Genesis 12:12

KJV

Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This [is] his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians {H4713} shall see {H7200} thee, that they shall say {H559}, This is his wife {H802}: and they will kill {H2026} me, but they will save thee alive {H2421}.

Complete Jewish Bible

so that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife,’ and kill me but keep you alive.

Berean Standard Bible

and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.

American Standard Version

and it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
[Genesis 12:12](/genesis/12-12 "The KJV text of Genesis 12:12") records Abram's apprehension as he and Sarai enter Egypt, fearing that the Egyptians, captivated by Sarai's beauty, would kill him to take her. This verse reveals Abram's human vulnerability and a proposed deceptive plan, highlighting a momentary lapse in his faith in God's immediate protection despite the recent, grand promises made to him.

### CONTEXT
This verse immediately follows God's momentous call to Abram in [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1 "God's initial call and promises to Abram"). The Lord had commanded Abram to leave his country, promising to make him a great nation, bless him, and make his name great. Crucially, God also promised to bless those who blessed Abram and curse those who cursed him ([Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "God's promise of blessing and cursing in relation to Abram")). However, a severe famine in the land of Canaan forced Abram to go down to Egypt. Faced with the perceived danger of his wife Sarai's beauty, Abram anticipates that the Egyptians might kill him to appropriate her, revealing a significant moment where his trust in God's powerful and recent promises falters.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
[Genesis 12:12](/genesis/12-12 "The KJV text of Genesis 12:12") captures Abram's internal monologue and his proposed solution to a perceived threat. He anticipates a scenario where the Egyptians, upon seeing Sarai, would immediately conclude, "This is his wife," and then act violently. The Hebrew verb for "**see** (רָאָה, _ra'ah_)" implies more than just a casual glance; it suggests a recognition or observation that leads to covetous desire and subsequent action. Abram's fear of being "**killed** (הָרַג, _harag_)" reflects a genuine concern in a cultural context where powerful rulers could easily appropriate women and eliminate any perceived obstacles.

Abram's fear here is palpable and understandable from a human perspective. He faces a powerful, foreign nation, and his wife is exceptionally beautiful. However, this fear leads him to devise a plan of deception, instructing Sarai to say she is his sister. While Sarai was indeed Abram's half-sister (as revealed later in [Genesis 20:12](/genesis/20-12 "Abraham's explanation of his relationship with Sarah")), the intent behind the instruction was to conceal their marital bond, thereby protecting Abram's life at the expense of Sarai's safety and integrity. This moment stands in stark contrast to the profound faith demonstrated by Abram in obeying God's initial call to leave Haran. It highlights the ongoing struggle of even a man chosen by God to fully trust divine providence in the face of immediate danger.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **Human Fear and Mistrust:** Abram's fear for his life overrides his faith in God's divine protection, despite clear covenant promises. This highlights a common human struggle: succumbing to fear and anxiety even after receiving explicit assurances from God. It underscores the reality that faith is often a journey with peaks and valleys, not a static state.
* **The Temptation of Deception and Its Consequences:** To avoid perceived danger, Abram devises a plan involving a half-truth, which becomes a recurring motif in his life ([Genesis 20:2](/genesis/20-2 "Abraham's similar deception with Abimelech")). This reveals how fear can lead even righteous individuals to compromise moral principles, often resulting in complications and distress, as the subsequent narrative demonstrates.
* **God's Unwavering Sovereignty and Faithfulness:** Although Abram falters in his faith and resorts to deception, the narrative immediately following [Genesis 12:12](/genesis/12-12 "The KJV text of Genesis 12:12") demonstrates God's unwavering faithfulness. God intervenes to protect Abram and Sarai, ensuring that His covenant promises, particularly the promise of a great nation through Abram's lineage, remain secure despite human weakness and sin. This highlights that God's plan is not contingent upon human perfection but on His own sovereign will and grace.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a powerful reminder that even great figures of faith, like Abram, struggled with doubt and fear, leading them to devise human solutions rather than fully trusting God's provision. It challenges us to examine moments when we allow fear of circumstances to overshadow our trust in God's promises and sovereignty. Instead of devising our own solutions born of anxiety, we are called to [trust in the Lord with all our heart](/proverbs/3-5 "Proverbs 3:5 on trusting in the Lord"), leaning not on our own understanding ([Proverbs 3:5](/proverbs/3-5 "Read Proverbs 3:5 on trusting in the Lord")). While God remains faithful even when our faith falters, our choices born of fear can lead to unnecessary complications, distress, and a compromised witness.

### FAQ
**Why did Abram fear for his life despite God's recent promises?**

Answer: Abram's fear, though seemingly contradictory to the promises of [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1 "God's promises to Abram"), reveals the human struggle to reconcile divine promises with immediate, tangible threats. While God had promised to bless and curse on his behalf, Abram's focus shifted to the immediate physical danger posed by the Egyptians, leading him to rely on his own cunning rather than fully trusting in God's unseen protection. This illustrates that faith is not the absence of fear, but acting in trust despite it.

**Was Abram's plan a lie or a half-truth?**

Answer: Abram's plan was a deceptive half-truth. Sarai was indeed his half-sister ([Genesis 20:12](/genesis/20-12 "Abraham's explanation to Abimelech")), but she was also his wife. By omitting the crucial fact of their marriage, Abram intended to mislead the Egyptians to protect himself, thus engaging in a form of deception. The Bible does not condone this act but records it as a demonstration of human weakness, even in a man of faith.

**Does this incident diminish Abram's status as a 'man of faith'?**

Answer: While this incident reveals a significant lapse in Abram's faith, it does not ultimately diminish his overall status as a 'man of faith' in the biblical narrative. The Bible consistently portrays its heroes with their flaws, highlighting that their righteousness comes not from their perfection but from God's grace and their general posture of trust and obedience, despite occasional failures. This account serves to show that even great figures struggled, making their journey relatable and emphasizing God's faithfulness despite human shortcomings.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Abram's failure in [Genesis 12:12](/genesis/12-12 "The KJV text of Genesis 12:12") to fully trust God's protection and his resort to deception underscores humanity's deep need for a perfect deliverer. Abram, the patriarch through whom the promised "seed" would come, demonstrates that even the chosen instruments of God's plan are fallible. This narrative implicitly points forward to Jesus Christ, the ultimate Seed of Abraham ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Paul's teaching on the Seed in Galatians 3:16")), who perfectly trusted the Father in every circumstance, never resorting to deception or fear-driven self-preservation. Christ is the one who perfectly fulfills the ideal of faith that Abram fell short of, and through whom God's promises of blessing to all nations are truly secured, not by human cunning, but by divine faithfulness and perfect obedience.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.