Genesis 12:18 kjv

And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

Genesis 12:18 nkjv

And Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?

Genesis 12:18 niv

So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?

Genesis 12:18 esv

So Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?

Genesis 12:18 nlt

So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. "What have you done to me?" he demanded. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?

Genesis 12 verses

Genesis 12 18 Meaning

Genesis 12:18 describes Pharaoh's direct confrontation with Abram after discovering that Sarah, whom he had taken into his house, was in fact Abram's wife. Pharaoh calls Abram to account, expressing profound astonishment and rebuke, "What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?" This verse highlights Abram's deception due to fear and Pharaoh's unexpected moral indignation at having been misled, underscoring the immediate consequences of Abram's lack of faith and God's intervention to protect His covenantal promises despite human failure.

Genesis 12 18 Context

Genesis chapter 12 marks a pivotal shift in the biblical narrative from universal history (Creation to Babel) to the history of redemption, beginning with God's call of Abram and His promises of land, innumerable descendants, and blessing. Abram's journey from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran and then to Canaan is initially characterized by obedience and faith. However, a famine forces Abram to journey to Egypt. It is here that fear supplants faith; Abram, concerned for his life, instructs Sarah to claim she is his sister, fearing the Egyptians would kill him to take her due to her beauty. Pharaoh, unknowing, takes Sarah into his household, leading to the immediate divine intervention described in verse 17, where the Lord plagues Pharaoh and his house. Genesis 12:18 captures Pharaoh's direct and righteous response to discovering Abram's deception, a remarkable moment where a pagan king displays greater moral uprightness than God's chosen patriarch.

Genesis 12 18 Word analysis

• And Pharaoh:
  • Pharaoh (פרעה, Par‘oh): A title for the ruler of ancient Egypt, not a personal name. This implies supreme power, typically viewed with divine associations within Egyptian religion. His addressing Abram highlights his authority.
• called Abram:
  • called (קרא, qara'): To summon, invite, or name. Implies Pharaoh's authority and control over the situation, compelling Abram to his presence for judgment.
  • Abram: "Exalted Father." His current name contrasts with his actions of fear and deception.
• and said:
  • said: Direct speech. Emphasizes the immediate, open, and severe nature of the confrontation.
• What is this that thou hast done unto me?:
  • What is this (מָה־זֹּאת, mah-zot): Expresses profound shock, indignation, and accusation. Not a mere question for information, but a rhetorical query conveying utter dismay and a sense of betrayal. It suggests a personal affront and violation of trust.
  • that thou hast done (עָשִׂיתָ, asita): Focuses on Abram's active responsibility for the situation. It highlights the deliberate nature of his deceptive omission.
  • unto me: Pharaoh personalizes the offense, demonstrating how Abram's action directly affected his royal house and personal honor.
• why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?:
  • why (לָמָה, lamah): Demands an explanation for the omission. Implies that the proper, truthful course of action was clear and withheld.
  • didst thou not tell me: Highlights Abram's intentional withholding of critical information, framing it as an active deception rather than a passive error.
  • that she was thy wife: The crux of the deception. The marital bond, sacred in God's eyes and serious for a ruler, was hidden, leading to potential defilement of Sarah and a sin on Pharaoh's part had God not intervened.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Pharaoh called Abram, and said": This phrasing emphasizes Pharaoh's sovereign authority and his initiation of the confrontation. It shows the immediate consequence of divine intervention in verse 17.
• "What is this that thou hast done unto me?": This rhetorical question serves as a powerful expression of Pharaoh's outrage and his perception of personal injury. It underlines the ethical gravity of Abram's deception from Pharaoh's perspective. It also subtly hints at the impact of God's plagues on Pharaoh, pushing him to this direct challenge.
• "why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?": This is the core accusation, pointing directly to Abram's sin of omission and deceit. It brings into sharp focus the deliberate withholding of truth, which threatened Sarah's purity, the covenant lineage, and the integrity of Pharaoh's household. The simple truth about their relationship would have averted the entire crisis, showcasing the corrosive effect of fear-driven lies.

Genesis 12 18 Bonus section

• The episode highlights God's jealous guarding of the integrity of the messianic line. Sarah, the matriarch from whom the "seed" would come (Gen 3:15; Gen 17:15-16), could not be defiled.
• This instance, where Pharaoh suffers plagues for unknowing sin, sets a precedent for understanding the concept of guilt and divine judgment, even when ignorance is involved, especially regarding God's chosen.
• The fact that Pharaoh does not punish Abram, but instead generously sends him away (Gen 12:20) along with all his possessions (Gen 12:16), underscores Pharaoh's ethical stature and further emphasizes the grace shown to Abram despite his fault.
• This account parallels the later narrative of Abraham with Abimelech (Gen 20) and Isaac with Abimelech (Gen 26), suggesting a recurring theme of the patriarchs' weakness in faith and God's consistent faithfulness in preserving His covenant. It acts as a divine test for Abram's integrity and faith.
• Pharaoh's concern, "What is this that thou hast done unto me?", points to the disruption and suffering caused in his household, drawing a line between Abram's lie and the divine judgment upon Pharaoh, revealing God's working in the pagan world.

Genesis 12 18 Commentary

Genesis 12:18 reveals the striking irony of a pagan monarch serving as God's instrument to rebuke Abram, the chosen patriarch. Abram, freshly called by God with great promises and having embarked on a journey of faith, stumbles due to fear for his life in Egypt. His decision to lie about Sarah being his sister directly threatened the purity of the covenant line through which the Messiah would come. This verse illustrates God's faithfulness despite Abram's unfaithfulness. God supernaturally intervenes with plagues to protect Sarah, compelling Pharaoh to discover the truth. Pharaoh's indignant interrogation not only highlights the seriousness of Abram's sin but also establishes a significant moral reversal: the heathen king demonstrates a greater concern for truth and moral rectitude than God's elect, whom fear has paralyzed. This event underscores that God's plan is not dependent on human perfection but on His own sovereign will and protective hand. It serves as a stern lesson that fear often leads to sin, but God remains faithful to His promises, even employing unexpected agents for His purposes.