Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech 1 AKJV And Abraham journeyed from there toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. BSB BSB: Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,
2 AKJV And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. BSB BSB: Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
3 AKJV But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, you are but a dead man, for the woman which you have taken; for she is a man’s wife. BSB BSB: One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
4 AKJV But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, LORD, will you slay also a righteous nation? BSB BSB: Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?
5 AKJV Said he not to me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands have I done this. BSB BSB: Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”
6 AKJV And God said to him in a dream, Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; for I also withheld you from sinning against me: therefore suffered I you not to touch her. BSB BSB: Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
7 AKJV Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for you, and you shall live: and if you restore her not, know you that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours. BSB BSB: Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
8 AKJV Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. BSB BSB: Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.
9 AKJV Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, What have you done to us? and what have I offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? you have done deeds to me that should not to be done. BSB BSB: Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
10 AKJV And Abimelech said to Abraham, What saw you, that you have done this thing? BSB BSB: Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”
11 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: 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.’
12 AKJV And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. BSB BSB: Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.
13 AKJV And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, This is your kindness which you shall show to me; at every place where we shall come, say of me, He is my brother. BSB BSB: So 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.”’”
14 AKJV And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. BSB BSB: So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.
15 AKJV And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before you: dwell where it pleases you. BSB BSB: And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”
16 AKJV And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to you a covering of the eyes, to all that are with you, and with all other: thus she was reproved. BSB BSB: And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”
17 AKJV So Abraham prayed to God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bore children. BSB BSB: Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—
18 AKJV For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife. BSB BSB: for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.