Genesis 20:18

For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

For the LORD {H3068} had fast {H6113} closed up {H6113} all the wombs {H7358} of the house {H1004} of Abimelech {H40}, because {H1697} of Sarah {H8283} Abraham's {H85} wife {H802}.

For ADONAI had made every woman in Avimelekh's household infertile on account of Sarah Avraham's wife.

for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

For Jehovah had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Commentary

Genesis 20:18 KJV reveals the divine reason behind the affliction experienced by the household of Abimelech, king of Gerar: "For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife." This verse serves as the concluding explanation for the preceding narrative, highlighting God's direct intervention to protect His covenant plan.

Context

This verse concludes the narrative found in Genesis chapter 20, where Abraham, out of fear, again presents his wife Sarah as his sister to Abimelech, the king of Gerar. This was a repeat of a similar deception in Egypt (Genesis 12:13). Unaware of Sarah's true marital status, Abimelech took her into his harem. However, God intervened dramatically, appearing to Abimelech in a dream (Genesis 20:3) to warn him of the grave danger and prevent him from committing sin against Him. Abimelech, upon learning the truth and realizing his innocence in intention, promptly restored Sarah to Abraham. The preceding verses detail Abimelech's confrontation with Abraham and the subsequent gifts and reconciliation. Verse 18 then clarifies the specific divine judgment that had already been enacted upon Abimelech's household prior to Abraham's prayer for them (Genesis 20:17), emphasizing God's protective hand over Sarah, through whom the promised heir, Isaac, was to come (Genesis 17:16).

Key Themes

  • Divine Protection of Covenant Promises: The primary theme is God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with Abraham. Sarah was crucial to the fulfillment of the promise of a great nation and a blessed lineage, so God actively intervened to ensure her purity and safety, even when Abraham failed to protect her. This demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human shortcomings.
  • Consequences of Sin (Even Unwitting): While Abimelech acted in ignorance, his actions still threatened God's plan. God's judgment, though temporary and remedied by Abraham's prayer, underscores the seriousness with which God views threats to the purity of His chosen lineage and the sanctity of marriage.
  • God's Active Involvement in Human Affairs: This account vividly portrays God as an active participant in human history, directly intervening in the lives of individuals and nations to uphold His purposes and protect His people. Psalm 105:14-15 echoes this principle.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "fast closed up all the wombs" (Hebrew: עָצַר עָצַר, 'atsar 'atsar) uses a repetition of the verb 'atsar, meaning "to shut up," "to restrain," or "to hold back." The repetition serves to intensify the meaning, indicating a complete and severe cessation of childbirth throughout Abimelech's household. This was not a minor inconvenience but a significant and widespread affliction, directly impacting the ability of the women to conceive and bear children. Such a judgment would have been deeply unsettling in a culture that highly valued offspring and fertility, underscoring the gravity of the offense against God's plan for Sarah.

Practical Application

Genesis 20:18 reminds us that God is sovereign and deeply invested in His purposes. Even when His people falter, He remains faithful to His promises. It also teaches us about the seriousness of actions that could impede God's plans, even if done in ignorance. For believers today, this verse can inspire confidence in God's ability to work all things for good, protecting His people and ensuring His will is accomplished. It calls us to trust in His providence and to live in a way that honors the sacred institutions He has established, such as marriage.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 12:17

    And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.

  • Genesis 30:2

    And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, [Am] I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

  • Genesis 20:7

    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.

  • Genesis 16:2

    And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

  • 1 Samuel 5:10

    Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

  • 1 Samuel 1:6

    And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
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