Genesis 20:16

And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand [pieces] of silver: behold, he [is] to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that [are] with thee, and with all [other]: thus she was reproved.

And unto Sarah {H8283} he said {H559}, Behold, I have given {H5414} thy brother {H251} a thousand {H505} pieces of silver {H3701}: behold, he is to thee a covering {H3682} of the eyes {H5869}, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved {H3198}.

To Sarah he said, "Here, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. That will allay the suspicions of everyone who is with you. Before everyone you are cleared."

And he said to Sarah, โ€œSee, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.โ€

And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee; and in respect of all thou art righted.

Commentary

Genesis 20:16 records King Abimelech's parting words to Sarah after a significant incident involving Abraham's deception. This verse concludes the immediate resolution of a challenging situation where God intervened to protect His covenant people and their lineage.

Context

This verse follows a dramatic episode in Gerar where Abraham, fearing for his life, presented his wife Sarah as his sister (Genesis 20:2). Unaware of Sarah's true marital status, King Abimelech took her into his household. However, God intervened directly, warning Abimelech in a dream not to touch her, as she was a married woman (Genesis 20:3). After Abimelech confronted Abraham and understood the deception, he returned Sarah, along with gifts of livestock, servants, and a thousand pieces of silver given to Abraham. This particular verse addresses Sarah directly.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Vindication and Restoration: The "thousand pieces of silver" given to Abraham acted as a substantial compensation and a public declaration of Sarah's innocence and her rightful status as Abraham's wife. It served to clear her name and reputation in the eyes of Abimelech's court and household.
  • "A Covering of the Eyes": This phrase is interpreted in various ways. It most likely signifies a public vindication, meaning the gifts and the declaration served to "cover" or remove any suspicion or shame from Sarah regarding her brief stay in Abimelech's harem. It publicly affirmed her purity and marital fidelity, ensuring that her reputation was unsullied "unto all that are with thee, and with all other." It was a public statement of her honor.
  • Divine Protection: Underlying this resolution is God's unwavering protection of His covenant promises. Despite Abraham's lapse in faith and deceptive actions, God supernaturally intervened to safeguard Sarah and the lineage through which the promised seed would come (Genesis 12:3).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "covering of the eyes" (Hebrew: ื›ึฐึผืกื•ึผืช ืขึตื™ื ึทื™ึดื, kesut einayim) is unique in the Old Testament. While some have suggested it refers to a veil or a literal covering, the context strongly points to a metaphorical meaning of vindication or removal of public shame. The silver given to Abraham served as a public "proof" or "witness" that Sarah was truly a married woman and that her honor remained intact. The final phrase, "thus she was reproved," comes from the Hebrew verb ื™ึธื›ึทื— (yakach), which can mean "to correct," "to rebuke," or "to vindicate/prove right." In this context, it implies that Sarah's status was clarified and she was publicly vindicated, rather than personally rebuked for her role, though the situation arose from Abraham's lack of faith.

Practical Application

This passage reminds us that God's faithfulness often transcends human failings. Even when His people stumble or act out of fear, His divine plan and protection remain steadfast. It also underscores the importance of reputation and public honor in ancient cultures, and by extension, the value God places on truth and integrity. For believers today, it serves as a comfort that even our mistakes cannot thwart God's ultimate purposes, and He can bring about vindication and clarity even from confusing or compromising situations. It encourages us to trust in God's sovereign hand, even when circumstances seem dire.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 20:5 (4 votes)

    Said he not unto me, She [is] my sister? and she, even she herself said, He [is] my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

  • Proverbs 27:5 (4 votes)

    ยถ Open rebuke [is] better than secret love.

  • Genesis 24:65 (3 votes)

    For she [had] said unto the servant, What man [is] this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant [had] said, It [is] my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

  • Jonah 1:6 (2 votes)

    So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:3 (2 votes)

    And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they [be]: but, my lord the king, [are] they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

  • 1 Chronicles 21:6 (2 votes)

    But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

  • Proverbs 12:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof [is] brutish.