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Genesis 20:4

Abimelech

2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

3 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.”

Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?

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.”

6 Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

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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
Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?
KJV
But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
WEB
Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?
ASV
Now Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, Lord, wilt thou slay even a righteous nation?
DARBY
But Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, Lord, wilt thou also kill a righteous nation?
BLB
And Abimelech has not come near her, and he said, “Lord, will You slay even a righteous nation?
ÅB
Men Abimelek hadde ikke kommet henne nær, og han sa: Herre, vil du da også slå rettferdige folk ihjel?
OTB
Nå hadde Abimelek ikke nærmet seg henne, og han sa: «Herre, vil du ødelegge en nasjon, selv om den er uskyldig?
B1930
Men Abimelek hadde ikke kommet henne nær, og han sa: Herre, vil du da også slå rettferdige folk ihjel?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 18:23–25

    Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

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  • 1 Chronicles 21:17

    And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house, but do not let this plague remain upon Your people.”

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 4:11

    How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!”

    Read in context

  • Genesis 20:6

    Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 19:24

    Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 20:17–18

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

    Read in context