Genesis 20:6
in Genesis 20Then 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And God said unto him in the dream, Yea, I know that in the integrity of thy heart thou hast done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
KJV
And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
⋯
This verse in Genesis 20
Commentary
6 notes on this verse(2.) It is God that restrains men from doing the ill they would do. It is not from him that there is sin, but it is from him that there is not more sin, either by his influence upon men's minds, checking their inclination to sin, or by his providence, taking away the opportunity to sin.
This site's exposition
I have kept you from sinning against Me
on Genesis 20:6-7
God tells the king that the restraint was His own work. The line of promise is kept by God holding a foreigner back. Verse 7 carries the first use of the word prophet in Scripture, and it lands on Abraham, who is told to pray for the king.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
But what is the meaning of that which Scripture adds: "And the Lord did not permit him to touch her"? If Sarah represents virtue and Abimelech wished to receive virtue "with a pure heart," why is it said that "the Lord did not permit him to touch her"?Abimelech means "my father is king." It seems to me therefore that this Abimelech represents the studious and wise men of the world, who by giving attention to philosophy, although they do not reach the complete and perfect rule of piety, nevertheless perceive that God is the Father and King of all things.
The Medieval Church1 voice
And I know that you have done this with a simple heart; therefore I have kept you from sinning against me. But also that he immediately rose in the night, called all his servants, and narrated to them what had happened to him; and that …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And God said unto him in a dream,.... The same dream continued: yea, or "also" I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; not only thou knowest, but I, who know all things, know and acknowledge that this was so done by thee.
If our consciences witness to our integrity, and that, however we may have been cheated into a snare, we have not knowingly and wittingly sinned against God, it will be our rejoicing in the day of evil. He pleads with God as Abraham had done, ch. xviii. Wilt thou slay a righteous nation?
The words behind it
24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּאמֶר֩ | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֵלָ֨יו | ʾelav | to him | H413 → | 5510 times |
| הָֽאֱלֹהִ֜ים | haelohim | <the> God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| בַּחֲלֹ֗ם | bachalom | in a dream | H2472 → | 65 times |
| גַּ֣ם | gam | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| אָנֹכִ֤י | ʾanokhi | I | H595 → | 359 times |
| יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ | yada'ti | I know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כִּ֤י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| בְתָם־ | vetom- | in [the] integrity of | H8537 → | |
| לְבָבְךָ֙ | levavekha | heart your | H3824 → | 252 times |
| עָשִׂ֣יתָ | ʾasita | you did | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| זֹּ֔את | zot | this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| וָאֶחְשֹׂ֧ךְ | vaechsokh | and I have restrained | H2820 → | 28 times |
| גַּם־ | gam- | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| אָנֹכִ֛י | ʾanokhi | I | H595 → | 359 times |
| אֽוֹתְךָ֖ | ʾotkha | <obj.> you | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מֵחֲטוֹ־ | mechatov- | from sinning | H2398 → | 238 times |
| לִ֑י | li | to <the> me | ||
| עַל־ | ʾal- | there- | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כֵּ֥ן | ken | -fore | H3651 → | 771 times |
| לֹא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נְתַתִּ֖יךָ | netatikha | I have permitted you | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| לִנְגֹּ֥עַ | lingoa' | to touch | H5060 → | 150 times |
| אֵלֶֽיהָ׃ | ʾeleiha | <to> her | H413 → | 5510 times |
וַיֹּאמֶר֩and he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
אֵלָ֨יוto him
ʾelavH413 →5510 times
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֜ים<the> God
haelohimH430 →2601 times
בַּחֲלֹ֗םin a dream
bachalomH2472 →65 times
גַּ֣םalso
gamH1571 →769 times
אָנֹכִ֤יI
ʾanokhiH595 →359 times
יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙I know
yada'tiH3045 →945 times
כִּ֤יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
בְתָם־in [the] integrity of
vetom-H8537 →
לְבָבְךָ֙heart your
levavekhaH3824 →252 times
עָשִׂ֣יתָyou did
ʾasitaH6213 →2628 times
זֹּ֔אתthis
zotH2063 →603 times
וָאֶחְשֹׂ֧ךְand I have restrained
vaechsokhH2820 →28 times
גַּם־also
gam-H1571 →769 times
אָנֹכִ֛יI
ʾanokhiH595 →359 times
אֽוֹתְךָ֖<obj.> you
ʾotkhaH853 →10935 times
מֵחֲטוֹ־from sinning
mechatov-H2398 →238 times
לִ֑יto <the> me
li
עַל־there-
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
כֵּ֥ן-fore
kenH3651 →771 times
לֹא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
נְתַתִּ֖יךָI have permitted you
netatikhaH5414 →2011 times
לִנְגֹּ֥עַto touch
lingoa'H5060 →150 times
אֵלֶֽיהָ׃<to> her
ʾeleihaH413 →5510 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
Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
- Ezra 6:22
For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands…
- Proverbs 20:24
A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
- Acts 7:10
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
- Proverbs 16:1
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
- Proverbs 16:9
Through
Genesis 35:5As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons.
it leads to
- Exodus 23:27
I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.
- 2 Chronicles 17:10
And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.
- Exodus 23:27
Through
1 Samuel 25:26Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and…
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 18:32
The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and…
- 2 Samuel 18:32
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
This page draws on Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); Chuck Missler, Learn the Bible in 24 Hours; 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.