Genesis 12:11
9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
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:
12 Therefore 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.
13 Say, 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.
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
And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.
Read in contextProverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Read in contextGenesis 12:14
And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
Read in contextGenesis 29:17
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
Read in contextSong of Solomon 1:14
My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.
Read in context2 Samuel 11:2
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
Read in contextGenesis 39:6–7
And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
Read in context