Genesis 26:9

KJV

And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she [is] thy wife: and how saidst thou, She [is] my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Abimelech {H40} called {H7121} Isaac {H3327}, and said {H559}, Behold, of a surety {H389} she is thy wife {H802}: and how saidst {H559} thou, She is my sister {H269}? And Isaac {H3327} said {H559} unto him, Because I said {H559}, Lest I die {H4191} for her.

Complete Jewish Bible

Avimelekh summoned Yitz'chak and said, "So she is your wife, after all! How come you said, 'She is my sister'?" Yitz'chak responded, "Because I thought, 'I could get killed because of her.'"

Berean Standard Bible

Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.”

American Standard Version

And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die because of her.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 26:9 records King Abimelech's confrontation with Isaac after discovering Rebekah is Isaac's wife, not his sister. Isaac's fear-driven deception, mirroring his father Abraham's past actions, is exposed, highlighting the king's righteous indignation over the potential moral compromise Isaac's lie could have caused his kingdom, and revealing Isaac's vulnerable human tendency to prioritize self-preservation over trust in divine protection.

### CONTEXT
Genesis 26 narrates a period in Isaac's life marked by famine, prompting his relocation to Gerar, a Philistine city ruled by King Abimelech. Fearing for his life due to Rebekah's beauty, Isaac falsely claimed she was his sister, echoing a recurring pattern of deception seen in his father Abraham. This verse captures the critical moment when Abimelech, having observed Isaac's intimate behavior with Rebekah, confronts him, exposing the lie and the moral peril it posed to the Philistine people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
In [Genesis 26:9](/genesis/26-9 "King Abimelech confronts Isaac about Rebekah"), King Abimelech directly confronts Isaac, having discovered the truth about Rebekah's identity. The King's words convey a mixture of shock, indignation, and perhaps a sense of betrayal, as Isaac's deception could have led to serious moral transgression within his kingdom.

* **"And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she [is] thy wife: and how saidst thou, She [is] my sister?"** Abimelech's opening phrase, "Behold, of a surety" (Hebrew: אָכֵן, *'akhen*), signifies absolute certainty and conviction. It means "surely," "indeed," or "truly," emphasizing that the king possessed undeniable proof of Isaac and Rebekah's marital relationship, rendering Isaac's prior claim unequivocally false. This strong affirmation underscores the depth of Abimelech's discovery, likely after observing Isaac's intimate behavior with Rebekah as noted in [Genesis 26:8](/genesis/26-8 "Isaac caressing Rebekah"). The rhetorical question, "how saidst thou, She [is] my sister?" expresses Abimelech's astonishment and condemnation of Isaac's blatant lie. It highlights the moral gravity of the deception, as it could have led an innocent Philistine man to unknowingly commit adultery, bringing guilt upon the entire kingdom.
* **"And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her."** Isaac's response is a stark admission of his fear-driven motivation. He offers no apology or elaborate justification, simply stating his underlying terror that his life would be threatened if his wife's beauty was recognized. This reveals a profound lack of faith in God's protection, despite the [divine promises God had just reiterated to him](/genesis/26-3 "God's covenant promise to Isaac") in Gerar. This incident strikingly mirrors [Abraham's earlier deceptions concerning Sarah](/genesis/12-13 "Abraham's similar deception in Egypt") in Egypt and Gerar ([Genesis 20:2](/genesis/20-2 "Abraham's deception concerning Sarah in Gerar")), suggesting a generational pattern of fear and a struggle to fully trust God amidst perceived threats.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **The Recurrence of Fear and Deception:** Isaac's lie mirrors the actions of his father, Abraham, highlighting a recurring human struggle to trust God's protection over self-preservation, even among those chosen by God.
* **God's Providence Despite Human Failure:** Despite Isaac's lack of faith and deceptive act, God's covenant promises to him remained secure. Abimelech's discovery of the truth, seemingly by chance, prevented a potentially grave sin and protected Rebekah, demonstrating God's sovereign oversight even when His people stumble.
* **Consequences of Dishonesty:** Abimelech's sharp rebuke underscores the moral implications of Isaac's lie. Deception not only compromises personal integrity but can also endanger others and create moral dilemmas for those around them, illustrating the principle found in [Proverbs 12:22](/proverbs/12-22 "Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD"): "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight."
* **The Imperfection of God's Chosen:** The biblical narrative does not shy away from depicting the flaws and failures of its heroes, reminding us that even patriarchs like Isaac were imperfect individuals who struggled with sin, yet remained recipients of God's grace and covenant faithfulness.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This passage serves as a poignant reminder that even individuals of great faith can falter under pressure and succumb to fear. Isaac, an heir of God's promises, compromised his integrity, demonstrating that our actions, even when driven by perceived threats, have consequences that can impact others and dishonor God. His experience calls us to cultivate a deeper trust in God's unfailing protection, choosing truthfulness and integrity over self-preservation. It encourages us to learn from the vulnerabilities of biblical figures, recognizing our own capacity for fear-driven choices, and to seek God's grace for forgiveness and strength to walk in unwavering faith and honesty, building trust and honoring His name.

### FAQ
**Why did Isaac lie about Rebekah, given God's promises to him?**

Answer: Isaac's lie stemmed from profound fear for his life, believing that his beauty would lead others to kill him to take his wife. Despite God's recent reaffirmation of His covenant promises to Isaac in [Genesis 26:3](/genesis/26-3 "God's promises to Isaac in Gerar"), Isaac's human frailty and lack of immediate faith in God's protection led him to resort to deception, mirroring a similar pattern seen in his father Abraham. This highlights the ongoing human struggle to fully trust God even when His promises are clear.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaac's deception reveals human weakness and a failure of faith, the narrative ultimately points to God's unwavering faithfulness and sovereign protection, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Unlike Isaac, who resorted to lies out of fear, Jesus Christ is the embodiment of truth and integrity, never compromising truth for self-preservation. He is the faithful Son who perfectly trusted His Father, even unto death on the cross, thereby securing true safety and eternal life for all who trust in Him. The repeated need for divine intervention to protect the patriarchal line, despite their flaws, foreshadows the perfect, sinless Seed through whom all nations would truly be blessed, demonstrating that God's plan of salvation does not depend on human perfection but on His own steadfast love and the perfect obedience of His Son.

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.