Genesis 12:12
in Genesis 12and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
KJV
Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
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This verse in Genesis 12
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThere came a famine, and so he went to Egypt. He knew that in Egypt the dissipation of youth was widespread, characterized by lust, impudent desires and unrestrained passions. He understood that among such men the modesty of his wife would be defenseless and that her beauty would be a danger for him. So he told his wife to say that she was his sister. By this we are taught that it is not so much beauty that one should seek in a wife, for this often leads to the death of the husband.
This site's exposition
As he was about to enter Egypt
on Genesis 12:11-12
At the border Abram tells Sarai what he expects, that the Egyptians will see a beautiful woman and want her. He reads himself as the one obstacle, the husband they will kill to take the wife. The promise of verse 2 has no place in the plan.
This site's exposition
when the Egyptians see you
Henry finds this fear in Abram, a man known for faith, after the LORD had appeared to him and said the land was his. Ambrose reads it as a husband who saw that his wife's beauty would put him in danger in Egypt. Henry calls the plan a fall.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Abraham gave a human reason as human beings do. Nevertheless, because Sarah thought it was Abraham who was sterile, she was taken to the palace.
On the literal level Abraham made an intelligent compromise with the lustfulness of the Egyptians, being certain that God, who had made him leave his own country, would watch over his marriage.
The Medieval Church1 voice
And when he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife: "I know that you are a beautiful woman, and that when the Egyptians see you, they will say that you are his wife, and they will kill me and keep you …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Abram heartily espoused God's cause, and here God promiseth to interest himself in his. In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed - This was the promise that crowned all the rest, for it points at the Messiah, in whom all the promises are yea and amen. So Abram departed - He was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The counsel of Abram to her was true in words, but it was a deception, intended to give an impression that she was no more than his sister. His conduct was culpable and inconsistent with his character as a servant of God: it showed a reliance on worldly policy more than a trust in the promise; and he not only sinned himself, but tempted Sarai to sin also.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
BEHOLD NOW, I KNOW, ETC. SAY, I PRAY, THOU ART MY SISTER. I do not know why Abraham was more fearful for her now than before.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
[THOU ART MY SISTER.] Achoti (my sister) is penultimately accented. Ordinarily the accent would be placed on the last syllable.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְהָיָ֗ה | vehayah | and it will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יִרְא֤וּ | yiru | they will see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| אֹתָךְ֙ | ʾotokh | <obj.> you | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַמִּצְרִ֔ים | hamitzrim | the Egyptians | H4713 → | 70 times |
| וְאָמְר֖וּ | veameru | and they will say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ | ʾishto | [is] wife his | H802 → | 781 times |
| זֹ֑את | zot | this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| וְהָרְג֥וּ | veharegu | and they will kill | H2026 → | 167 times |
| אֹתִ֖י | ʾoti | <obj.> me | H853 → | 10935 times |
| וְאֹתָ֥ךְ | veotakh | and <obj.> you | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יְחַיּֽוּ׃ | yechaiyu | they will let live | H2421 → | 282 times |
וְהָיָ֗הand it will be
vehayahH1961 →3559 times
כִּֽי־that
ki-H3588 →4482 times
יִרְא֤וּthey will see
yiruH7200 →1300 times
אֹתָךְ֙<obj.> you
ʾotokhH853 →10935 times
הַמִּצְרִ֔יםthe Egyptians
hamitzrimH4713 →70 times
וְאָמְר֖וּand they will say
veameruH559 →5305 times
אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ[is] wife his
ʾishtoH802 →781 times
זֹ֑אתthis
zotH2063 →603 times
וְהָרְג֥וּand they will kill
vehareguH2026 →167 times
אֹתִ֖י<obj.> me
ʾotiH853 →10935 times
וְאֹתָ֥ךְand <obj.> you
veotakhH853 →10935 times
יְחַיּֽוּ׃they will let live
yechaiyuH2421 →282 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
it leads to
- Luke 12:4–5
I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
- Isaiah 8:12–13
“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.
- Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful…
- Luke 12:4–5
Through
Proverbs 29:25The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
it leads to
- Psalms 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
- Luke 12:4
I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
- Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
- Psalms 91:14
“Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him.
- Proverbs 16:20
Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
- Psalms 118:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
On this chapter
About Genesis
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, ON ABRAHAM 1.2.6; Ambrose of Milan, On Abraham; Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); Didymus the Blind, On Genesis; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON GENESIS 9:3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.