Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Genesis 20:11

Because I thought Lit. "I said": see note on Genesis 18:17.

Surely the fear of God Abraham's defence is that he assumed a heathen people did not fear God; and, therefore, would not be afraid of any Divine retribution, if they took the life of a stranger (gêr). The stranger had no rights; his God would not be known. He would have no "avenger of blood." See note on Genesis 4:15.

See the same idea underlying Joseph's words, "for I fear God"(Genesis 42:18).

they will slay me He does not explain, why he feared that he would be slain for his wife's sake. Obviously it is for the reason mentioned in Genesis 12:12. Sarah's youth and beauty are assumed: the murder of the stranger would enable the inhabitants of Gerar to seize her. For this murder there would be no redress; and, therefore, there would be little compunction.

Continues after advertising

See also Genesis 20:11 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 20:11. _AND ABRAHAM SAID_] The best excuse he could make for his conduct, which in _this_ instance is far from defensible....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Abraham in Gerar 2. אבימלך .2 _'ǎbı̂ymelek_, Abimelekh, “father of the king.” 7. נביא _nābı̂y'_ “prophet,” he who speaks by God, of God, and to God, who declares to people not merely things futu...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 20 ABRAHAM IN GERAR _ 1. Abraham in Gerar (Genesis 20:1)_ 2. Second denial of Sarah (Genesis 20:2) 3. God's dealing with Abimelech (Genesis 20:3) 4. Abimelech and Abraham ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 20. ABRAHAM PASSES OFF SARAH AS HIS SISTER AT GERAR. The first complete narrative from E. The writer uses Elohim, but P's characteristics are absent. Phraseology as well as the use of Elohim i...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THOUGHT. Hebrew. _said_: i.e. said [to myself]. SLAY ME. Showing how his fears were worked upon by the enemy. See Genesis 20:2....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    I THOUGHT, SURELY THE FEAR OF GOD IS NOT IN THIS PLACE— And, consequently, there can be no regard to moral laws and righteousness; of which the _fear of God_ is the only sure foundation. Observe here,...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART THIRTY-THREE THE STORY OF ABRAHAM: SOJOURN IN THE NEGEB (Genesis 20:1 to Genesis 21:34) 1. _Abraham and Abimelech_ (Genesis 20:1-18) 1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the land of the

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ Abraham said ... I thought, Surely the fear of God is not. From the horri...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ABRAHAM AT GERAR 1. Abraham leaves Mamre (Hebron) for Gerar, SW. of Philistia. It seems from Genesis 21:34 that he remained in that district for some years....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Abraham knew that Gerar’s inhabitants did not know God. So he expected that they would be wicked. But he discovered that they were honest and honourable....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 20 ABIMELECH TAKES SARAH V1 Abraham travelled away from the big trees at Mamre. He went toward the region that is called the Negeb. He lived betw...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    SURELY THE FEAR OF GOD... — Abraham’s general condemnation of the people had some excuse in the widespread depravity of the nations in Canaan, but was nevertheless unjust. Even as regards these nation...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֗רְתִּי רַ֚ק...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ABRAHAM AGAIN DENIES HIS WIFE Genesis 20:1 It is wonderful that Abraham should fall like this. He had walked with God for so many years, and experienced so many deliverances, that we should have expe...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Once again we have to face Abraham's deflection from faith. We see him journeying south to Gerar. This was the center of a race of men who, having driven out the original possessors of the land, were...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    WHEN ABRAHAM FAILED TO TRUST GOD A book that only claimed to be from God would not record the failings of a great man like Abraham. since the Bible is from God, it tells us of a second time Abraham fa...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the (l) fear of God [is] not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. (l) He shows that no honesty can be hoped for, where there is no fear...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. This was the case. See Genesis 11:29...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine mercy in Christ the Lord. We have had in fine the judgment of...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _A GODLY MAN’S LAPSE_ ‘And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place.’ Genesis 20:11 The true fear of God was at that moment in Abimelech’s heart, and not in Abra...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    11._And Abraham said_. There are two points contained in this answer. For, first, he confesses that he had been induced by fear to conceal his marriage. He then denies that he had lied for the purpose...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 20 AND 21. In Chapter s 20, 21 we have the question of the heir and of the path of faith in another point of view. Abraham denies his relationship with his wi...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND ABRAHAM SAID,.... In defence of himself, as well as he could: BECAUSE I THOUGHT; within himself, concluding from the general depravity of the Canaanites, that this was the case of the inhabitants...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 11. _Surely the fear of God, &c._] The only best curb to restrain fr...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will slay me_ There are many places and persons that have more of the fear of God in them than we think they have; perhaps they are no...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Abraham soiourneth at Gerar, 2 denieth his wife, and loseth her. 3 Abimelech is reproued for her in a dreame. 9 He rebuketh Abraham, 14 restoreth Sarah, 16 and reprooueth her. 17 Hee is healed...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Abimelech Reproves Abraham...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    EIGHTH SECTION _Abraham and Abimelech of Gerar. His and Sarah’s renewed exposure through his human, calculating prudence, as formerly in Egypt before Pharaoh. The Divine preservation. Abraham’s inter...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    ABRAHAM EXPOSED AND REPROVED Now we return to Abraham's history. He journeyed toward the south, which is typical of pleasant circumstances, but nearly always having danger in it. He dwelt between Kade...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    9-13 See here much to blame, even in the father of the faithful. Mark his distrust of God, his undue care about life, his intent to deceive. He also threw temptation in the way of others, caused affl...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE FEAR OF GOD IS NOT IN THIS PLACE, i.e. true piety, or the knowledge of the true God, which is the only effectual restraint from the grossest wickedness....

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    We have two distinct points in this chapter: first, the moral degradation to which the child of God sometimes subjects himself, in the view of the world; and, secondly, the moral dignity which _ alway...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 20:11 Abraham H85 said H559 (H8799) thought H559 (H8804) surely H7535 fear H3374 God H430 place...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH (GENESIS 20:1). Genesis 20:1 ‘And Abraham journeyed from there towards the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and he sojourned in Gerar.' He had been establ...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    FEAR (_ See Scofield) - (Psalms 19:9). _...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 20:11 The true fear of God was at that moment in Abimelech's heart, and not in Abraham's; it was Abimelech who was playing the Christian part, that of the child of the light and of the day; A...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Abraham's lapse at Gerar. Lying to Abimelech about his wife. CHARACTERS: Abraham, Sarah, Abimelech. CONCLUSION: Sin has many tools but a lie is a handle that fits them all. If the truth is...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 20:1 , _Gerar,_ in the tribe of Simeon, then a royal residence. Abimelech was the common name of the kings that reigned there. Genesis 20:2. _She is my sister._ It is not said whether Sarah wa...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Abraham said, Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place_ ON HARSH AND SELFISH JUDGMENTS The true fear of God was at that moment in Abimelech’s heart, and not in Abraham’s;...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 20:1 King Abimelech takes Sarah into his harem, which seems to put at risk God’s promise that Sarah will bear Abraham a son. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 20:11 THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD AT ALL IN THIS PLACE. Abraham’s response betrays both his lack of faith in God and his misjudgment of the people of Gerar. The story shows clearly...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 20:8. Servants.] Court officers—his counsellors. (1 Kings 1:2; 1 Kings 10:5; 2 Kings 6:8.)...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 20:1 AND ABRAHAM JOURNEYED (_vide_ Genesis 12:9) FROM THENCE. Mamre (Genesis 18:1). In search of pasture, as on a previous occasion (Keil);

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Abraham journeyed from there toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and he sojourned in Gerar (Genesis 20:1). So Abraham was living in the area of Hebron, but now he is still s...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Surely. Genesis 22:12 Genesis 42:18 Nehemiah 5:15 Job 1:1 Job 28:28...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will slay me — There are many places and persons that have more of the fear of God in them than we think they have; perhaps they are not...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    GENESIS 21:32; GENESIS 21:34 — Did the Bible mistakenly place the Philistines in Palestine at the time of Abraham? PROBLEM: The earliest allusion to Philistines by Palestinian or Egyptian sources is...

Continues after advertising