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Genesis 20:3

Abimelech
Protection and safety

1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.

4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

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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
One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
KJV
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.
WEB
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man’s wife.”
ASV
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, because of the woman whom thou hast taken. For she is a man`s wife.
DARBY
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art [but] a dead man, because of the woman that thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
BLB
And God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken—and she is married to a husband.”
ÅB
Men Gud kom til Abimelek i en drøm om natten og sa til ham: Nå skal du dø for den kvinnes skyld som du har tatt; for hun er en annen manns hustru.
OTB
Men Gud kom til Abimelek i en drøm om natten og sa til ham: «Se, du er så godt som død på grunn av kvinnen du har tatt; hun er en gift kvinne.»
B1930
Men Gud kom til Abimelek i en drøm om natten og sa til ham: Nu skal du dø for den kvinnes skyld som du har tatt; for hun er en annen manns hustru.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 20:7

    Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 27:19

    When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

    Read in context

  • Job 33:15

    In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

    Read in context

  • Psalms 105:14

    He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;

    Read in context

  • Genesis 28:12

    And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 1:20

    But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

    Read in context

  • Jonah 3:4

    And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 31:24

    And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

    Read in context