Genesis 26:10

And Abimelech said, What [is] this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.

And Abimelech {H40} said {H559}, What is this thou hast done {H6213} unto us? one {H259} of the people {H5971} might lightly {H4592} have lien {H7901} with thy wife {H802}, and thou shouldest have brought {H935} guiltiness {H817} upon us.

Avimelekh said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!"

โ€œWhat is this you have done to us?โ€ asked Abimelech. โ€œOne of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.โ€

And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might easily have lain with thy wife, and thou wouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.

Commentary

Genesis 26:10 KJV finds King Abimelech of Gerar confronting Isaac after discovering Isaacโ€™s deception regarding his wife, Rebekah. Isaac, fearing for his life in a foreign land, had claimed Rebekah was his sister, a repetition of his father Abrahamโ€™s earlier misstep.

Context

During a famine, Isaac had moved to Gerar, a Philistine territory ruled by Abimelech. Despite God's instruction to stay in the land (Genesis 26:2), Isaac, like his father Abraham before him (Genesis 12:13 and Genesis 20:2), resorted to a half-truth (Rebekah was his cousin, but presented as a sister to avoid danger). Abimelech observes Isaac caressing Rebekah, realizing they are husband and wife, leading to this sharp rebuke. The king's concern highlights the potential for serious moral transgression within his kingdom due to Isaac's lie.

Key Themes

  • The Dangers of Deception: Isaac's fear-driven lie created a perilous situation, not just for himself and Rebekah, but for an entire populace who might unknowingly commit a grave sin. This shows how sin, even born of fear, can have far-reaching consequences.
  • Abimelech's Integrity: Ironically, in this narrative, the Philistine king demonstrates a higher moral standard than the patriarch. Abimelech is concerned about the spiritual well-being and moral purity of his people, fearing divine judgment if they were to defile a married woman.
  • Sanctity of Marriage: The verse underscores the sacredness of the marital bond. Abimelech immediately recognizes the gravity of the potential sin โ€“ for "one of the people" to "have lien with thy wife" โ€“ emphasizing the inviolability of marriage in God's eyes and even in the moral code of some pagan societies.
  • Corporate Guilt: Abimelech's statement, "thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us," points to the concept of corporate responsibility or guilt. An individual's sin could bring negative consequences or divine judgment upon an entire community, a theme seen elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Achan's sin in Joshua 7).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "guiltiness" translates the Hebrew term 'asham (ืืฉื), which signifies guilt, trespass, or an offense that incurs punishment or requires expiation. It implies a state of culpability before God or man, often leading to a need for atonement or a trespass offering. Abimelech's use of this word reflects his understanding of moral and potentially divine accountability.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful reminder for believers today:

  1. Truthfulness under Pressure: Even when facing difficult circumstances or fear, believers are called to uphold truth and integrity, trusting in God's protection rather than resorting to deception.
  2. Impact of Our Actions: Our choices, especially sinful ones, do not occur in a vacuum. They can have ripple effects, potentially leading others into sin or bringing reproach upon God's name and His people.
  3. Respect for Marriage: The sacred institution of marriage should be honored and protected, as its defilement is a serious offense in God's sight (Hebrews 13:4).
  4. God's Faithfulness Amidst Our Failures: Despite Isaac's repeated failure, God's covenant promises to him remained intact. This highlights God's enduring faithfulness even when His people falter, though our sin still carries consequences.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 20:9

    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.

  • Genesis 20:10

    And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

  • Genesis 12:18

    And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What [is] this [that] thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she [was] thy wife?

  • Genesis 12:19

    Why saidst thou, She [is] my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take [her], and go thy way.
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