Genesis 20:11
Genesis 20:11 in Multiple Translations
Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’
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.
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.
And Abraham said, Because it seemed to me that there was no fear of God in this place, and that they might put me to death because of my wife.
“Well, I thought to myself, ‘Nobody respects God in this place. They'll kill me just to get my wife,’” Abraham replied.
Then Abraham answered, Because I thought thus, Surely the feare of God is not in this place, and they will slay me for my wiues sake.
And Abraham saith, 'Because I said, 'Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they have slain me for the sake of my wife;
Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’
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.
Abraham answered: I thought with myself, saying: Perhaps there is not the fear of God in this place: and they will kill me for the sake of my wife:
Abraham replied, “I said that because I thought, ‘They certainly do not respect God in this place. If they don’t respect God, they will not respect relationships with others. If I say she is my sister, they will try to pay me a bride price to get her. But if I say she is my wife, they will kill me to get her.’
Abraham said, “I’m sorry. I thought that nobody here respected God, so I was frightened of you mob. I reckoned that you would kill me so that you can marry Sarah.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 20:11
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Genesis 20:11 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 20:11
Study Notes — Genesis 20:11
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 20:11 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 20:11
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 20:11
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 20:11
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 20:11
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 20:11
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 20:11
- Cambridge Bible on Genesis 20:11
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 20:11
- Sermons on Genesis 20:11
Context — Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech
11Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’
12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife. 13So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 26:7 | But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.” |
| 2 | Genesis 12:12 | and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. |
| 3 | Job 28:28 | And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” |
| 4 | Genesis 22:12 | “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me. ” |
| 5 | Psalms 36:1–4 | An oracle is in my heart regarding the transgression of the wicked man: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For his eyes are too full of conceit to detect or hate his own sin. The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing. Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil. |
| 6 | Proverbs 2:5 | then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. |
| 7 | Proverbs 16:6 | By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil. |
| 8 | Nehemiah 5:15 | The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God. |
| 9 | Genesis 42:18 | and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live: |
| 10 | Romans 3:18 | “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” |
Genesis 20:11 Summary
[Abraham was afraid that the people in Gerar would hurt him because he thought they didn't care about God, as stated in Genesis 20:11. He was trying to protect himself, but he didn't trust God to take care of him. This shows that even people who love God can sometimes doubt and fear, like Abraham did. We can learn from Abraham's mistake by remembering to trust God and have faith in His promises, as encouraged in Psalm 23:4 and Proverbs 3:5-6.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Abraham think the people in Gerar would kill him?
Abraham thought the people in Gerar would kill him because he believed they had no fear of God, and he assumed they would be willing to sin by killing him to take his wife, as seen in Genesis 20:11, similar to the actions of the men in Sodom in Genesis 19:5-8.
Is Abraham's statement about the people in Gerar being without the fear of God a reflection of his own faith?
Abraham's statement in Genesis 20:11 reflects his own perception of the spiritual condition of the people in Gerar, and it may also indicate his own struggles with faith and trust in God's protection, as seen in his actions in Genesis 20:1-2.
How does Abraham's response relate to his overall character?
Abraham's response in Genesis 20:11 shows a mix of faith and fear, highlighting his humanity and the ongoing process of his spiritual growth, similar to the faith and doubt expressed by the father of the demon-possessed boy in Mark 9:24.
What can we learn from Abraham's mistake in Gerar?
We can learn from Abraham's mistake the importance of trusting in God's promises and protection, rather than relying on our own deceitful strategies, as seen in Genesis 20:11 and reinforced in Proverbs 3:5-6.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I have rationalized my own sinful actions, and how can I learn to trust God more fully?
- In what situations do I struggle with fear and doubt, and how can I apply Abraham's experiences to my own life?
- How can I cultivate a deeper fear of God in my own life, and what are the benefits of living in awe of Him?
- What are some areas where I need to trust God's sovereignty and provision, rather than relying on my own strength and strategies?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 20:11
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 20:11
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 20:11
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 20:11
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 20:11
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 20:11
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 20:11
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 20:11
Sermons on Genesis 20:11
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Genesis 20:1-18 by John Calvin | John Calvin preaches about the journey of Abraham and his encounter with Abimelech, highlighting Abraham's faith and struggles, as well as the grace and protection of God amidst hu |
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Internship Program Study Part 2 (Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology p.15 - 25) by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural and historical context in which we live, especially for those who have a hunger to know and prea |
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(Guidelines) Revelation by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing that the words of Scripture are inspired by God. He shares a story about a girl who received praise for her sin |
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Religion the Highest Wisdom, and Sin the Greatest Madness and Folly by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the importance of true wisdom, highlighting the fear of the LORD as the beginning of wisdom and the necessity of following His commandments for good un |
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Life's Most Important Fear by Theodore Epp | Theodore Epp emphasizes that the most significant fear in life is the lack of reverence for God, as highlighted in Romans 3:9-18. He explains that many people do not recognize thei |
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Proverbs 9:10 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes that the fear of the Lord is the foundational starting point for wisdom, urging believers to recognize the importance of reverential awe towards God. He disc |
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Proverbs 1:7 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes that the fear of the Lord is foundational to all true knowledge and wisdom, explaining that this fear is rooted in reverence, awe, and a proper understanding |






