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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Genesis 12:11-13

GENESIS—NOTE ON Genesis 12:11 Abram devises a plan, based on a half-truth (see Genesis 20:12), implying that he thinks God is unable to protect him. Yet when the plot backfires, the Lord rescues him (Genesis 12:17).

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See also Genesis 12:11-13 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 12:11. _THOU_ ART _A FAIR WOMAN TO LOOK UPON_] Widely differing in her _complexion_ from the swarthy Egyptians, and consequently more likely to be coveted by them. It appears that Abram...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - XXXVIII. Abram in Egypt 15. פרעה _par‛oh_, Par‘oh, “ouro.” Coptic for “king,” with the masculine article pi. or p. P-ouro, “the king.” If we separate the article p. from the Hebrew form, we have רעה...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 12 THE FIRST EVENTS IN ABRAM'S LIFE _ 1. The call and the promise (Genesis 12:1)_ 2. Abram's obedience (Genesis 12:4) 3. The second communication of Jehovah (Genesis 12:7) 4. Abram in Egyp...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ABRAHAM, SARAH, AND PHARAOH. This section creates difficulties by its similarity to Genesis 12:20; Genesis 26:6. The three are usually regarded as variants of the same story. In each case the patriarc...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. In this section the three main sources, J. E, P are present. Gunkel has given strong reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _thou art a fair woman_ According to Genesis 17:17 (P), Sarai was 10 years younger than Abram; and from Genesis 12:4 (P) Abram was at least 75 when he entered Egypt, and Sarai, therefore, 65. This kin...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Genesis 12:10 to Genesis 13:2. Abram in Egypt. (J.) The narrative in this section should be compared with the similar ones in 20, 26. It is repellent to our sense of honour, chivalry, and purity. It...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HE SAID UNTO SARAI HIS WIFE, &C.— "Sarai," says Mr. Locke, "was then sixty-five, as Abram was seventy-five, she being ten years younger than he."—"And though at this age," Mr. Le Clerc observes, "the...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART TWENTY-SIX THE STORY OF ABRAHAM: THE PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH (Genesis, ch. 12; cf. Hebrews 11:8-19) 1. The Biblical Account 1 Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy k...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN HE WAS COME NEAR TO ENTER INTO EGYPT, THAT HE SAID UNTO SARAI HIS WIFE, BEHOLD NOW, I KNOW THAT THOU ART A FAIR WOMAN TO LOOK UPON:_ When he was come near to enter into Egy...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    12:11 now, (c-23) Lit. 'Behold, I pray thee.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CALL OF ABRAHAM. THE REMOVAL TO CANAAN. THE VISIT TO EGYPT 1. Had said] RV 'said,' when he was in Haran. In what manner the call came to Abraham, whether through some outward incident which he rec...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Abram went to Egypt, which was a foreign country. He did not know its customs. He was not confident that God would protect him and Sarai. He thought that someone might kill him in order to take Sarai...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 12 ABRAM’S JOURNEY TO *CANAAN V1 The *Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country. Leave your home. Leave your father’s house. Go to the country that...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (11-13) THOU ART A FAIR WOMAN. — For the word y_ephath,_ rendered “fair,” see on Genesis 9:27. Though its general meaning is _beautiful,_ yet there can be no doubt that the light colour of Sarai’s com...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יְהִ֕י כַּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִקְרִ֖יב לָ בֹ֣וא

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE CALL OF ABRAHAM Genesis 11:27; Genesis 12:1 WITH Abraham there opens a new chapter in the history of the race; a chapter of the profoundest significance. The consequences of Abraham's movements...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    ABRAM IN EGYPT Genesis 12:6 ABRAM still journeying southward, and not as yet knowing where his shifting camp was finally to be pitched, came at last to what may be called the heart of Palestine, the...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ABRAM AND SARAI IN EGYPT Genesis 12:10 It is a comfort that the Holy Spirit permits us to trace the successive stages through which the father of those who believe made his way to the maturity of fai...

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

    At this point begins the actual historic movement toward the coming of the Redeemer. One man was called to the realization of the true principle of life. The call was personal and purposeful. Abram wa...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    GOD PROVIDED FOR ABRAM Even this great man of faith had times when his trust in God's providence failed. Such an instance is seen in his journey into Egypt in time of famine. He tried to provide for h...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Beautiful: having yet had no children, though she must have been 65 years old. Abram acts with prudence, and does not tempt God: if he had made known that the woman was his wife, he would have exposed...

  • 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...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    11._He said unto Sarai his wife_. He now relates the counsel which Abram took for the preservation of his life when he was approaching Egypt. Andy since this place is like a rock, on which many strike...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    From chapter 12 then there is developed altogether a new order of events, which refer to the call of God, to His covenants, to His promises, to the manifestation of His people as a distinct people on...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN HE WAS COME NEAR TO ENTER INTO EGYPT,.... Just entering into it, having travelled from the mountain between Bethel and Hai, two hundred and forty miles p; or when he "caused...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou [art] a fair woman to look upon: Ver. 11. _Behold now, I know that thou...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 God calleth Abram, and blesseth him with a promise of Christ. 4 He departeth with Lot from Haran. 6 He iourneyeth through Canaan, 7 which is promised him in a vision. 10 Hee is driuen by a famin...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Abraham Dissembles in Egypt...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai, his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon;...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SECOND PERIOD The Genesis of the patriarchal faith in the promise and of the covenant religion; of the antagonistic relation, between the faith in the promise and heathenism; of the harmonious opposit...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CALL OF ABRAM The Lord had before told Abram to leave his country, his kindred and his father's house, and go to a land He would show him. This call took place while he was still in Ur of the Chal...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    10-20 There is no state on earth free from trials, nor any character free from blemishes. There was famine in Canaan, the glory of all lands, and unbelief, with the evils it ever brings, in Abram the...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    QUEST. How could she be so fair, when she was above sixty years old? ANSW. She was so both comparatively to the Egyptians, and simply in herself, and that might be from divers causes: 1. From the gre...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    The book of Genesis is, for the most part, taken up with the history of seven men, namely, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. There is, I doubt not, a specific line of truth brought...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 12:11 pass H834 close H7126 (H8689) entering H935 (H8800) Egypt H4714 said H559 (H8799) Sarai...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And it happened that when he was on the verge of entering Egypt he said to Sarai his wife, “Look now, I know that you are a very beautiful woman. And when the Egyptians see you they will say ‘this is...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 12, etc. I. Notice first the call of Abraham. (1) The call was addressed to him suddenly; (2) it required him to forsake his country and his kindred, while giving him no hope of return; (3) i...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Call of Abram. His worship and testing. The error in Egypt. CHARACTERS: Abram, Sarai, Lot, Pharaoh. CONCLUSION: The path into which God calls the believer may often be trying to the flesh,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 12:1. _Had said._ The God of glory appeared to Abraham, and enjoined him to leave his idolatrous country. Joshua 24:2; Acts 7:3. Genesis 12:2. I will

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Abram went down into Egypt_ ABRAM IN EGYPT: THE TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS OF A LIFE OF FAITH The life of faith has many temptations and trials. I. THEY MAY ARISE FROM TEMPORAL CALAMITIES. Famine. 1....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 12:10. A famine in the land] The frequent famines are a peculiar characteristic of early times, and of uncivilised lands. Egypt as a rich and fruitful land was even then a ref...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 12:10 AND THERE WAS A FAMINE. רָעָב, from a root signifying to hunger, the primary. idea appearing to lie in that of an ample, _i.e._ empty, stomach (Gesenius, Furst). The term is...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy family (Genesis 12:1), So Abraham really wasn't totally obedient at this point. And this to me is interesting, because Abrah...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    a fair. Genesis 12:14 Genesis 26:7 Genesis 29:17 Genesis 39:6 Genesis 39:7

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

    Why did God let Abraham prosper by lying? PROBLEM: We are told in the Bible not to lie (Exodus 20:16), but, when Abraham lied about Sarah, his wealth was increased. SOLUTION: First, Abraham’s increas...

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