1And Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] journeyed from there toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh (to be consecrated, consecrated, sanctified) and Shur [wall] (wall), and detained (held) in G’rar (a lodging place).

2And Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] said of Sarah [Princess] his wife, She [is] my sister: and Avi-melekh (my father is king) king of G’rar (a lodging place) sent, and took Sarah [Princess].

3But God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] came to Avi-melekh (my father is king) in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, youi [are but] a dead man, for the woman which youi hast taken; for she [is] a man’s wife.

4But Avi-melekh (my father is king) had not come near her: and he said, Lord-Adonai [The Father] (Greatest Above All), will youi slay also a righteous nation?

5Said 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.

6And God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] said unto him in a dream, Yes, I know that youi did this in the integrity of youri heart; for I also withheld youi from sinning against me: therefore suffered I youi not to touch her.

7Now therefore restore the man [his] wife; for he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for youi, and youi shall live: and if youi restore [her] not, know youi that youi shall surely die, youi, and all that [are] yoursi.

8Therefore Avi-melekh (my father is king) rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

9Then Avi-melekh called Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will], and said unto him, What hast youi done unto us? and what have I offended youi, that youi hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? youi hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

10And Avi-melekh said unto Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will], What [did] youi see, that youi have done this thing?

11And Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] [is] not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.

12And yet indeed [she is] my sister; she [is] the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

13And it came to pass, when God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This [is] you (i) kindness which youi shall show unto me; at every place to where we shall come, say of me, He [is] my brother.

14And Avi-melekh (my father is king) took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and women servants, and gave [them] unto Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will], and restored him Sarah [Princess] his wife.

15And Avi-melekh (my father is king) said, Behold, my land [is] before youi: dwell where it pleases youi.

16And unto Sarah [Princess] he said, Behold, I have given youri brother a thousand [pieces] of silver: behold, he [is] to youi a covering of the eyes, unto all that [are] with youi, and with all [other]: in this way she was reproved.

17So Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] prayed unto God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered]: and God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] healed Avi-melekh (my father is king), and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bore children.

18For the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Avi-melekh, because of Sarah [Princess] Avraham’s [exalted father/Fly They Will] wife.

For more information about the NMV, details about why the names of God are notated and translated as they are, or to learn about the special markings and translations used in this text, click below.

Follow the instructions and you will receive the free e-book by email.

Learn More

Genesis 20

Abraham and Abimelech

1Abraham moved from Mamre to the southern part of Canaan and lived between Kadesh and Shur. Later, while he was living in Gerar, 2#Gen 12.13; 26.7he said that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. 3One night God appeared to him in a dream and said: “You are going to die, because you have taken this woman; she is already married.”

4But Abimelech had not come near her, and he said, “Lord, I am innocent! Would you destroy me and my people? 5Abraham himself said that she was his sister, and she said the same thing. I did this with a clear conscience, and I have done no wrong.”

6God replied in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did it with a clear conscience; so I kept you from sinning against me and did not let you touch her. 7But now, give the woman back to her husband. He is a prophet, and he will pray for you, so that you will not die. But if you do not give her back, I warn you that you are going to die, you and all your people.”

8Early the next morning Abimelech called all his officials and told them what had happened, and they were terrified. 9Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? What wrong have I done to you to make you bring this disaster on me and my kingdom? No one should ever do what you have done to me. 10Why did you do it?”

11Abraham answered, “I thought that there would be no one here who has reverence for God and that they would kill me to get my wife. 12She really is my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not of my mother, and I married her. 13So when God sent me from my father's house into foreign lands, I said to her, ‘You can show how loyal you are to me by telling everyone that I am your brother.’ ”

14Then Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham, and at the same time he gave him sheep, cattle, and slaves. 15He said to Abraham, “Here is my whole land; live anywhere you like.” 16He said to Sarah, “I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver as proof to all who are with you that you are innocent; everyone will know that you have done no wrong.”

17-18Because of what had happened to Sarah, Abraham's wife, the LORD had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech's palace to have children. So Abraham prayed for Abimelech, and God healed him. He also healed his wife and his slave women, so that they could have children.

Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.

Learn More

Choose your language

Genesis 20

Genesis 20