Genesis 12:14 kjv

And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

Genesis 12:14 nkjv

So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14 niv

When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.

Genesis 12:14 esv

When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14 nlt

And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai's beauty.

Genesis 12 verses

Genesis 12 14 Meaning

When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians immediately observed that his wife, Sarai, possessed exceptional beauty. This verse sets the scene for a pivotal event where Sarai's remarkable physical attractiveness becomes a significant factor, precipitating Abram's fearful deception about her being his sister and the subsequent divine intervention in the narrative. It highlights both human vulnerability to temptation and the dangerous consequences that can arise from it.

Genesis 12 14 Context

Genesis chapter 12 marks a pivotal turning point in salvation history, initiating the Abrahamic covenant. God calls Abram from Ur of the Chaldeans to leave his country, kindred, and father's house, promising to make him a great nation, bless him, and make his name great. This call includes a global blessing: "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen 12:1-3). Following this divine command, Abram embarks on a journey of faith to Canaan. However, a severe famine forces him southward into Egypt, a rich and powerful land, yet a place that often posed a spiritual and moral threat in Israel's narrative. Before entering, Abram concocts a deceptive plan to protect himself, instructing Sarai to say she is his sister. This immediate vulnerability and resort to self-preservation, despite God's explicit promises, highlights the struggle between faith and fear within the nascent covenant people. Genesis 12:14 describes the direct outcome of their arrival, confirming Abram's initial concern and setting the stage for the precarious situation that follows, endangering both Sarai and God's covenant plan for Abram's lineage. The cultural context involves a powerful Pharaoh with significant control over his domain, where foreign women of beauty might be taken into royal harems.

Genesis 12 14 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי / va·y'hi): A very common Hebrew phrase introducing a new event or a consequential development. It indicates a progression in the narrative, marking a specific occurrence. Here, it signifies the entry into Egypt and the immediate observation that follows.
• when Abram (אַבְרָם / 'Avram) entered (בְּבֹא / bə·vo') Egypt (מִצְרָיְמָה / Mitzraimah):
  • "Abram": The patriarch, chosen by God, but still subject to human fear and strategic flaws. This journey to Egypt represents a departure from the promised land and, implicitly, a moment of weakened faith or misstep, despite God's preceding commands.
  • "Entered Egypt": This land (מִצְרַיִם / Mitzraim) signifies a place of refuge during famine but also a future place of oppression for Abram's descendants. It represents a different culture and political power than Canaan.
• the Egyptians (מִצְרַיִם / Mitzrayim) saw (וַיִּרְאוּ / vay·yir·'u):
  • "The Egyptians": A gentile nation, depicted here as observant and responsive to physical appearance. In Genesis, Egyptians are sometimes seen as a threat to the covenant line (Ex 1).
  • "Saw": Indicates direct visual observation. The emphasis on sight suggests the impact of Sarai's physical presence. It implies more than a glance, but a keen, appreciative gaze.
• the woman (הָאִשָּׁה / ha'ish·shah): Refers to Sarai, Abram's wife. The definite article highlights her specific role and presence in this moment.
• that she (כִּי־ / ki-) was (הִוא / hiv) very (מְאֹד / m'od) beautiful (יָפָה / yafah):
  • "Very beautiful" (יָפָה מְאֹד / yafah m'od): This phrase strongly emphasizes Sarai's striking attractiveness. Yafah refers to pleasant, beautiful, good in appearance. Me'od intensifies it to "very much" or "exceedingly." This statement confirms Abram's concern expressed in Gen 12:11 and underscores the immediate justification for his deceptive plan. Scholars note Sarai's beauty even at approximately 65 years old, pointing to either miraculous preservation or a cultural context where age did not diminish attractiveness in the same way modern societies perceive it, especially if she was seen as eligible for a royal harem. The physical beauty becomes a pivotal plot device.

Genesis 12 14 Bonus Section

• Theological Significance of "Egypt": In the biblical narrative, Egypt frequently functions as a symbol of the world, a place of temporary refuge but also of enslavement and testing. Abram's descent into Egypt, followed by his descendants' eventual sojourn and exodus, paints a picture of reliance on worldly means versus divine provision. The beauty of Sarai causing trouble in Egypt foreshadows later periods when Israel's relationship with Egypt would lead to complications (e.g., relying on Egyptian military might rather than God, as warned by prophets like Isaiah).
• Sarai's Age: If Genesis 17:17 (where Abraham is 99 and Sarah is 89 when Isaac is promised) is taken chronologically backward to Genesis 12 (Abram is 75, so Sarai is 65), her remarkable beauty at 65 is astonishing. This implies either divine preservation of her youth and appearance, or that societal norms and lifespans were different, or it simply emphasizes her outstanding beauty as truly exceptional and perhaps beyond normal expectation, drawing attention to the potential miraculous elements at play even before miraculous conception.
• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: While not overtly polemical in this verse, the subsequent divine intervention (Gen 12:17) against Pharaoh's house, initiated by Sarai's indirect suffering, could be subtly countering Egyptian theological claims about their Pharaohs' absolute divine protection or power. The true power is shown to be with Yahweh, who afflicts Pharaoh on behalf of His chosen.

Genesis 12 14 Commentary

Genesis 12:14 concisely establishes the pivotal element driving the unfolding crisis: Sarai's exceptional beauty. This verse acts as a validation of Abram's prior fears and his subsequent, albeit flawed, scheme (Gen 12:11-13). It highlights a recurrent theme in Scripture where physical attractiveness, while a gift, can also become a source of danger, temptation, or complication, as seen later with Eve, Bathsheba, and Esther, albeit in different contexts.

The encounter immediately exposes Abram's vulnerability and his inclination to lean on human stratagems rather than relying solely on God's protection. Despite having received a direct divine call and promise just verses earlier, the fear of death, triggered by the socio-political realities of a powerful land like Egypt, causes him to momentarily falter. The "seeing" by the Egyptians sets in motion the potential peril to Sarai and, by extension, to the very lineage through which God's covenant promises (especially the seed promise) were to be fulfilled. This incident underscores that even God's chosen instruments are prone to human weakness and sin.

Paradoxically, even in this human failing, God's sovereignty is evident. The potential disaster is averted not by Abram's wisdom but by divine intervention, ultimately showcasing God's commitment to His covenant irrespective of human imperfection. The verse thus serves as a theological statement about divine faithfulness persevering through human frailty, establishing a pattern that will recur in the lives of the patriarchs.