Genesis 20 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Abraham’s Treachery

20 Now Abraham journeyed from (A)there toward the land of (B)the [a]Negev, and [b]settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he lived for a time in (C)Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “(D)She is my sister.” So (E)Abimelech king of Gerar sent men and took Sarah. 3 (F)But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, (G)you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is [c]married.” 4 Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, (H)will You kill a nation, even though [d]blameless? 5 Did he himself not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she (I)herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In (J)the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my [e]hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also [f](K)kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for (L)he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours.”

8 So Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants, and told all these things in their [g]presence; and the people were greatly frightened. 9 (M)Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And [h]how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom (N)a great sin? You have done to me [i]things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you [j]encountered, that you have done this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no (O)fear of God in this place, and (P)they will kill me because of my wife. 12 Besides, she actually is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife; 13 and it came about, when (Q)God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is [k]the kindness which you will show to me: [l]everywhere we go, (R)say of me, “He is my brother.”’” 14 (S)Abimelech then took sheep and oxen and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him. 15 Abimelech said, “(T)Behold, my land is before you; [m]settle wherever [n]you please.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your (U)brother a thousand pieces of silver. [o]It is [p]your vindication before all who are with you, and before everyone you are cleared.” 17 Then (V)Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves, so that they gave birth to children. 18 (W)For the Lord had completely closed all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 20:1 I.e., South country
  2. Genesis 20:1 Lit dwelt
  3. Genesis 20:3 Lit married to a husband
  4. Genesis 20:4 Lit righteous
  5. Genesis 20:5 Lit palms
  6. Genesis 20:6 Lit restrained
  7. Genesis 20:8 Lit ears
  8. Genesis 20:9 Lit what
  9. Genesis 20:9 Lit deeds
  10. Genesis 20:10 Lit seen
  11. Genesis 20:13 Lit your
  12. Genesis 20:13 Lit at every place where
  13. Genesis 20:15 Lit dwell
  14. Genesis 20:15 Lit it is good in your sight
  15. Genesis 20:16 Lit Behold, it is
  16. Genesis 20:16 Lit for you a covering of the eyes

Cross references

  1. Genesis 20:1 : Gen 18:1
  2. Genesis 20:1 : Gen 12:9
  3. Genesis 20:1 : Gen 26:1, 6
  4. Genesis 20:2 : Gen 12:11-13; 20:12; 26:7
  5. Genesis 20:2 : Gen 12:15
  6. Genesis 20:3 : Gen 12:17, 18
  7. Genesis 20:3 : Gen 20:7
  8. Genesis 20:4 : Gen 18:23-25
  9. Genesis 20:5 : Gen 20:13
  10. Genesis 20:5 : 1 Kin 9:4; Ps 7:8; 26:6
  11. Genesis 20:6 : 1 Sam 25:26, 34
  12. Genesis 20:7 : 1 Sam 7:5; 2 Kin 5:11; Job 42:8
  13. Genesis 20:9 : Gen 12:18
  14. Genesis 20:9 : Gen 39:9
  15. Genesis 20:11 : Neh 5:15; Prov 16:6
  16. Genesis 20:11 : Gen 12:12; 26:7
  17. Genesis 20:13 : Gen 12:1-9
  18. Genesis 20:13 : Gen 12:13; 20:5
  19. Genesis 20:14 : Gen 12:16
  20. Genesis 20:15 : Gen 13:9; 34:10; 47:6
  21. Genesis 20:16 : Gen 20:5
  22. Genesis 20:17 : Num 12:13; 21:7; James 5:16
  23. Genesis 20:18 : Gen 12:17

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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)

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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 - 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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