Genesis 26:7

5 because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

6 So Isaac settled in Gerar.

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.”

8 When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.

9 Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.”

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.

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BSB
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.”
KJV
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.
WEB
The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “My wife”, lest, he thought, “the men of the place might kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to look at.”
ASV
And the men of the place asked him of his wife. And he said, She is my sister. For he feared to say, My wife. Lest, [said he], the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah. Because she was fair to look upon.
DARBY
And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, She is my sister; for he feared to say, my wife, [saying to himself,] Lest the men of the place slay me on account of Rebecca because she was fair in countenance.
BLB
And the men of that place asked about his wife, and he said, “She [is] my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “[She is] my wife,” lest the men of the place kill me on account of Rebekah, because she [is] beautiful of appearance.
ÅB
Og mennene der på stedet spurte ham ut om hans hustru. Da sa han: Hun er min søster. For han torde ikke si at hun var hans hustru; han tenkte: Mennene her på stedet kunne da slå meg ihjel for Rebekkas skyld, siden hun er så vakker.
OTB
Da mennene på stedet spurte om hans kone, sa han: «Hun er min søster,» for han fryktet å si: «Hun er min kone,» og tenkte: «Mennene på dette stedet kan drepe meg på grunn av Rebekka, for hun er vakker.»
B1930
Og mennene der på stedet spurte ham ut om hans hustru. Da sa han: Hun er min søster. For han torde ikke si at hun var hans hustru; han tenkte: Mennene her på stedet kunde da slå mig ihjel for Rebekkas skyld, siden hun er så vakker.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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