Genesis 12:15 kjv

The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.

Genesis 12:15 nkjv

The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house.

Genesis 12:15 niv

And when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace.

Genesis 12:15 esv

And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.

Genesis 12:15 nlt

When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace.

Genesis 12 verses

Genesis 12 15 Meaning

Genesis 12:15 describes the immediate and severe consequence of Abram's decision to conceal his marital relationship with Sarai during their sojourn in Egypt. After Pharaoh's high-ranking officials observed Sarai's exceptional beauty, they brought her to Pharaoh's attention, commending her. As a result of this commendation and her perceived desirability, Sarai, the chosen matriarch of God's covenant, was taken directly into Pharaoh's royal household, likely with the intention of her becoming part of his harem or a royal consort. This act directly imperiled the divine promise of an heir through Sarai and the very continuity of the promised lineage.

Genesis 12 15 Context

Genesis chapter 12 marks a pivotal turning point in the biblical narrative, introducing Abram and God's sovereign initiative to establish a chosen people. Verses 1-3 describe God's direct call to Abram to leave his homeland and family in Ur of the Chaldees, promising to make him into a great nation, bless him, make his name great, bless those who bless him, curse those who curse him, and bless all families of the earth through him. Abram obeys this call of faith (v. 4-9), journeys to Canaan, and builds altars to the Lord.

However, a famine then grips Canaan (v. 10), prompting Abram to descend into Egypt, a rich and powerful land, for survival. Upon nearing Egypt, Abram expresses fear that the Egyptians would kill him to take Sarai due to her extraordinary beauty (v. 11-12). In an act of fear-driven self-preservation and partial truth, he instructs Sarai to say she is his sister (v. 13), intending to preserve his life. Verse 15 is the direct consequence of this deception, where Sarai is noticed by Pharaoh's officials and subsequently brought into the royal household. This action created an immediate crisis for the fulfillment of God's covenant promises, especially concerning the seed that was to come through Sarai.

Historically and culturally, ancient Egypt was a dominant power where the Pharaoh was considered a divine ruler with absolute authority. Possessing beautiful women was a common prerogative for kings, and resisting such a desire could indeed be perilous for commoners or foreign sojourners. Abram's fear was not entirely baseless concerning the danger, but his chosen method of deception displayed a lack of trust in God's promise to protect him, particularly His promise to "curse those who curse you" (Gen 12:3). This incident stands in stark contrast to God's divine call, illustrating human fallibility even in faith, and sets the stage for God's miraculous intervention to protect His covenant line from being defiled or extinguished.

Genesis 12 15 Word analysis

• And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her:

  • princes: Hebrew: śar (שָׂר). Refers to high-ranking officials, nobles, or commanders within Pharaoh's court. These were individuals with influence and direct access to the king, highlighting that Sarai's beauty caught the attention of significant figures, not mere commoners.
  • saw her: Emphasizes direct observation and recognition of her striking physical attractiveness, building upon the description in verse 14 where she is noted to be "very beautiful." This seeing leads directly to action.

• they commended her before Pharaoh:

  • commended: Hebrew: way'hallělu (וַיְהַלְלוּ), from the root halal (הָלַל). Means to praise, laud, boast, rave about, or celebrate. This suggests a strong, effusive recommendation of Sarai's beauty to Pharaoh, indicating that her appeal was undeniable and considered worthy of the king's attention. This praise acts as the crucial catalyst for Pharaoh's decision.
  • before Pharaoh: Indicates a direct and formal presentation or report to the supreme ruler, signifying the gravity and significance of the event.

• and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house:

  • the woman: Refers to Sarai. The term highlights her vulnerability and her objectification in this context, where she is removed from her husband's care by a more powerful authority.
  • was taken: Hebrew: wattiqqaḥ (וַתִּקַּח), from the root laqaḥ (לָקַח). Implies an act of acquiring or seizing. It is a decisive action by the king's authority, not a voluntary agreement from Abram or Sarai. While perhaps done politely, it leaves no room for refusal and underscores Pharaoh's absolute power and prerogative.
  • Pharaoh's house: This is not just any building, but the royal palace, specifically implying a part of the king's private residence, likely the royal harem. Being taken into the "house" of Pharaoh means she became part of his possession, potentially a concubine or prospective wife, directly threatening the covenant line as God's promise depended on an heir from Abram and Sarai.

• Word-Groups analysis:

  • "the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they commended her before Pharaoh": This sequence of actions vividly illustrates the highly centralized and absolute power structure of the Egyptian court. It depicts a streamlined process: recognition by officials, swift recommendation to the monarch, and immediate action based on the king's prerogative. This highlights the complete loss of control for Abram in this situation, a direct result of his prior deception.
  • "the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house": This phrase succinctly conveys the tragic climax of Abram's fear-driven deception. It signals a dramatic and perilous shift in Sarai's status and location, bringing her into an environment where God's covenant promises are severely jeopardized. The passive voice ("was taken") emphasizes Sarai's lack of agency and the overpowering authority of Pharaoh.

Genesis 12 15 Bonus section

• The taking of Sarai into Pharaoh's house presented an existential threat to the Messianic lineage, as the promised seed had to come through her. This set up a profound theological tension resolved only by God's direct intervention.
• The incident underscores the pervasive nature of sin and fear, capable of influencing even the greatest figures of faith, and highlights that Abram's faith was a journey, not a static state of perfection.
• Pharaoh's actions, while culturally acceptable for a monarch of his time, reveal the moral depravity possible in positions of ultimate power, which stands in contrast to the holiness of God's covenant. This situation indirectly functions as a polemic against the arbitrary power and potentially exploitative practices of non-Israelite kings.

Genesis 12 15 Commentary

Genesis 12:15 exposes the fragility of human faith in the face of fear and the direct consequences of compromise. Despite God's magnificent promises to Abram just verses earlier, Abram's trust faltered when faced with famine and the powerful Egyptian pharaoh. His strategic deception, claiming Sarai as his sister, aimed to secure his own safety but inadvertently thrust his wife into immense danger and placed the entire trajectory of God's covenant promises in jeopardy. Sarai, the matriarch from whom the promised seed was to come, was now a potential concubine in the most formidable royal household of the ancient world.

This verse starkly reveals human fallibility; even a chosen patriarch of faith can stumble in significant ways. The phrase "was taken into Pharaoh's house" underscores the profound peril, highlighting Sarai's utter helplessness and Abram's severe misjudgment. It is a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and sovereignty that despite Abram's significant failure, His plan for redemption and the chosen lineage would not be derailed. The impending divine intervention (in verse 17) demonstrates that God Himself would protect His covenant and His people, even from their own foolish decisions, confirming that His purposes are not reliant on human perfection but on His own steadfast character. This narrative serves as a vital lesson: human attempts to manipulate circumstances through deceit often lead to greater complications, yet God's protective hand extends even into such perilous situations to safeguard His ultimate promises.