Genesis 20:2

20:2 Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her.

Genesis 20:7

20:7 But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don’t give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you.”

Genesis 12:19-20

12:19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Here is your wife! Take her and go!” 12:20 Pharaoh gave his men orders about Abram, 10  and so they expelled him, along with his wife and all his possessions.


tn Or “for,” if the particle is understood as causal (as many English translations do) rather than asseverative.

sn For a discussion of the term prophet see N. Walker, “What is a Nabhi?” ZAW 73 (1961): 99-100.

tn After the preceding jussive (or imperfect), the imperative with vav conjunctive here indicates result.

tn Heb “if there is not you returning.” The suffix on the particle becomes the subject of the negated clause.

tn The imperfect is preceded by the infinitive absolute to make the warning emphatic.

tn The preterite with vav (ו) consecutive here expresses consequence.

tn Heb “to me for a wife.”

tn Heb “Look, your wife!”

tn Heb “take and go.”

10 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Abram) has been specified in the translation for clarity.