The Holy Bible · Genesis

Genesis 20

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1Abraham moved from there to the southern land and settled between Kadesh and Shur. He sojourned in Gerar.

2Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” lest the men of the city kill him because of her. Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

3God came to Abimelech in sleep at night and said, “You are dying because of the woman you have taken, for she has lived with a husband.”

4Abimelech had not touched her. He said, “Lord, will You destroy a nation that is ignorant and righteous?

5Did he not tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she told me, ‘He is my brother.’ With a pure heart and righteous hands I did this.”

6God said to him in sleep, “I too knew that you did this with a pure heart. I spared you so that you would not sin against Me; therefore I did not allow you to touch her.

7Now return the wife to the man, for he is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you shall live. If you do not return her, know that you will die, you and all that is yours.”

8Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and spoke all these words in their hearing. All the men were very afraid.

9Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? Have we sinned against you, that you have brought great sin upon me and my kingdom? You have done to me a deed that no one would do.”

10Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see that led you to do this?”

11Abraham said, “I thought, ‘Surely there is no reverence for God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’

12For she truly is my sister on my father's side but not my mother's, and she became my wife.

13When God brought me out of my father's house, I said to her, ‘This is the righteousness you shall do for me: wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

14Abimelech took one thousand didrachms, sheep, calves, male slaves, and female slaves and gave them to Abraham. He returned his wife Sarah to him.

15Abimelech said to Abraham, “My land is before you; settle wherever pleases you.”

16To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your brother one thousand didrachms. These shall be for the honor of your face and for all the women with you. Speak the truth in everything.”

17Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his slave women, and they bore children.

18For the Lord had completely closed every womb from outside in Abimelech's household because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

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Read this chapter with the Hebrew and Greek compared →

Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · working draft awaiting specialist review.