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Genesis 20:14

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¶ And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave [them] unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

And Abimelech {H40} took {H3947} sheep {H6629}, and oxen {H1241}, and menservants {H5650}, and womenservants {H8198}, and gave {H5414} them unto Abraham {H85}, and restored {H7725} him Sarah {H8283} his wife {H802}.

Avimelekh took sheep, cattle, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Avraham; and he returned to him Sarah his wife.

So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.

And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and men-servants and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

Commentary

Commentary on Genesis 20:14 (KJV)

Genesis 20:14 describes Abimelech's actions of restitution and reconciliation towards Abraham after discovering Abraham's deception regarding Sarah. This verse highlights the integrity of Abimelech, king of Gerar, and God's protective hand over His covenant people.

Context

This verse is situated in a narrative where Abraham, fearing for his life in a foreign land, tells Abimelech that Sarah is his sister (she was indeed his half-sister, but he omitted the crucial detail of her being his wife). This act of deception was a repeat of an earlier incident in Egypt, which can be found in Genesis 12:10-20. God intervened directly in a dream to Abimelech, preventing him from touching Sarah and revealing the truth, as detailed in Genesis 20:3-7. Abimelech, a righteous pagan king in this account, confronts Abraham and then takes steps to rectify the situation, ensuring no harm came to Sarah and offering a generous compensation to Abraham.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Protection: Even when His chosen servants falter in faith and resort to deception, God remains faithful to His covenant promises and protects those through whom His plan will unfold. Sarah, the mother of the promised heir, was divinely preserved from defilement.
  • Integrity and Restitution: Abimelech's actions demonstrate remarkable integrity. He not only refrains from harming Sarah but also makes significant restitution by giving Abraham sheep, oxen, and servants. This act of giving and restoring Sarah underscores his desire to rectify the wrong and maintain peace, even though Abraham was the one who initiated the deception.
  • Consequences of Deception: Abraham's fear-driven deceit caused distress and potential peril for Sarah, and it put Abimelech in a difficult, potentially sinful, position. This narrative serves as a reminder that even believers can stumble, and their actions can have far-reaching consequences.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "restored" translates the Hebrew verb shuv (שׁוּב), which means "to turn back," "to return," or "to restore." In this context, it powerfully signifies Abimelech's act of returning Sarah to her rightful place as Abraham's wife, acknowledging her true status and correcting the misunderstanding. It emphasizes the complete reversal of the situation and the proper alignment of relationships.

Practical Application

This verse offers several valuable lessons for believers today:

  • God's Faithfulness Amidst Human Failure: We are reminded that God's plan and promises are not dependent on our perfect performance but on His unchanging character. He can protect us and work through our imperfections.
  • The Importance of Truthfulness: Abraham's deception, despite his good intentions (to save his life), led to complications. The narrative highlights the wisdom of speaking truth and trusting God fully.
  • Making Amends: Abimelech's response provides a model for making amends when a wrong has occurred. His generous gifts and the restoration of Sarah demonstrate a commitment to justice and reconciliation, even when he was the wronged party by Abraham's lie.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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 12:16 (5 votes)

    And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

  • Genesis 20:11 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Genesis 20:2 (2 votes)

    And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She [is] my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

  • Genesis 20:7 (2 votes)

    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 12:19 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Genesis 12:20 (2 votes)

    And Pharaoh commanded [his] men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.