Genesis 20

New King James Version

Abraham and Abimelech

20 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)“Sheismy sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and^(E)took Sarah.

³ But^(F)God came to Abimelech^(G)in a dream by night, and said to him,^(H)“Indeed youarea dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for sheis^[a]a man’s wife.”

⁴ But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord,^(I)will You slay a righteous nation also?⁵ Did he not say to me, ‘Sheismy sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘Heismy brother.’^(J)In the^[b]integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”

⁶ And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For^(K)I also withheld you from sinning^(L)against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.⁷ Now therefore, restore the man’s wife;^(M)for heisa prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restoreher,^(N)know that you shall surely die, you^(O)and all whoareyours.”

⁸ So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid.⁹ And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I^[c]offended you,^(P)that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me^(Q)that ought not to be done.”¹⁰ Then Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you have in view, that you have done this thing?”

¹¹ And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely^(R)the fear of Godisnot in this place; and^(S)they will kill me on account of my wife.¹² But indeed^(T)she istruly my sister. Sheisthe daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.¹³ And it came to pass, when^(U)God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘Thisisyour kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go,^(V)say of me, “Heismy brother.” ’ ”

¹⁴ Then Abimelech^(W)took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gavethemto Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him.¹⁵ And Abimelech said, “See,^(X)my landisbefore you; dwell where it pleases you.”¹⁶ Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousandpiecesof silver;^(Y)indeed this^[d]vindicates you^(Z)before all whoarewith you and before everybody.” Thus she was^[e]rebuked.

¹⁷ So Abraham^(AA)prayed to God; and God^(AB)healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they borechildren;¹⁸ for theLord^(AC)had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.