The big picture
With Sarah's promised pregnancy approaching, Abraham again calls her his sister. Abimelech takes her into his household, and God intervenes before sexual relations occur. The repetition of chapter 12 exposes persistent fear within a life of faith.
Scripture beside the summary
Genesis · King James Version · 18Genesis 20:1-7
A warning in the night
God warns Abimelech in a dream that Sarah is married. Abimelech appeals to the integrity of his intentions, and God acknowledges that he acted without knowing the deception. Abraham is called a prophet, yet must become the means of prayer for the household endangered by his own conduct.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in…” Naming Abraham and Gerar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.” Naming Sarah and Abimelech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which…” Naming Abimelech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Genesis 20:1-7
King James Version1And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.
4But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
5Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
7Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
Genesis 20:8-13
An outsider confronts Abraham
Abimelech asks why Abraham has brought guilt upon the kingdom. Abraham explains his fear and the family relationship behind the half-truth. A technically defensible detail does not cancel the deception's effect: Sarah's marriage has been concealed.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Genesis 20:8-13
King James Version8Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
10And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
11And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.
12And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
Genesis 20:14-18
Restoration and intercession
Abimelech returns Sarah, provides gifts and offers residence in the land. Abraham prays, and the household is healed. God preserves the promise, but the chapter also gives an outsider a morally serious voice and confronts Abraham's assumptions about him.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him…” Naming Abimelech and Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.” Naming Abimelech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Genesis 20:14-18
King James Version14And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
15And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
16And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
17So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
18For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Genesis 20:1 begins with “And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.”
Where the chapter turns
Genesis 20:9 forms a natural hinge: “Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my…”
The final note
Genesis 20:18 leaves the reader with “For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Abimelech, Abraham, wife, Sarah, brother, sister help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What assumption drives Abraham's deception?
He assumes there is no fear of God in the place and that he will be killed.
How does the chapter expose that assumption?
Abimelech responds seriously to God's warning and confronts Abraham about wrongdoing.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
A person's calling does not make every action trustworthy. The title prophet in verse 7 coexists with Abraham's need to answer a justified rebuke.