The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Genesis 20

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Torah

Genesis chapter 20 — part of the Torah in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar.” — the complete text of all 18 verses is below, free to read online.

1And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar.

2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife: 'She is my sister.' And Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

3But G-d came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him: 'Behold, thou shalt die, because of the woman whom thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.'

4Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said: 'L-rd, wilt Thou slay even a righteous nation?

5Said he not himself unto me: She is my sister? and she, even she herself said: He is my brother. In the simplicity of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this.'

6And G-d said unto him in the dream: 'Yea, I know that in the simplicity of thy heart thou hast done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against Me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

7Now therefore restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.'

8And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears; and the men were sore afraid.

9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him: 'What hast thou done unto us? and wherein have I sinned against thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.'

10And Abimelech said unto Abraham: 'What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?'

11And Abraham said: 'Because I thought: Surely the fear of G-d is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

12And moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and so she became my wife.

13And it came to pass, when G-d caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her: This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me: He is my brother.'

14And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and men-servants and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

15And Abimelech said: 'Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.'

16And unto Sarah he said: 'Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee; and before all men thou art righted.'

17And Abraham prayed unto G-d; and G-d healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants; and they bore children.

18For HaShem had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

18 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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