Genesis 20:3-7

3 But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”

4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?

5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”

6 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.

7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”

Genesis 20:3-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 20

This chapter relates the removal of Abraham to Gerar, Ge 20:1; the king of Gerar's taking to him Sarah, whom Abraham had called his sister, Ge 20:2; who is rebuked of God for it in a dream, Ge 20:3; for which he makes an apology that is admitted, only he is ordered to restore to Abraham his wife, Ge 20:4-7; and accordingly early in the morning he called his servants, and acquainted them with what had happened, Ge 20:8; and then sent for Abraham, and expressed his resentment at his usage of him, Ge 20:9; which Abraham defended as well as he could, Ge 20:10-13; the issue of all which was, great kindness was shown to Abraham, and his wife restored to him, though with a reproof to her from the king, Ge 20:14-16; upon which Abraham prayed for the healing of Abimelech and his family, in which he was heard and answered, Ge 20:17,18.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 22:9,20
• 2. Genesis 28:12; Genesis 31:10,24; Genesis 37:5,9; Genesis 40:5; Genesis 41:1; Numbers 12:6; Deuteronomy 13:1; Job 33:15; Daniel 2:1; Daniel 4:5; Matthew 27:19
• 3. Exodus 10:7; Exodus 12:33; Psalms 105:38
• 4. ver 7; Genesis 26:11; 1 Chronicles 16:21; Psalms 105:14
• 5. S Genesis 18:25
• 6. S Genesis 12:19
• 7. S Genesis 17:1
• 8. Psalms 7:8; Psalms 25:21; Psalms 26:6; Psalms 41:12
• 9. 1 Samuel 25:26,34
• 10. S Genesis 13:13; Psalms 41:4; Psalms 51:4
• 11. Deuteronomy 18:18; Deuteronomy 34:10; 2 Kings 3:11; 2 Kings 5:3; 1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalms 105:15
• 12. ver 17; Exodus 8:8; Numbers 11:2; Numbers 12:13; 1 Samuel 7:5; 1 Kings 13:6; Job 42:8; Jeremiah 18:20; Jeremiah 37:3; Jeremiah 42:2
• 13. S ver 3; S Psalms 9:5