Genesis 12:11
9 And Abram journeyed on toward the Negev.
10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,
12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.
13 Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,
- KJV
- And 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:
- WEB
- When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at.
- ASV
- And 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:
- DARBY
- And it came to pass when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a woman fair to look upon.
- BLB
- And it came to pass when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Behold now, I know that you [are] a woman beautiful in appearance.
- ÅB
- Og da han ikke hadde langt igjen til Egypt, sa han til Sarai, sin hustru: Jeg vet jo at du er en vakker kvinne.
- OTB
- Da han nærmet seg Egypt, sa han til sin kone Sarai: «Jeg vet at du er en vakker kvinne.
- B1930
- Og da han ikke hadde langt igjen til Egypten, sa han til Sarai, sin hustru: Jeg vet jo at du er en vakker kvinne.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 26:7
But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.”
Read in contextProverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
Read in contextGenesis 12:14
So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
Read in contextGenesis 29:17
Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
Read in contextSong of Solomon 1:14
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi.
Read in context2 Samuel 11:2
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.
Read in contextGenesis 39:6–7
So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
Read in context