Genesis 12 19

Genesis 12:19 kjv

Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

Genesis 12:19 nkjv

Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way."

Genesis 12:19 niv

Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!"

Genesis 12:19 esv

Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go."

Genesis 12:19 nlt

Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!"

Genesis 12 verses

Genesis 12 19 Meaning

Pharaoh directly confronts Abram for his deceptive statement that Sarai was his sister, which led Pharaoh to take her into his royal household with the intention of marriage. In this stern rebuke, Pharaoh commands Abram to take his rightful wife and depart immediately from Egypt. This moment reveals Abram's profound failure of faith and God's sovereign intervention to protect His covenant plan despite human weakness.

Genesis 12 19 Context

Genesis chapter 12 introduces Abram's call by God, instructing him to leave his homeland for a land God would show him, promising to make him a great nation and bless all families through him. Abram obeyed, but upon encountering a famine, he journeyed to Egypt. Driven by fear for his life due to Sarai's beauty, Abram devised a plan to present her as his sister, fearing the Egyptians would kill him to take her as his wife. This act of deception directly threatened the fulfillment of God's covenant, as Sarai, the matriarch, was taken into Pharaoh's house. God intervened by afflicting Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues. Verse 19 records Pharaoh's direct, angry confrontation with Abram, revealing his knowledge of the deception due to divine judgment. This incident demonstrates Abram's immediate failure of faith despite recent divine promises, and underscores God's sovereign protection of His covenant people and plan, even when they falter.

Genesis 12 19 Word analysis

• "Why" (לָמָּה - lāmâ): A sharp interrogative expressing astonishment, disbelief, and a profound sense of accusation. It carries the weight of Pharaoh's discovery and indignation over Abram's deception.
• "did you say" (אָמַרְתָּ - ʾāmartā): Emphasizes the active and deliberate nature of Abram's lie. It was a conscious choice and articulation, not an omission.
• "'She is my sister,'" (הִוא אֲחֹתִי - hî ʾaḥōtî): The core of the deception. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, calling someone a "sister" could be an affectionate or legal term, but in this context, it was a deliberate misrepresentation of marital status to ensure personal safety. This lie directly endangered the promise of a chosen seed through Sarai.
• "so that I took her" (וָאֶקַּח אֹתָהּ - wāʾeqqaḥ ʾōtāh): Pharaoh admits his action, highlighting that his taking of Sarai was a direct consequence of Abram's deception. The verb "took" implies seizing possession, which in a royal context often means adding to a harem or marrying.
• "to be my wife?" (לִי לְאִשָּׁה - lî ləʾiššâ): Clearly states Pharaoh's intent, underscoring the extreme threat posed to the integrity of Abram's lineage and the divine covenant. It demonstrates how close Sarai came to being compromised, and thus, the covenant with God jeopardized.
• "Now then," (וְעַתָּה - wəʿattâ): A transitional phrase signaling a change in focus from accusation to command, denoting urgency and the immediate consequences of the revealed deception.
• "here is your wife;" (הִנֵּה אִשְׁתְּךָ - hinnēh ʾišttĕkā): A powerful declarative, serving as an indictment and an instruction. Pharaoh returns Sarai, affirming her rightful status, an act enforced by divine intervention rather than Pharaoh's moral enlightenment alone. This is an ironic reversal of power where the mighty Pharaoh is compelled to restore.
• "take her, and go." (קַח וָלֵךְ - qaḥ wālēḵ): A decisive double imperative. It's an expulsion, a command to reclaim what belongs to him and immediately depart. It marks the conclusion of this fearful episode and Abram's enforced departure from Egypt, highlighting the humiliation and consequences of his actions.

Words-group Analysis

• "Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife?": This rhetorical question, delivered by a powerful pagan ruler, lays bare Abram's strategic, fear-driven lie. It highlights the direct cause-and-effect relationship between Abram's deception and Pharaoh's actions, demonstrating the tangible risks and near-catastrophic consequences of a lapse in faith.
• "Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.": This sequence of statements marks Pharaoh's resolution and expulsion of Abram. While authoritative, it also reflects God's unseen hand. Pharaoh is unknowingly fulfilling God's protective will, ensuring Sarai's safe return and expelling Abram from an environment where his fear and deception became manifest, ultimately leading him back to the promised land and dependence on God.

Genesis 12 19 Bonus section

• This is the first of three patriarchal "sister-wife" narratives (Gen 12, 20, 26), each underscoring recurring human frailty among God's chosen, contrasted with His persistent, protecting providence over His covenant promises and people.
• The incident highlights that God's covenant is established on His faithfulness, not human perfection. Abram's lack of faith did not nullify God's promise; rather, God supernaturally intervened to preserve it.
• Pharaoh, the most powerful ruler of his time, is depicted as being at the mercy of the LORD, subtly diminishing the perceived might of Egypt in comparison to the true sovereign God.
• The fact that Pharaoh does not exact any penalty, but rather simply expels Abram, after enriching him, further illustrates God's protective hand overriding any negative human consequence that might have occurred.

Genesis 12 19 Commentary

Genesis 12:19 marks a crucial moment, exposing Abram's significant failure of faith following God's grand covenant promises. Despite God's recent call and assurances of blessing and protection, Abram descends into fear, leading him to deceive Pharaoh about Sarai's true identity. This human fear directly jeopardizes God's promise to establish a great nation through Abram and Sarai. Yet, even in this dark moment of human weakness, God's unwavering faithfulness is powerfully demonstrated. He directly intervenes, afflicting Pharaoh, forcing the truth to light. Pharaoh's angry confrontation and subsequent command to "take her, and go" are, ironically, God's chosen means of preserving Sarai, maintaining the integrity of the covenant line, and restoring Abram to the path of reliance on divine provision. This incident foreshadows God's power over Egypt, subtly setting the stage for the Exodus.