| NIV |
The Message |
Amplified |
| Abraham and Abimelech |
Chapter 20 |
Chapter 20 |
| 1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, |
1 Abraham traveled from there south to the Negev and settled down between Kadesh and Shur. While he was camping in Gerar, |
1 NOW ABRAHAM journeyed from there toward the outh country (the Negeb) and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he lived temporarily in Gerar. |
| 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. |
2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She's my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. |
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah [into his harem]. |
| 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman." |
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream that night and told him, "You're as good as dead—that woman you took, she's a married woman." |
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said, Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken [as your own], for she is a man’s wife. |
| 4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? |
4 Now Abimelech had not yet slept with her, hadn't so much as touched her. He said, "Master, would you kill an innocent man? |
4 But Abimelech had not come near her, so he said, Lord, will you slay a people who are just and innocent? |
| 5 Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." |
5 Didn't he tell me, 'She's my sister'? And didn't she herself say, 'He's my brother'? I had no idea I was doing anything wrong when I did this." |
5 Did not the man tell me, She is my sister? And she herself said, He is my brother. In integrity of heart and innocency of hands I have done this. |
| 6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know 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. |
6 God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know your intentions were pure, that's why I kept you from sinning against me; I was the one who kept you from going to bed with her. |
6 Then God said to him in the dream, Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I Who kept you back and spared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you occasion to touch her. |
| 7 Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die." |
7 So now give the man's wife back to him. He's a prophet and will pray for you—pray for your life. If you don't give her back, know that it's certain death both for you and everyone in your family." |
7 So now restore to the man his wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her [to him], know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours. |
| 8 Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. |
8 Abimelech was up first thing in the morning. He called all his house servants together and told them the whole story. They were shocked. |
8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were exceedingly filled with reverence and fear. |
| 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done." |
9 Then Abimelech called in Abraham and said, "What have you done to us? What have I ever done to you that you would bring on me and my kingdom this huge offense? What you've done to me ought never to have been done." |
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, What have you done to us? And how have I offended you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me what ought not to be done [to anyone]. |
| 10 And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" |
10 Abimelech went on to Abraham, "Whatever were you thinking of when you did this thing?" |
10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, What did you see [in us] that [justified] you in doing such a thing as this? |
| 11 Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' |
11 Abraham said, "I just assumed that there was no fear of God in this place and that they'd kill me to get my wife. |
11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely there is no reverence or fear of God at all in this place, and they will slay me because of my wife. |
| 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. |
12 Besides, the truth is that she is my half sister; she's my father's daughter but not my mother's. |
12 But truly, she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father but not of my mother; and she became my wife. |
| 13 And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'" |
13 When God sent me out as a wanderer from my father's home, I told her, 'Do me a favor; wherever we go, tell people that I'm your brother.' " |
13 When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, This kindness you can show me: at every place we stop, say of me, He is my brother. |
| 14 Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. |
14 Then Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham, and along with her sent sheep and cattle and servants, both male and female. |
14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham and restored to him Sarah his wife. |
| 15 And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." |
15 He said, "My land is open to you; live wherever you wish." |
15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before you; dwell wherever it pleases you. |
| 16 To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated." |
16 And to Sarah he said, "I've given your brother a thousand pieces of silver—that clears you of even a shadow of suspicion before the eyes of the world. You're vindicated." |
16 And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given this brother of yours a thousand pieces of silver; see, it is to compensate you [for all that has occurred] and to vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are cleared and compensated. |
| 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, |
17 Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his maidservants, and they started having babies again. |
17 So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves, and they bore children, |
| 18 for the Lord had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah. |
18 For God had shut down every womb in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife. |
18 For the Lord had closed fast the wombs of all in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. |