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.
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Abraham Deceives Abimelech in Gerar

1
And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. ​
2
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. ​

God Warns Abimelech in a Dream

3
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. ​
4
But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? ​
5
Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6
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. ​
7
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. ​

Abimelech Confronts Abraham

8
Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
9
Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. ​
10
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
11
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. ​
12
And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. ​
13
And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

Sarah Restored; Abraham Compensated

14
And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. ​
15
And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
16
And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved. ​

Abraham Intercedes for Abimelech

17
So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. ​
18
For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham'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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