Genesis 20:3

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

But God {H430} came {H935} to Abimelech {H40} in a dream {H2472} by night {H3915}, and said {H559} to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man {H4191}, for the woman {H802} which thou hast taken {H3947}; for she is a man's {H1167} wife {H1166}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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."

Berean Standard Bible

One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

American Standard Version

But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, because of the woman whom thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 20:3 records God's dramatic and direct intervention in a dream to Abimelech, the king of Gerar, issuing a severe warning that he is "a dead man" for having taken Sarah into his household. This divine confrontation underscores the profound sanctity of the marital covenant, God's active and vigilant protection of His chosen people and the promises made to them, and the grave consequences, even if unintended, of violating divine moral law.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This incident in Gerar immediately follows Abraham's journey to the Negev and his settling near Gerar. It strikingly echoes Abraham's earlier deception in Egypt in [Genesis 12](/genesis/12 "Genesis 12 - Abraham's Journey to Egypt") where he similarly presented Sarah as his sister to protect himself from potential harm. The repetition of this narrative motif highlights Abraham's recurring struggle with faith and fear, yet it simultaneously magnifies God's unwavering faithfulness and protective sovereignty over His covenant promises. The divine intervention in [Genesis 20:3](/genesis/20-3 "God warns Abimelech") is a direct response to Abimelech's unwitting action, preventing a catastrophic violation that would have jeopardized the lineage through which the Abrahamic covenant, particularly the promise of a son, was to be fulfilled.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the practice of a king taking a woman into his harem was common, often for political alliances or to secure an heir. Kings held significant power, and a man's fear for his life if his wife was desired by a powerful ruler was a legitimate concern, as seen in Abraham's repeated actions. However, the sanctity of marriage, though sometimes overridden by royal prerogative, was generally recognized. God's intervention here transcends typical human customs, asserting a higher divine law. Gerar was a Philistine city-state, and Abimelech, as its king, would have been seen as a powerful figure. The fact that God communicates with a pagan king through a dream, a common medium for divine revelation in the ancient world (cf. [Joseph's dreams in Genesis](/genesis/37 "Genesis 37 - Joseph's Dreams")), underscores the universality of God's sovereignty and His ability to interact with those outside the covenant community for His purposes.
* **Key Themes:** The passage contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Genesis. It powerfully reinforces the theme of **God's faithfulness to His covenant promises**, demonstrating His active preservation of Sarah, the matriarch through whom the promised seed (Isaac) would come, despite Abraham's repeated failures of faith. It also emphasizes the **sanctity of marriage** as a divinely ordained institution, demonstrating God's fierce protection of its integrity. Furthermore, it highlights the theme of **divine justice and grace**, as God, in His mercy, warns Abimelech before irreparable harm or judgment occurs, providing an opportunity for repentance and rectification, even for unwitting sin. This divine intervention also serves as a reminder of God's **sovereignty over all nations and rulers**, even those who do not explicitly acknowledge Him.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **chălôwm (Hebrew, _chălôwm'_):** From the root meaning "to dream," this word signifies a **dream**. In biblical contexts, dreams often serve as a significant medium for divine revelation, warnings, and communication, especially when God intends to convey a message directly and urgently, as seen here with Abimelech. It bypasses conventional human interaction and underscores God's ability to communicate directly with individuals, even those outside the covenant, for His specific purposes.
* **mûwth (Hebrew, _mûwth'_):** A primitive root meaning "to die" (literally or figuratively); causatively, "to kill." In the phrase "thou art but a dead man," the word signifies a state of being under divine condemnation or a sentence of death. It is not merely a future threat but a declaration that Abimelech's actions have already placed him in a perilous, life-forfeiting position. This strong declaration emphasizes the gravity of the offense and the imminent danger Abimelech faced, from which only divine intervention or immediate rectification could deliver him.
* **bâʻal (Hebrew, _bâʻal'_):** A primitive root meaning "to be master," and by extension, "to marry" or "to be husband/wife." In the context of "she is a man's wife," this word, along with its related noun _baʻal_ (husband/master), emphatically defines Sarah's marital status. It highlights the legal and covenantal bond of marriage, underscoring that Sarah is not an unattached woman but is under the authority and protection of her husband. The use of this term reinforces the inviolability of the marital covenant in God's eyes.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night,"**: This clause immediately establishes the divine initiative and the extraordinary nature of the communication. God is not a passive observer but actively intervenes in human affairs. The specific medium, "in a dream by night," highlights the direct, personal, and urgent nature of this divine revelation, often used by God to communicate warnings or guidance to individuals, including non-believers, as seen in other biblical narratives.
* **"and said to him,"**: This simple phrase introduces the direct speech of God, emphasizing the authority and clarity of the message that follows. It is a divine pronouncement, not a mere suggestion or vague impression.
* **"Behold, thou [art but] a dead man,"**: This is a powerful and shocking declaration. The Hebrew phrase (*hinnəkā mēt*) signifies that Abimelech is already under a sentence of death or in a state of being condemned. It's an emphatic statement of his perilous spiritual and physical condition due to his actions, indicating that his life is forfeit unless divine grace or immediate repentance intervenes. It conveys the absolute seriousness with which God views the impending violation.
* **"for the woman which thou hast taken;"**: This clause provides the immediate reason for the dire warning. Abimelech's action of "taking" Sarah into his household, though perhaps with honorable intentions for marriage, is the direct cause of his perilous state. This highlights the objective nature of sin against God's law, regardless of subjective intent.
* **"for she [is] a man's wife."**: This final clause provides the ultimate justification for God's judgment. Sarah's marital status is the critical factor. The phrase "a man's wife" (Hebrew: *bə‘alat ba‘al*, literally "owner of a husband") emphatically declares her established, sacred marital bond, making Abimelech's action, however unwitting, an affront to the divine institution of marriage.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. **Divine Intervention** is central, as God directly steps into the human narrative through a dream, demonstrating His active sovereignty and concern for His covenant purposes. The phrase "Behold, thou art but a dead man" functions as a stark **Hyperbole** or a strong declaration of **Divine Judgment**, emphasizing the severe consequences of Abimelech's actions. It is a powerful warning, not necessarily a literal immediate death sentence, but a declaration of a state of condemnation. The **Repetition** of the causal conjunction "for" ("for the woman... for she is a man's wife") serves to emphatically state the precise reasons for God's severe warning, building a clear logical connection between Abimelech's action and its dire consequences. This directness creates a sense of urgency and gravity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage profoundly illustrates God's active involvement in human history, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises and His zealous protection of the sacred institution of marriage. Despite Abraham's repeated failures of faith and his deceptive actions, God remains faithful, ensuring the preservation of Sarah, the matriarch through whom the promised seed would come. This highlights a crucial theological truth: God's plans are not contingent on human perfection but on His own steadfast character. The severity of the warning to Abimelech underscores the inviolability of the marital bond in God's eyes, revealing that even unwitting violations of foundational moral laws carry serious consequences, though God's grace may provide a warning and opportunity for repentance before full judgment.

* [Hebrews 13:4](/hebrews/13-4 "Marriage is to be held in honor")
* [2 Timothy 2:13](/2_timothy/2-13 "God remains faithful")
* [Proverbs 6:32-33](/proverbs/6-32-33 "Consequences of adultery")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 20:3 serves as a powerful reminder of God's vigilant sovereignty and His profound concern for moral purity, especially within the sacred covenant of marriage. For believers, this passage challenges us to cultivate an unwavering trust in God's protective hand, even when faced with fear or uncertainty, rather than resorting to deceptive or self-serving strategies that compromise our integrity. It underscores the critical importance of discerning and adhering to God's moral laws, recognizing that ignorance, while perhaps mitigating culpability, does not negate the inherent gravity of sin or its potential consequences. God's gracious warning to Abimelech also highlights His desire for repentance and restoration, inviting us to respond promptly and humbly to divine correction in our own lives, trusting in His mercy to avert judgment and guide us back to righteousness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's intervention in this passage challenge our understanding of His sovereignty in human affairs, especially when His people falter?**
* **In what ways might we, like Abraham, be tempted to compromise truth or integrity out of fear, and what does this passage teach us about trusting God instead?**
* **What does God's severe warning to Abimelech reveal about the sanctity of marriage in God's eyes, and how does this inform our view of marital fidelity today?**
* **How does God's mercy in warning Abimelech, despite his unwitting sin, encourage us to seek God's grace and repent when we recognize our own failings?**

### FAQ
**Why did God call Abimelech a "dead man" if he did not immediately die?**

Answer: The phrase "thou art but a dead man" (Hebrew: *hinnəkā mēt*) is a strong declaration of being under divine judgment or condemnation. It signifies that Abimelech's actions had already placed him in a state deserving of death, implying that his life was forfeit unless God intervened or he repented. God's warning was a merciful intervention, giving him the opportunity to avert the impending judgment by returning Sarah. It was a statement of what *would* happen if he proceeded, not necessarily what *had* already happened in a final sense. This divine warning allowed Abimelech to avoid the full, immediate consequence of his unwitting sin, demonstrating God's grace even in judgment.

**Does this passage imply that God condones Abraham's deception?**

Answer: No, the passage does not condone Abraham's deception. While God protects Sarah and His covenant promises despite Abraham's actions, Abraham's fear and deceit are not presented as righteous. The narrative implicitly critiques Abraham's lack of faith and his repeated failure to trust God fully, even after experiencing God's faithfulness in [Genesis 12](/genesis/12 "Genesis 12 - Abraham's Deception in Egypt"). Instead, God's intervention highlights His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant (as seen in [2 Timothy 2:13](/2_timothy/2-13 "God remains faithful")), even when His human partners fail, and His protection of the lineage through which the Messiah would ultimately come. God's actions are for the sake of His own promises, not an endorsement of Abraham's sin.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Genesis 20:3, with its profound emphasis on God's protection of the covenant lineage and the sanctity of marriage, powerfully foreshadows and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The preservation of Sarah, through whom the promised seed (Isaac) would come, is a testament to God's unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan, a plan that culminates in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the true "Seed of Abraham" ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Christ, the Seed of Abraham")). Christ Himself upholds and elevates the sanctity of marriage, restoring it to its original divine design and condemning adultery as a sin of the heart ([Matthew 5:28](/matthew/5-28 "Jesus on lust and adultery"), [Matthew 19:4-6](/matthew/19-4-6 "Jesus on marriage and divorce")). Furthermore, just as God mercifully intervened to warn Abimelech, offering him a path away from spiritual and physical death, Christ's coming is the ultimate act of divine intervention, offering grace and repentance to a humanity that is spiritually "dead in trespasses and sins" ([Ephesians 2:1](/ephesians/2-1 "Dead in trespasses and sins")). He is the faithful Bridegroom who protects His church, His bride ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Christ's love for the Church")), and ensures the ultimate triumph of God's covenant, delivering all who believe from the condemnation of death into eternal life.

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.

Cross-References

Matthew 27:19

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

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.

Job 33:15

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

Psalms 105:14

He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;

Genesis 28:12

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Matthew 1:20

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Jonah 3:4

And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.