| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1From there Abraham traveled to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived in Gerar, | 1Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, |
| 2Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. | 2Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. |
| 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman." | 3One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.” |
| 4Now Abimelech had not approached her, so he said, "Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? | 4Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? |
| 5Didn't he himself say to me, 'She is my sister? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands." | 5Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.” |
| 6Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. I have also kept you from sinning against Me. Therefore I have not let you touch her. | 6Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her. |
| 7Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours." | 7Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.” |
| 8Early in the morning Abimelech got up, called all his servants together, and personally told them all these things, and the men were terrified. | 8Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified. |
| 9Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said to him, "What have you done to us? How did I sin against you that you have brought such enormous guilt on me and on my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done." | 9Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.” |
| 10Abimelech also said to Abraham, "What did you intend when you did this thing?" | 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?” |
| 11Abraham replied, "I thought, 'There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.' | 11Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’ |
| 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. | 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife. |
| 13So when God had me wander from my father's house, I said to her: Show your loyalty to me wherever we go and say about me: 'He's my brother.'" | 13So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ” |
| 14Then Abimelech took sheep and cattle and male and female slaves, gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him. | 14So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him. |
| 15Abimelech said, "Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you want." | 15And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.” |
| 16And he said to Sarah, "Look, I am giving your brother 1,000 pieces of silver. It is a verification of your honor to all who are with you. You are fully vindicated." | 16And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.” |
| 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children, | 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children— |
| 18for the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife. | 18for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household. |
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