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Genesis 20:11

Abraham
Fear

9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”

10 Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’

12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.

13 So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

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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
Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’
KJV
And 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.
WEB
Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’
ASV
And 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.
DARBY
And Abraham said, Because I said, Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will kill me for my wife's sake.
BLB
And Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God [is] not in this place, and they will kill me on account of my wife.’
ÅB
Da sa Abraham: Jeg tenkte: Det er visst ingen gudsfrykt på dette sted, og de vil slå meg ihjel for min hustrus skyld.
OTB
Abraham svarte: «Jeg tenkte, det er sikkert ingen gudsfrykt på dette stedet, og de vil drepe meg på grunn av min kone.
B1930
Da sa Abraham: Jeg tenkte: Det er visst ingen gudsfrykt på dette sted, og de vil slå mig ihjel for min hustrus skyld.

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.”

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  • Genesis 12:12

    and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.

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  • Psalms 36:1–4

    An oracle is in my heart regarding the transgression of the wicked man: There is no fear of God before his eyes.

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  • Proverbs 2:5

    then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.

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  • Genesis 42:18

    and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:

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  • Proverbs 16:6

    By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

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  • Job 28:28

    And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

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  • Nehemiah 5:15

    The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God.

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