Genesis 20:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

Now Avimelekh had not come near her; so he said, "Lord, will you kill even an upright nation?

Berean Standard Bible:

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

American Standard Version:

Now Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay even a righteous nation?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But Abimelech^{H40} had not come near^{H7126} her: and he said^{H559}, Lord^{H136}, wilt thou slay^{H2026} also a righteous^{H6662} nation^{H1471}?

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 20:4

**Verse Summary:**
In Genesis 20:4, Abimelech, the king of Gerar, is speaking to God after taking Sarah, who he believes to be Abraham's sister, into his harem. Upon learning that Sarah is actually Abraham's wife, Abimelech confronts Abraham about the deception. In his dialogue with God, Abimelech defends his actions, stating that he has done nothing wrong as he was unaware of Sarah's true marital status. He questions whether God would punish an entire nation for a sin they were unknowingly complicit in, appealing to a sense of justice and righteousness.

**Themes:**
1. **Integrity and Innocence:** Abimelech's plea underscores the importance of acting with integrity and the belief that one should not be punished for unintentional wrongdoing.
2. **Divine Justice:** The verse raises questions about divine justice and the expectation that God's actions should be righteous and fair.
3. **Moral Leadership:** Abimelech's concern for his nation reflects the responsibility of leaders to protect their people from harm, including divine retribution.
4. **Revelation and Truth:** The incident highlights the need for truthful communication, as Abraham's deception could have led to severe consequences for Abimelech and his people.

**Historical Context:**
This event occurs during the time of the Patriarchs, specifically when Abraham and Sarah sojourn in the land of the Philistines, which is ruled by Abimelech. The Philistines were an ancient people who inhabited the coastal areas of what is now modern-day Israel and the Gaza Strip. The narrative reflects the cultural practices of the time regarding hospitality, marriage, and the treatment of women, as well as the perceived interactions between powerful rulers and deities. It also illustrates the complex social dynamics and potential for conflict between different groups and the reliance on divine intervention for conflict resolution.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H40
   There are 1102 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: ʼĂbîymelek
   Pronunciation: ab-ee-mel'-ek
   Description: from אָב and מֶלֶךְ; father of (the) king; Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites; Abimelech.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7126
   There are 259 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרַב
   Transliteration: qârab
   Pronunciation: kaw-rab'
   Description: a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose; (cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take.
   
3. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
4. Strong's Number: H136
   There are 910 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲדֹנָי
   Transliteration: ʼĂdônây
   Pronunciation: ad-o-noy'
   Description: an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2026
   There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָרַג
   Transliteration: hârag
   Pronunciation: haw-rag'
   Description: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6662
   There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צַדִּיק
   Transliteration: tsaddîyq
   Pronunciation: tsad-deek'
   Description: from צָדַק; just; just, lawful, righteous (man).
   
7. Strong's Number: H1471
   There are 511 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גּוֹי
   Transliteration: gôwy
   Pronunciation: go'-ee
   Description: rarely (shortened) גֹּי; apparently from the same root as גֵּוָה (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts; Gentile, heathen, nation, people.