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Genesis 20:5

in Genesis 20

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.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Said he not himself unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this.

KJV

Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

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This verse in Genesis 20

Commentary

4 notes on this verse

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

HOMILIES ON GENESIS 6.2 · Written before 253.

But let us see what Abimelech said to the Lord. "You know, Lord," the text says, "that I have done this with a pure heart." This Abimelech acts very differently from Pharaoh. He is not so ignorant and vile but knows that he ought to prepare a "pure heart" for virtue. And because he wished to receive virtue with a pure heart, therefore God heals him when Abraham prays for him. And God heals not only Abimelech but also his handmaids.

This site's exposition

You are as good as dead

on Genesis 20:3-5

This is the first dream in Genesis, and it comes to a pagan king. Abimelech answers God with the plea Abraham had made over Sodom, that God would spare a nation which is innocent, and the plea is allowed to stand. Clarke sees knowledge of the true God outside Abraham's household.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Said he not unto me, she is my sister?....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

In the integrity of my heart, etc. - Had Abimelech any other than honorable views in taking Sarah, he could not have justified himself thus to his Maker; and that these views were of the most honorable kind, God himself, to whom the appeal was made, asserts in the most direct manner, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart.

The words behind it

18 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • הֲלֹ֨א¿ not

    halo'H3808 →5168 times

  • ה֤וּאhe

    hu'H1931 →1879 times

  • אָֽמַר־did he say

    ʾamar-H559 →5305 times

  • לִי֙to <the> me

    li

  • אֲחֹ֣תִי[is] sister my

    ʾachotiH269 →114 times

  • הִ֔ואshe

    hi'H1931 →1879 times

  • וְהִֽיא־and she

    vehi'-H1931 →1879 times

  • גַם־also

    gam-H1571 →769 times

  • הִ֥ואshe

    hi'H1931 →1879 times

  • אָֽמְרָ֖הshe said

    ʾamerahH559 →5305 times

  • אָחִ֣י[is] brother my

    ʾachiH251 →630 times

  • ה֑וּאhe

    hu'H1931 →1879 times

  • בְּתָם־in [the] integrity of

    betom-H8537 →

  • לְבָבִ֛יheart my

    levaviH3824 →252 times

  • וּבְנִקְיֹ֥ןand in [the] innocence of

    uvenikyonH5356 →

  • כַּפַּ֖יhands my

    kapaiH3709 →192 times

  • עָשִׂ֥יתִיI have done

    ʾasitiH6213 →2628 times

  • זֹֽאת׃this

    zotH2063 →603 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Philippians 1:10so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,6 worksJob 17:9Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.5 worksRomans 2:15So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them4 worksGenesis 20:16And 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.”4 worksGenesis 12:13Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”4 worksPsalms 7:8The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity.3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Kings 9:4And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and uprightness, doing all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances,3 works1 Timothy 1:13I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.2 worksDaniel 6:22My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”2 worksJob 33:9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.2 worksProverbs 11:3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.2 worksPsalms 24:4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.2 works1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.2 works2 Corinthians 1:12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.2 works1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.2 worksJoshua 22:22“The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.2 works2 Kings 20:3“Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.2 worksPsalms 26:6I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Daniel 6:22

    My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O…

    it leads to

    • 2 Timothy 4:17

      But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of…

    • Hebrews 11:33

      who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

    • Acts 12:11

      Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”

    • Psalms 91:11–13

      For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

    • Acts 24:16

      In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.

  • Through

    Psalms 7:8

    The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 96:13

      before the LORD, for He is coming— He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.

    • Romans 14:10–12

      Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

  • Through

    1 Kings 9:4

    And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and uprightness, doing all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and…

    it leads to

    • 1 Kings 15:5

      For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of…

Where this verse is studied

About Genesis

The Creation of Light, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Creation of Light, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Genesis: the study guide →Read Genesis 20 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 6.2.

Read on in Genesis 20 →