Genesis20

Abraham journeyed to Gerar and again presented Sarah as his sister, leading King Abimelech to take her. God intervened in a dream, warning Abimelech and commanding him to return Sarah, identifying Abraham as a prophet. Abimelech complied, restoring Sarah with gifts, and Abraham prayed, leading to God healing Abimelech's household, whose wombs had been closed.

Abraham Deceives Abimelech in Gerar

1
Avraham traveled from there toward the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. While living as an alien in G'rar, ​
2
Avraham was saying of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister"; so Avimelekh king of G'rar sent and took Sarah. ​

God Warns Abimelech in a Dream

3
But God came to Avimelekh in a dream one night and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, since she is someone's wife." ​
4
Now Avimelekh had not come near her; so he said, "Lord, will you kill even an upright nation? ​
5
Didn't he himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And even she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In doing this, my heart has been pure and my hands innocent."
6
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. ​
7
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." ​

Abimelech Confronts Abraham

8
Avimelekh got up early in the morning, called all his servants and told them these things; and the men became very afraid.
9
Then Avimelekh called Avraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you to cause you to bring on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done things to me that are just not done." ​
10
Avimelekh went on, asking Avraham, "Whatever could have caused you to do such a thing?"
11
Avraham replied, "It was because I thought, 'There could not possibly be any fear of God in this place, so they will kill me in order to get my wife.' ​
12
But she actually is also my sister, the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother, and so she became my wife. ​
13
When God had me leave my father's house, I told her, 'Do me this favor: wherever we go, say about me, "He is my brother."'"

Sarah Restored; Abraham Compensated

14
Avimelekh took sheep, cattle, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Avraham; and he returned to him Sarah his wife. ​
15
Then Avimelekh said, "Look, my country lies before you; live where you like."
16
To Sarah he said, "Here, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. That will allay the suspicions of everyone who is with you. Before everyone you are cleared." ​

Abraham Intercedes for Abimelech

17
Avraham prayed to God, and God healed Avimelekh and his wife and slave-girls, so that they could have children. ​
18
For ADONAI had made every woman in Avimelekh's household infertile on account of Sarah Avraham's wife. ​

Study Notes for Genesis 20

Verse 1

Abraham moves south after the events of Sodom (Gen 19). This is the second recorded instance of Abraham attempting this deception (cf. Gen 12), showing a recurring lack of faith despite God's recent covenant promises.

Verse 2

The repetition of this scheme highlights Abraham’s ongoing spiritual immaturity and reliance on human cunning rather than trusting God’s explicit protection for the covenant line.

Verse 3

God directly intervenes to protect Sarah, the vessel of the covenant promise, and to prevent the pagan king Abimelech from committing a mortal sin unknowingly.

Verse 4

Abimelech asserts his innocence, highlighting that he acted without malicious intent. He raises the theological question of corporate punishment, asking if God would destroy a nation acting righteously out of ignorance.

Verse 6

God confirms Abimelech's 'integrity of thy heart' and stresses that He actively intervened ('I also withheld thee') to prevent the king from violating the divine moral law. This demonstrates God's sovereign control over human actions.

Verse 7

This is the first time the title 'prophet' (*navi*) is used in the Bible. A prophet is defined here as God’s representative who speaks for Him and intercedes on behalf of others.

Verse 9

Abimelech’s accusation is potent; he recognizes that Abraham, the supposed man of God, introduced a 'great sin' (a moral catastrophe) into his kingdom. The righteous pagan confronts the faithless patriarch.

Verse 11

Abraham’s justification reveals his primary fear: a lack of faith in God's protection, leading him to assume the worst about the inhabitants of Gerar and act deceptively.

Verse 12

Abraham offers a partial truth as justification. Sarah was indeed his half-sister, making the claim technically correct but still morally culpable because it was used intentionally to mislead and save his own life.

Verse 14

Abimelech acts honorably, returning Sarah and offering substantial gifts. This demonstrates his fear of the powerful God who had intervened and his desire to rectify the mistake.

Verse 16

The 'thousand pieces of silver' served as compensation and a public declaration that Sarah was fully vindicated and recognized as a married woman ('a covering of the eyes') before all witnesses.

Verse 17

Despite his recent moral failure, Abraham fulfills the prophetic role assigned to him (v. 7). God honors the prayer of intercession, demonstrating grace and restoring the relationship.

Verse 18

The closure of the wombs was the visible manifestation of divine judgment, confirming to Abimelech and his household the severity of the offense and the power of Abraham’s God.

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