Genesis 20:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

Complete Jewish Bible:

God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in doing this, your heart has been pure; and I too have kept you from sinning against me. This is why I didn't let you touch her.

Berean Standard Bible:

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.

American Standard Version:

And God said unto him in the dream, Yea, I know that in the integrity of thy heart thou hast done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And God^{H430} said^{H559} unto him in a dream^{H2472}, Yea^{H1571}, I know^{H3045} that thou didst^{H6213} this in the integrity^{H8537} of thy heart^{H3824}; for I also withheld^{H2820} thee from sinning^{H2398} against me: therefore suffered^{H5414} I thee not to touch^{H5060} her.

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Commentary for Genesis 20:6

Genesis 20:6 is part of the narrative involving Abraham (at this time called Abram) and his wife Sarah (previously Sarai) during their sojourn in Gerar. The historical context of this verse is the patriarchal narratives found in the Book of Genesis, which recount the stories of the ancestors of Israel.

Themes of Genesis 20:6:

1. **Divine Communication**: The verse begins with God communicating directly with Abimelech, the king of Gerar, through a dream. This method of divine revelation is consistent with other biblical accounts where God imparts wisdom or warning to individuals.

2. **Moral Integrity**: God acknowledges Abimelech's integrity, suggesting that the king's actions towards Sarah, though potentially adulterous, were not maliciously intended. This reflects the theme of righteousness and the importance of intention in moral evaluation.

3. **Divine Intervention**: God's statement that He prevented Abimelech from sinning against Him by not allowing him to touch Sarah underscores the theme of divine providence. God is portrayed as actively involved in human affairs, guiding events to fulfill His purposes.

4. **Protection of the Covenant**: Abraham and Sarah are central figures in God's covenantal promise to create a great nation through them. God's intervention here serves to protect the lineage through which this promise will be fulfilled.

5. **Sin and Forgiveness**: The verse implies that despite Abimelech's innocence due to his lack of knowledge about Sarah's marital status, taking her as a wife would still have been a sin against God. The theme of sin and the possibility of divine forgiveness is evident as God refrains from punishing Abimelech for his near transgression.

Historical Context:

The events in Genesis 20 occur within the broader context of the patriarchal narratives, which describe the lives of the ancestors of the Israelite people. Abraham, as the father of the nation, is a key figure in these stories. His journey to Canaan, the promises made to him by God, and his interactions with various kings and peoples set the stage for the development of Israel's identity.

This particular incident reflects the ancient Near Eastern customs and social norms regarding hospitality, the treatment of women, and the role of kings. It also highlights the delicate balance between the Israelites and their neighbors, as well as the religious and moral expectations placed upon these early ancestors of the faith. The narrative serves to reinforce the special relationship between God and the patriarchs, as well as the unique role they play in God's plan for humanity.

*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: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2472
   There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֲלוֹם
   Transliteration: chălôwm
   Pronunciation: khal-ome'
   Description: or (shortened) חֲלֹם; from חָלַם; a dream; dream(-er).
   
4. Strong's Number: H1571
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גַּם
   Transliteration: gam
   Pronunciation: gam
   Description: by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather; properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and; again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and, but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3045
   There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָדַע
   Transliteration: yâdaʻ
   Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
   Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
7. Strong's Number: H8537
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תֹּם
   Transliteration: tôm
   Pronunciation: tome
   Description: from תָּמַם; completeness; figuratively, prosperity; usually (morally) innocence; full, integrity, perfect(-ion), simplicity, upright(-ly, -ness), at a venture. See תֻּמִּים.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3824
   There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵבָב
   Transliteration: lêbâb
   Pronunciation: lay-bawb'
   Description: from לָבַב; used also like לֵב; the heart (as the most interior organ); [phrase] bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-) heart(-ed), midst, mind, [idiom] unawares, understanding.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2820
   There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָשַׂךְ
   Transliteration: châsak
   Pronunciation: khaw-sak'
   Description: a primitive root; also interchangeable with חָשַׁךְ; to restrain or (reflex.) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe; assuage, [idiom] darken, forbear, hinder, hold back, keep (back), punish, refrain, reserve, spare, withhold.
   
10. Strong's Number: H2398
    There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָטָא
    Transliteration: châṭâʼ
    Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.
    
11. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
    
12. Strong's Number: H5060
    There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָגַע
    Transliteration: nâgaʻ
    Pronunciation: naw-gah'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.); beat, ([idiom] be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch.