Genesis 20:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Therefore, return the man's wife to him now. He is a prophet, and he will pray for you, so that you will live. But if you don't return her, know that you will certainly die - you and all who belong to you."

Berean Standard Bible:

Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”

American Standard Version:

Now therefore restore the man’s 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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Now therefore restore^{H7725} the man^{H376} his wife^{H802}; for he is a prophet^{H5030}, and he shall pray^{H6419} for thee^{H1157}, and thou shalt live^{H2421}: and if thou restore^{H7725} her not, know^{H3045} thou that thou shalt surely^{H4191} die^{H4191}, thou, and all that are thine.

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Commentary for Genesis 20:7

Genesis 20:7 is part of a narrative involving Abraham, his wife Sarah, and King Abimelech of Gerar. The historical context of this verse is set during one of Abraham and Sarah's journeys, where, out of fear for his life, Abraham tells Abimelech that Sarah is his sister, omitting the fact that she is also his wife. Consequently, Abimelech takes Sarah into his household, intending to make her his wife.

In verse 7, God communicates with Abimelech in a dream, revealing that Sarah is indeed a married woman and instructing him to return her to her husband. The themes present in this verse include divine intervention, the sanctity of marriage, and the ethical dilemma of deception. God's directive emphasizes the importance of respecting the marital bond and the gravity of the sin that Abimelech would commit by marrying another man's wife. Moreover, the verse underscores the role of a prophet—in this case, Abraham—as someone who has a special connection with God and can intercede on behalf of others.

The command to restore Sarah to Abraham carries a warning of severe consequences if ignored: death for Abimelech and all his household. This highlights the concept of divine justice and the belief that God protects the innocent and punishes wrongdoing. The verse also reflects the early stages of the covenantal relationship between God and the patriarchs, where the actions of the ancestors of Israel, like Abraham, are guided and judged by God, setting a moral and spiritual foundation for the nation of Israel.

In summary, Genesis 20:7 presents a moment of divine guidance and moral clarity, where God commands the restoration of a married couple, emphasizing the sacredness of marriage, the dangers of deceit, and the protective role of a prophet's intercession, all within the broader narrative of God's developing relationship with the ancestors of His chosen people.

*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: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
2. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
3. Strong's Number: H802
   There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִשָּׁה
   Transliteration: ʼishshâh
   Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
   Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5030
   There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָבִיא
   Transliteration: nâbîyʼ
   Pronunciation: naw-bee'
   Description: from נָבָא; a prophet or (generally) inspired man; prophecy, that prophesy, prophet.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6419
   There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּלַל
   Transliteration: pâlal
   Pronunciation: paw-lal'
   Description: a primitive root; to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray; intreat, judge(-ment), (make) pray(-er, -ing), make supplication.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1157
   There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּעַד
   Transliteration: bᵉʻad
   Pronunciation: beh-ad'
   Description: from עַד with prepositional prefix; in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc.; about, at by (means of), for, over, through, up (-on), within.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2421
   There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָיָה
   Transliteration: châyâh
   Pronunciation: khaw-yaw'
   Description: a primitive root (compare חָוָה, חָיָה); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole.
   
8. 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.
   
9. Strong's Number: H4191
   There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוּת
   Transliteration: mûwth
   Pronunciation: mooth
   Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.