Genesis 20:18

Genesis 20:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.
• New International Version (NIV)for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
• New King James Version (NKJV)for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Context of Genesis 20:18

16And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, to all that are with thee, and with all other : thus she was reproved. 17So Abraham prayed to God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bore children . For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.

Genesis 20:18 word by word

כִּֽי־עָצֹ֤ר עָצַר֙ יְהוָ֔ה בְּעַ֥ד כָּל־רֶ֖חֶם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ עַל־דְּבַ֥ר שָׂרָ֖ה אֵ֥שֶׁת אַבְרָהָֽם׃ סRead the interlinear

• LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• closedעָצַר‛âtsar · to restrainH6113
• wombsרֶ֫חֶםrechem · wombH7358
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• becauseדָּבָרdâbâr · word: becauseH1697
• Sarahשָׂרָהώârâh · SarahH8283
• Abraham’sאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802

Cross-references for Genesis 20:18

• Genesis 20:7Now therefore restore to the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou shalt not restore her, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
• Genesis 12:17And the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
• Genesis 16:2And Sarai said to Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in to my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
• Genesis 30:2And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
• 1 Samuel 1:6And her adversary also provoked her greatly, to make her fret, because the LORD had closed up her womb.
• 1 Samuel 5:10Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

Commentaries on Genesis 20:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs - Probably by means of some disease with which he had smitten them, hence it is said they were healed at Abraham's intercession; and this seems necessarily to imply that they had been afflicted by some disease that rendered it impossible for them to have children till it was removed. And possibly this disease, as Dr. Dodd conjectures, had afflicted Abimelech, and by this he was withheld, Genesis 20:6, from…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 20:18

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

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• Sarah
• Sarah; Sarai
• Abraham
• Dream
• Prayer
• Restore
• Wander
• Atonement, Day of
• Close

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