Genesis 12:13 kjv

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Genesis 12:13 nkjv

Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you."

Genesis 12:13 niv

Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you."

Genesis 12:13 esv

Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake."

Genesis 12:13 nlt

So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you."

Genesis 12 verses

Genesis 12 13 Meaning

Genesis 12:13 records Abram's deceptive instruction to Sarai as they enter Egypt: that she should claim to be his sister. His motivation is explicitly stated as self-preservation, believing this would lead to favorable treatment for himself and, crucially, spare his life. This act stems from a profound fear for his own safety amidst potential dangers, immediately testing his faith in God's promises made just moments before.

Genesis 12 13 Context

Genesis chapter 12 marks a pivotal turning point in biblical history, initiating God's covenant with Abram (later Abraham) and, through him, with a chosen people who would eventually become Israel. The chapter begins with the extraordinary divine call for Abram to leave his country, kindred, and father's house, and to go to a land that God would show him. This call comes with immense promises: to make him a great nation, to bless him, to make his name great, and through him to bless all families of the earth (Gen 12:1-3). Abram responds in faith by setting out, yet almost immediately his faith is tested. A famine forces him to go to Egypt (Gen 12:10), a place often representing worldly reliance and spiritual danger in biblical narratives. Faced with the perceived threat that Pharaoh might kill him to take Sarai, Abram devises a scheme for self-preservation, culminating in the instruction of verse 13. This incident stands in stark contrast to the initial promise and Abram's step of faith, highlighting the early human struggles even within divinely appointed figures.

Genesis 12 13 Word analysis

• Say, please (אִמְרִי נָא, ʾimrī nāʾ):

  • ʾimrī: Imperative verb "say," singular feminine, directed at Sarai. It's a command, but delivered as a request.
  • nāʾ: A particle often translated "please," "now," or "pray." It can soften an imperative or add urgency/emphasis. Here, it conveys a pleading tone due to desperation.
  • Significance: Reveals Abram's immediate, direct instruction born of fear and self-preservation, rather than seeking God's guidance.

• that you are my sister (אֲחֹתִי אַתְּ, ʾăḥōtî ʾatt):

  • ʾăḥōtî: "My sister." While primarily a sibling, it could also be a term for a close relative or, in rare cases (and as Gen 20:12 reveals later for Sarai), a literal half-sister.
  • ʾatt: The feminine singular pronoun "you."
  • Significance: This is the core of the deception. It is a half-truth, as Sarai was indeed Abram's half-sister. However, by concealing the spousal relationship, Abram aimed to mitigate the danger to himself. This implies an awareness of the power dynamics in Egypt where foreign husbands might be removed to acquire their wives.

• that it may go well with me (לְמַעַן יִיטַב־לִי, ləmaʿan yiṭab-lî):

  • ləmaʿan: "In order that," "so that." States the explicit purpose or desired outcome.
  • yiṭab: Hifil imperfect of יָטַב (yaṭab), "to be good." Literally, "it will be good for me" or "it will make good for me."
  • lî: "For me," "to me."
  • Significance: Clearly articulates Abram's self-interested motive. His primary concern is his own welfare and prosperity.

• because of you (בַּעֲבוּרֵךְ, baʿăbûrēḵ):

  • baʿăbûrēḵ: "For your sake," "on your account," "because of you." This emphasizes Sarai's role as the means by which Abram hopes to secure safety and favor.
  • Significance: Connects the expected "good treatment" directly to Sarai's beauty and her purported status as an unattached (to a strong male protector) "sister." The phrase is repeated in the second clause, reinforcing this dependent strategy.

• and that my life may be spared (וְחָיְתָה נַפְשִׁי, wəḥāytāh nap̄šî):

  • wəḥāytāh: "And it may live," "and it may be preserved." From the verb חָיָה (ḥāyâ), "to live."
  • nap̄šî: "My soul," "my life," "my very being." In Hebrew thought, the nefesh often refers to the entire person or one's vitality.
  • Significance: Reveals the ultimate fear driving Abram's action: the fear of death. He believes his life is directly threatened by being Sarai's husband. This underscores a lack of faith in God's power to protect him, despite God's covenant promises.

• for your sake (בַּעֲבוּרֵךְ, baʿăbûrēḵ):

  • Repeated for emphasis. Reinforces the central role of Sarai in Abram's desperate scheme to survive.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Say, please, that you are my sister": This phrase encapsulates Abram's immediate pragmatic solution to a life-threatening situation. It's a strategic misrepresentation intended to protect him from perceived Egyptian practices of removing foreign husbands to take their beautiful wives.
• "that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake": This bipartite statement explicitly lays bare Abram's core motivation: self-preservation and securing personal advantage ("it may go well with me") at the potential cost of Sarai's safety or honor. The repetition of "for your sake" highlights his dependency on Sarai's perceived status and beauty for his own survival. This entire clause underscores the vulnerability of Abram's faith immediately after receiving incredible promises from God.

Genesis 12 13 Bonus section

The repeated motif of the patriarchs presenting their wives as sisters (Abram twice: Gen 12, Gen 20; Isaac once: Gen 26) highlights a recurring pattern of human fear and lack of faith within the very lineage through which God's covenant promises are passed. Far from idealizing the patriarchs, the Bible presents their flaws transparently, demonstrating that their greatness lies not in their inherent perfection, but in God's choice and His unwavering commitment to work through them despite their imperfections. This repeated narrative functions not just as a historical account but also as a theological statement about divine grace overcoming human weakness. The fact that God himself repeatedly intervenes to protect the covenant line despite these failures powerfully underlines His ultimate sovereignty over His promises.

Genesis 12 13 Commentary

Genesis 12:13 offers a stark and honest depiction of Abram's human weakness. Having just heard and seemingly responded to God's incredible call and covenant promises (Gen 12:1-3), his faith is immediately put to the test by a famine and the move to a foreign land. Faced with what he perceives as a direct threat to his life in Egypt – the risk of powerful men killing him to take his beautiful wife Sarai – Abram resorts to deception rather than relying on God's divine protection. His command to Sarai is pragmatic and self-serving, rooted in a deep fear of death.

The partial truth of Sarai being his half-sister (Gen 20:12) does not mitigate the intent of deception; it merely made the lie more plausible. Abram prioritizes his own physical survival ("that my life may be spared") and personal gain ("that it may go well with me") over Sarai's vulnerability and potentially, the integrity of his relationship with God. This narrative choice by the biblical author is crucial. It deliberately places Abram's failure early in his story, immediately after God's grand promises, to emphasize that God works through imperfect individuals and fulfills His covenant not because of human merit, but because of His own faithful nature. The ensuing verses (Gen 12:17-20) demonstrate God's unyielding protection of Sarai and Abram, intervening supernaturally through plagues upon Pharaoh, showing His faithfulness despite Abram's faithlessness. This incident serves as a foundational example of God's sovereign grace and commitment to His plan, even when His chosen instruments falter.