Genesis 20:15
in Genesis 20And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
KJV
And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
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This verse in Genesis 20
Commentary
3 notes on this verseAnd Abimelech said, behold, my whole land is before thee,.... Instead of bidding him be gone, and sending him away in haste out of his country, as the king of Egypt did in a like case, he solicits his stay in it; and to encourage him to it, makes an offer of his whole kingdom to him, to choose which part of it he would to dwell in: dwell where it pleaseth thee; if there was anyone part of it better than another, or more convenient for him, his family and his flocks, he was welcome to it.
This site's exposition
Abimelech brought sheep and cattle
on Genesis 20:14-15
Sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants go to Abraham, and Sarah is restored to him. The older writers read the gifts as restitution, and Abimelech tells him the land is before him, to settle wherever he pleases. Gill notes the wronged king offering any part of the kingdom.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Do you see, dearly beloved, God's inventive wisdom? I mean, the man who was fearful of death and took every means to be able to avoid it, not only did avoid it but was granted as well great confidence and became immediately famous. This, you see, is the way things are with God. Not only does he deliver from distress those who make every effort to strive boldly against the onset of temptation, but also he guarantees them such serenity in this very distress that we have complete tranquillity and achieve great material prosperity. See now the attention of the king to the just man. Not only does he show his regard with so many gifts, but also he grants him the right to occupy the land. " 'Behold,' he said, 'my land is before you; settle wherever you please.' " You see, once he had learned that it was on his account and through his prayers that his life had been spared, he was anxious now to shower attention in this way on him, as a benefactor and champion, the man who was a stranger, a vagabond, one completely unknown.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
ויקח, He appeased him both with words and money, asking him for forgiveness and urging him to pray on his behalf.
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. 3 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
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ | ʾavimelekh | Abimelech | H40 → | 66 times |
| הִנֵּ֥ה | hineh | there! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| אַרְצִ֖י | ʾartzi | land my | H776 → | 2504 times |
| לְפָנֶ֑יךָ | lefaneikha | [is] <to> before you | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| בַּטּ֥וֹב | batov | in the [place] good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ | beeineikha | in view your | H5869 → | 887 times |
| שֵֽׁב׃ | shev | dwell | H3427 → | 1079 times |
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְAbimelech
ʾavimelekhH40 →66 times
הִנֵּ֥הthere!
hinehH2009 →843 times
אַרְצִ֖יland my
ʾartziH776 →2504 times
לְפָנֶ֑יךָ[is] <to> before you
lefaneikhaH6440 →2123 times
בַּטּ֥וֹבin the [place] good
batovH2896 →538 times
בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָin view your
beeineikhaH5869 →887 times
שֵֽׁב׃dwell
shevH3427 →1079 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
Genesis 34:10You may settle among us, and the land will be open to you. Live here, move about freely, and acquire your own property.”
it leads to
- Genesis 13:9
Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to…
- Genesis 42:34
But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in…
- Genesis 47:27
Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.
- Genesis 13:9
Through
Genesis 13:9Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to…
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- 1 Peter 3:8–12
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
- Genesis 34:10
You may settle among us, and the land will be open to you. Live here, move about freely, and acquire your own property.”
- Hebrews 12:14
Through
Genesis 47:6the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They may dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any talented…
it leads to
- Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
- Exodus 18:21
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Proverbs 22:29
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
This page draws on John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 45.21; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.