4
Now Abimelechוַאֲבִימֶלֶךְhad notלֹאcome nearקָרַבher,אֵלֶיהָand he said,וַיֹּאמַר“Adonai,אֲדֹנָיwill you killהֲ תַּהֲרֹגa nation,גוֹיeven one that isגַּםrighteous?צַדִּיק
Genesis 20:4
Study it in the app“Now Abimelech had not come near her, and he said, “Adonai, will you kill a nation, even one that is righteous?”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 20:4, word by word
- Now Abimelechאֲבִימֶלֶךְavimelech
Abimelech
Abimelech, the name of Philistine kings of Gerar in the days of Abraham and of Isaac, and of other men, such as a son of Gideon. The name means "my father is king"; it may have been a title of the kings of that place.
Where else “avimelech” appears- come nearקָרַבkarav
come near
To come near to someone or something.
Where else “karav” appears- and he saidיֹּאמַרyomar
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomar” appears- “Adonaiאֲדֹנָadona
Adonai, Lord
"Adonai": "my Lord", said only to God. It is a title of respect that acknowledges his authority. It is not another god besides YHWH: often it goes with his name, "Adonai YHWH", Lord YHWH.
Where else “adona” appears- will you killתַּהֲרֹגtaharog
kill
Kill, slay.
Where else “taharog” appears- a nationגוֹיgoy
nation
A people with their land; also Israel.
Where else “goy” appears- righteousצַדִּיקtsadik
righteous
Someone who lives uprightly; also YHWH.
Where else “tsadik” appears
The context
3But Elohim came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Look, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married to a husband.”
4 · This verse (above)
5Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, she too said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and in the innocence of my hands I have done this.”
To study Genesis 20 in a group
1. What it says
What did Abraham say about Sarah in front of Abimelech, and how did Elohim step in (vv. 2-3)?
2. What it means
What does Elohim say about Abimelech’s integrity of heart, and how does he deal with him (vv. 5-6)?
3. How I live it
How can you be honest today, even when fear tempts you to hide the truth?