cross-references for Genesis 20:6
- Genesis 20:18For the Lord had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham’s wife, Sarah.
- Genesis 31:7but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm.
- Genesis 35:5As they set out, a terror from God spread over the people in all the towns of that area, so no one attacked Jacob’s family.
- Exodus 34:24I will drive out the other nations ahead of you and expand your territory, so no one will covet and conquer your land while you appear before the Lord your God three times each year.
- 1 Samuel 25:26“Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, since the Lord has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is.
- Psalms 84:11For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
- Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.
- Hosea 2:6“For this reason I will fence her in with thornbushes. I will block her path with a wall to make her lose her way.
- Genesis 39:9No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
- Leviticus 6:2“Suppose one of you sins against your associate and is unfaithful to the Lord. Suppose you cheat in a deal involving a security deposit, or you steal or commit fraud,
- Psalms 51:4Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
- Psalms 81:12So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.
- Genesis 3:3“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
- Genesis 26:11Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”
- 1 Corinthians 7:1Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.
Commentaries on Genesis 20:6
- 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. 6Because Abimelech acted with a clear conscience, God kept him from sinning. God will graciously help those who try to do what is right. When people act with reverence toward God, God gives them more revelation and draws them into more specific faith (see Acts 10).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 20:6
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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