Genesis 20:16

14 So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.

15 And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”

And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—

18 for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

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
And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”
KJV
And 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.
WEB
To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated.”
ASV
And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee. And in respect of all thou art righted.
DARBY
And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand [pieces] of silver; behold, let that be to thee a covering of the eyes, in respect of all that are with thee, and with all; and she was reproved.
BLB
And to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given a thousand [pieces] of silver to your brother; behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes, to all who [are] with you, and before all you are vindicated.”
ÅB
Og til Sara sa han: Se, her gir jeg din bror tusen sekel sølv; det skal være en sonegave for deg i alles øyne som er sammen med deg, og for alle har du nå fått oppreisning.
OTB
Til Sara sa han: «Jeg har gitt din bror tusen sjekel sølv. Dette er for å dekke enhver krenkelse mot deg foran alle som er med deg; du er fullstendig rettferdiggjort.»
B1930
Og til Sara sa han: Se, her gir jeg din bror tusen sekel sølv; det skal være en sonegave for dig i alles øine som er sammen med dig, og for alle har du nu fått opreisning.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 20:5

    Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 27:5

    Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 24:65

    and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.

    Read in context
  • Jonah 1:6

    The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

    Read in context
  • Revelation 3:19

    Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 25:12

    Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 26:11

    So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 12:1

    Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

    Read in context