Genesis 20:11 kjv

And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

Genesis 20:11 nkjv

And Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.

Genesis 20:11 niv

Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'

Genesis 20:11 esv

Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, 'There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'

Genesis 20:11 nlt

Abraham replied, "I thought, 'This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.'

Genesis 20 verses

Genesis 20 11 Meaning

Abraham, explaining his deceit to Abimelech, stated that his reasoning was born out of a strong conviction that the land of Gerar lacked the reverential fear of the true God. This conviction led him to assume that the inhabitants, being devoid of divine awe and moral restraint, would not hesitate to kill him in order to take Sarah, his wife, because of her beauty. His assessment revealed a momentary lapse in his faith and a reliance on human-based reasoning rather than fully trusting in God's protective providence, contrasting with the surprising integrity God had cultivated in Abimelech.

Genesis 20 11 Context

Genesis chapter 20 opens with Abraham journeying southward to Gerar, a Philistine city, following the cataclysmic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Upon arriving, Abraham, perhaps still rattled by recent events or displaying a recurring pattern of fear, instructs Sarah to once again say she is his sister. Abimelech, the king of Gerar, subsequently takes Sarah, believing her to be Abraham's unmarried sister. This verse (Gen 20:11) comes as Abraham's explanation and justification when Abimelech, warned by God in a dream and realizing his unwitting error, confronts Abraham about his deception. Historically, foreign sojourners often lacked the same protections as citizens, and a beautiful wife could indeed be a perilous possession, tempting rulers to disregard justice, making Abraham's fear culturally understandable, though his solution demonstrated a lack of faith in God's specific protection.

Genesis 20 11 Word analysis

• And Abraham said: This indicates Abraham's immediate response to Abimelech's question regarding his deceit (Gen 20:10). It highlights Abraham attempting to justify his actions.

• 'Because I thought: The Hebrew is כִּי אָמַרְתִּי (ki amarti), literally "for I said," but here it conveys the sense of "because I believed" or "because I presumed." It reveals Abraham's internal reasoning and presupposition, which shaped his response to the perceived threat, suggesting a judgment formed before full investigation or trust.

• surely the fear of God: The phrase אֵין יִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים (ein yir'at Elohim) means "no fear of God."

  • fear (יִרְאַת - yir'at): This is not merely terror, but a profound reverence, awe, and moral respect for God that leads to obedience and righteous living. It is a fundamental Old Testament concept, serving as the basis for wisdom and moral conduct. It implies a recognition of divine authority and moral accountability.
  • God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): A general term for God, often used for the true God, Yahweh, highlighting His majesty and power. Abraham implicitly assumes the absence of any true reverence for the divine among the inhabitants, unlike the Abrahamic faith's emphasis.

• is not in this place: Refers to Gerar and its inhabitants. Abraham's prejudiced assessment of the spiritual and moral climate of the foreign land. He inferred a complete absence of divine moral influence, thus expecting unrestrained human depravity.

• and they will kill me: This is the direct consequence Abraham foresaw. It reveals the acute nature of his fear and the perceived danger that motivated his deception, stemming from the assumed godlessness of the region.

• for my wife’s sake:' This specifies the reason for the intended murder: Sarah's beauty. It indicates the primary threat was seen as opportunistic violence driven by lust, unchecked by moral or divine law.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place": This core statement unpacks Abraham's psychological state. It's a conclusion he reached based on a presumed absence of a specific moral-theological quality (the fear of God). This reveals a profound distrust and a theological judgment about the Gerarites, anticipating immorality due to their presumed lack of divine knowledge or reverence. This presumption, however, was shown to be incomplete as Abimelech demonstrates a genuine desire for righteousness once enlightened by God.
  • "and they will kill me for my wife’s sake": This expresses the dire, feared outcome. It highlights Abraham's deep-seated anxiety about self-preservation and the protection of his lineage, driven by the potential for murder for lust's sake. His decision to deceive was a direct, albeit faithless, response to this perceived life-threatening scenario, demonstrating a human attempt to control a dangerous situation rather than trusting entirely in God's protective hand.

Genesis 20 11 Bonus section

• Recurring Motif: This incident mirrors Abraham's previous deception in Egypt (Gen 12:10-20), illustrating a recurring struggle with fear and self-reliance even in later stages of his life. It demonstrates that faith development is often a continuous process, with repeated lessons needed for deep understanding and trust. Isaac, his son, also replicates this very lie in Gerar (Gen 26:7).
• Paradoxical Morality: Abimelech, a pagan king, acts with greater moral integrity in this chapter, once God intervenes, than Abraham (the man of faith) anticipated or even demonstrated initially. Abimelech protests his innocence and acts swiftly to rectify the situation. This underscores that God can work through and uphold a sense of justice even among those who do not overtly worship Him, and also serves as a subtle polemic against Abraham's presumptions.
• Theological Sophistication: Abraham's reasoning points to an early understanding that a society's moral fabric is directly linked to its acknowledgment and reverence for the divine. While he misapplied it to Abimelech, the underlying principle of "the fear of God" as a foundation for societal order is a consistent Biblical theme.
• Divine Initiative: Crucially, God did not leave Abraham to the consequences of his fear-driven lie. God initiated contact with Abimelech, not Abraham, to rectify the situation, reinforcing His commitment to His covenant with Abraham, even when Abraham’s faith wavered. This demonstrates God's sovereignty and faithfulness transcending human failings.

Genesis 20 11 Commentary

Genesis 20:11 offers a raw glimpse into Abraham's human frailty, even after significant experiences with God's faithfulness, including the recent destruction of Sodom. His reasoning for deception was based on a fundamental assumption: that without the "fear of God" – a reverential awe that cultivates moral uprightness and respect for life – people would resort to lawlessness, particularly when motivated by desire. Abraham projected his own fear onto an entire population, pre-judging their morality based on their perceived lack of knowledge of the true God.

This verse starkly contrasts with God's reality. While Abraham acted from a place of fear-driven foresight, God was actively at work. He intervened directly with Abimelech (who despite not having "the fear of God" in the sense Abraham understood, was concerned about doing right), preventing sin and protecting Abraham and Sarah even amidst Abraham's lapse in faith. The incident is a powerful lesson: one's theological assumptions about others can lead to ungodly behavior (lying), and God's protective sovereignty extends even when His servants falter. It teaches us to not make our fears or presumptions about others' godlessness dictate our actions, but to rely on God's unwavering faithfulness.

Examples:

• A believer might compromise ethical standards in a cutthroat business environment, thinking, "The fear of God is not in this place, so I must act like them to survive."
• Fearing human disapproval, someone might withhold truth in ministry or relationships, believing others lack the understanding or grace to receive it honestly.
• A parent, fearful of their children falling into wrong paths in a secular society, might try to control every aspect of their lives rather than entrusting them more fully to God’s leading.