New International Version

New King James Version

Abraham and Abimelek

Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar,

1

Abraham and Abimelech

And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar.

2

and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.

2

Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

3

But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”

3

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is [a]a man’s wife.”

4

Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?

4

But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also?

5

Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”

5

Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the [b]integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”

6

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know 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.

6

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 I did not let you touch her.

7

Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”

7

Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

8

Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid.

8

So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid.

9

Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.”

9

And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I [c]offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done.”

10

And Abimelek asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?”

10

Then Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you have in view, that you have done this thing?”

11

Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’

11

And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.

12

Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.

12

But indeed she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

13

And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

13

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 that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

14

Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.

14

Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him.

15

And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.”

15

And Abimelech said, “See, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.”

16

To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekelsa of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”

16

Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this [d]vindicates you before all who are with you and before everybody.” Thus she was [e]rebuked.

17

Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again,

17

So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children;

18

for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

18

for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Parallel

New International Version

New King James Version

Genesis 20

Genesis 20