Genesis 12 · Abraham and Sarah

Called to become a blessing

God calls Abram to leave familiar securities for a land he will show him. The promises concern descendants, a name, land and blessing for others. Abram obeys, but famine soon exposes fear and places Sarai at risk.

The biblical text

Genesis 12

King James Version

1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

6And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

7And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

8And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

14And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

15The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

16And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

17And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.

18And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

19Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

Original study notes

Understand the passage

Genesis 12:1-9

Promise and departure

At 75 Abram leaves Haran with Sarai, Lot and their household. At Shechem, God promises the land to his offspring, though Canaanites already inhabit it. Abram builds altars and travels through the land. His worship marks dependence before he possesses what is promised.

Genesis 12:10-16

Fear in Egypt

Famine drives Abram to Egypt. Fearing death because of Sarai's beauty, he asks her to identify herself as his sister. The scheme protects and enriches him while exposing her to Pharaoh's household. The story does not present every act of the chosen ancestor as exemplary.

Genesis 12:17-20

A rebuke from outside

The Lord afflicts Pharaoh's household, and Pharaoh confronts Abram about the deception. Sarai is returned and the household departs. Divine protection sustains the promise, but Abram's conduct brings danger to the people through whom he was called to bring blessing.

Read carefully

The promise is not a formula guaranteeing wealth or easy travel to every believer. Abram immediately encounters famine, uncertainty and his own moral failure.

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Discuss and reflect

1. Who is meant to benefit from Abram's call?

Show answer guidance

All families of the earth, according to verse 3. Election carries an outward purpose.

2. How does the Egypt episode complicate a hero story?

Show answer guidance

Abram acts from fear, while Pharaoh recognizes and challenges the wrong done.

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Read these passages in context. Notice what they repeat, develop or clarify.

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