Genesis 20 - English Standard Version (ESV)

Abraham and Abimelech

20 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between (A)Kadesh and Shur; and he (B)sojourned in (C)Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, (D)“She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 (E)But God came to Abimelech (F)in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, (G)“Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 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 (H)against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man's wife, (I)for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you (J)and all who are yours.”

8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, (K)‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and (L)they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, (M)she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 And when (N)God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, (O)say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

14 Then Abimelech (P)took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, (Q)my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given (R)your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is (S)a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all[a] who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” 17 Then (T)Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the Lord (U)had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 20:16 Hebrew It is a covering of eyes for all

Cross references

  1. Genesis 20:1 : ch. 16:7, 14
  2. Genesis 20:1 : ch. 26:3
  3. Genesis 20:1 : ch. 26:6
  4. Genesis 20:2 : See ch. 12:13-20; 26:7-11
  5. Genesis 20:3 : Ps. 105:14
  6. Genesis 20:3 : Job 33:15, 16; Matt. 1:20; 2:12
  7. Genesis 20:4 : ch. 18:23; [1 Chr. 21:17]
  8. Genesis 20:6 : ch. 39:9; Ps. 51:4
  9. Genesis 20:7 : 1 Sam. 7:5; Job 42:8
  10. Genesis 20:7 : [Num. 16:32, 33]
  11. Genesis 20:11 : Prov. 16:6
  12. Genesis 20:11 : ch. 12:12; 26:7
  13. Genesis 20:12 : [ch. 11:29]
  14. Genesis 20:13 : ch. 12:1
  15. Genesis 20:13 : ch. 12:13
  16. Genesis 20:14 : ch. 12:16
  17. Genesis 20:15 : ch. 13:9; 34:10
  18. Genesis 20:16 : [ver. 5]
  19. Genesis 20:16 : [ch. 24:65]
  20. Genesis 20:17 : [James 5:16]
  21. Genesis 20:18 : [ch. 12:17]

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Genesis 20 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

20 And Abraham journeyeth from thence toward the land of the south, and dwelleth between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourneth in Gerar; 2 and Abraham saith concerning Sarah his wife, `She is my sister;' and Abimelech king of Gerar sendeth and taketh Sarah. 3 And God cometh in unto Abimelech in a dream of...
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Genesis 20 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

20 Abraham went forth from thence into the land of the south, and dwelled betwixt Kadesh and Shur, and was a pilgrim in Gerar; (And Abraham went forth from there to the land of the south, and lived between Kadesh and Shur, and was a foreigner in Gerar;) 2 and (again) he said of Sarah, his wife, She ...
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Genesis 20 - World English Bible (WEB)

20 Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar. 2 Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to ...
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Genesis 20 - The Voice (VOICE)

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Genesis 20 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Sarah Renewed20 Then Abraham journeyed from there to the land of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was dwelling as an outsider in Gerar, 2 Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a ...
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Genesis 20 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Abraham and Sarah at Gerar20 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abim′elech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abim′elech in a d...
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Genesis 20 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Abraham and Sarah at Gerar20 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abim′elech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abim′elech in a d...
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Genesis 20 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Abraham and Sarah at Gerar20 From there Abraham journeyed towards the region of the Negeb, and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While residing in Gerar as an alien, 2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, ‘She is my sister.’ And King Abimelech of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in...
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Genesis 20 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Abraham and Sarah at Gerar20 From there Abraham journeyed toward the region of the Negeb and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While residing in Gerar as an alien,(A)2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” And King Abimelech of Gerar sent and took Sarah.(B)3 But God came to Abimelech in...
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Genesis 20 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Abraham Deceives Abimelech20 Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, 2 Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her br...
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Genesis 20 - New Life Version (NLV)

Abraham and Abimelech20 Abraham traveled from there to the land of the Negev, and made his home between Kadesh and Shur. Then he lived for a time in Gerar. 2 Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her for his wife. 3 But God came t...
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Genesis 20 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Abraham and Abimelech20 And Abraham journeyed from (A)there to the South, and dwelt between (B)Kadesh and Shur, and (C)stayed in Gerar. 2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, (D)“She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and (E)took Sarah. 3 But (F)God came to Abimelech (G)in a dream by ni...
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Genesis 20 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Abraham and Abimelek20 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, ‘She is my sister.’ Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. 3 But God came to Abimelek ...
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Genesis 20 - New International Version (NIV)

Abraham and Abimelek(A)20 Now Abraham moved on from there(B) into the region of the Negev(C) and lived between Kadesh(D) and Shur.(E) For a while(F) he stayed in Gerar,(G) 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.(H)” Then Abimelek(I) king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.(J...
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Genesis 20 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Abraham and Abimelek20 Abraham moved south into the Negev Desert. He lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar. 2 There Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She’s my sister.” Then Abimelek, the king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. 3 So God appeared to Abimelek in a dream o...
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Genesis 20 - New English Translation (NET)

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