Genesis 12:13
New International Version
Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

New Living Translation
So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”

English Standard Version
Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.”

Berean Standard Bible
Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”

King James Bible
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

New King James Version
Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”

New American Standard Bible
Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.”

NASB 1995
“Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.”

NASB 1977
“Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.”

Amplified Bible
Please tell them that you are my sister so that things will go well for me for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you.”

Christian Standard Bible
Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.”

American Standard Version
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.

Contemporary English Version
Please save my life by saying you are my sister."

English Revised Version
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Please say that you're my sister. Then everything will be alright for me, and because of you I will live."

Good News Translation
Tell them that you are my sister; then because of you they will let me live and treat me well."

International Standard Version
Please say that you are my sister, so things will go well for me for your sake. That way, you'll be saving my life."

Majority Standard Bible
Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”

NET Bible
So tell them you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you and my life will be spared on account of you."

New Heart English Bible
Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you."

Webster's Bible Translation
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

World English Bible
Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
please say you [are] my sister, so that it is well with me because of you, and my soul has lived for your sake.”

Young's Literal Translation
say, I pray thee, thou art my sister, so that it is well with me because of thee, and my soul hath lived for thy sake.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Say, now, thou my sister, that it shall be well to me because of thee, and my soul shall live by means of thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Say, therefore, I pray thee, that thou art my sister: that I may be well used for thee, and that my soul may live for thy sake.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, I beg you to say that you are my sister, so that it may be well with me because of you, and so that my soul may live by your favor.”

New American Bible
Please say, therefore, that you are my sister, so that I may fare well on your account and my life may be spared for your sake.”

New Revised Standard Version
Say you are my sister, so that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared on your account.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Say, therefore, that you are my sister because I will be treated well for your sake; and my life shall be spared because of you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Say, ‘I am his sister’, so that it will be good for me because of you and my soul will live because of you.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Say, therefore, I am his sister, that it may be well with me on account of thee, and my soul shall live because of thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abram and Sarai in Egypt
12and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.” 14So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.…

Cross References
Genesis 20:2
Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

Genesis 26:7
But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.”

Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Exodus 23:1
“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.

Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

Proverbs 19:9
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Matthew 26:69-75
Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said. / But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.” / When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ...

Mark 14:66-72
While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came down / and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” / But he denied it. “I do not know or even understand what you are talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, and the rooster crowed. ...

Luke 22:54-62
Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance. / When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. / A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said. ...

John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

Acts 5:1-11
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. / With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. / Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? ...

Romans 3:7
However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?

2 Corinthians 4:2
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Ephesians 4:25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.


Treasury of Scripture

Say, I pray you, you are my sister: that it may be well with me for your sake; and my soul shall live because of you.

Say.

John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Romans 3:6-8
God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? …

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

thou.

Genesis 11:29
And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

Genesis 20:2,5,12,13
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah…

Genesis 26:7
And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.

and.

Psalm 146:3-5
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help…

Jeremiah 17:5-8
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD…

Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

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Account Kept Live Please Safe Sake Sister Soul Spared Treated
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Account Kept Live Please Safe Sake Sister Soul Spared Treated
Genesis 12
1. God calls Abram, and blesses him with a promise of Christ.
4. He departs with Lot from Haran, and comes to Canaan.
6. He journeys through Canaan,
7. which is promised to him in a vision.
10. He is driven by famine into Egypt.
11. Fear makes him feign his wife to be his sister.
14. Pharaoh, having taken her from him, is compelled to restore her.
18. Pharaoh reproves Abram, whom he dismisses.














Say you are my sister
This phrase is pivotal in understanding Abram's strategy and the cultural context of the time. The Hebrew word for "sister" is "אָחוֹת" (achot), which can mean a literal sister or a close female relative. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, familial ties were crucial for social and economic interactions. Abram's request reflects a protective strategy, as women were often seen as under the guardianship of their male relatives. By presenting Sarai as his sister, Abram hoped to invoke a protective status that would prevent potential harm from Pharaoh's court. This decision, while controversial, underscores the complexities of faith and fear in Abram's journey.

so that I will be treated well
The phrase "treated well" in Hebrew is "יֵיטַב לִי" (yeṭav li), which implies receiving favor or kindness. Abram's concern for his welfare highlights the precariousness of his situation in a foreign land. The ancient world was fraught with dangers for travelers, and securing favor was often a matter of survival. This part of the verse reveals Abram's human vulnerability and the tension between divine promises and earthly challenges. It serves as a reminder of God's providence, even when human actions seem to falter.

for your sake
This phrase emphasizes the relational dynamics between Abram and Sarai. The Hebrew "בַּעֲבוּרֵךְ" (ba'avurekh) suggests that Sarai's presence and perceived status would directly influence Abram's treatment. It reflects the interconnectedness of their destinies and the sacrificial nature of their relationship. In a broader theological sense, it points to the idea that God often works through relationships to fulfill His purposes, using the bonds of family and marriage as conduits of His blessing and protection.

and my life will be spared
The Hebrew "וְחָיְתָה נַפְשִׁי" (vechaytah nafshi) translates to "and my soul will live." This expression underscores the life-or-death stakes Abram perceived. In the ancient world, the threat of death was a constant reality, especially for foreigners in powerful territories. Abram's plea for his life reveals his reliance on human wisdom in a moment of fear, yet it also foreshadows God's ultimate protection and faithfulness. It serves as a narrative tension point, inviting readers to reflect on the balance between human agency and divine sovereignty.

because of you
The phrase "בִּגְלָלֵךְ" (biglaleikh) indicates causation, showing that Sarai's role was central to Abram's plan. This highlights the significant influence women had, even in patriarchal societies, and the ways in which God's plans often unfold through unexpected means. Sarai's involvement in this narrative is crucial, as it sets the stage for future developments in the Abrahamic covenant. It reminds believers of the importance of trust and integrity in relationships, and how God can use even flawed human decisions to advance His divine purposes.

(13) My sister.--True literally, as Sarai was Terah's daughter (Genesis 20:12), but absolutely false, as it implied that she was wholly his sister, and therefore not his wife.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Please
נָ֖א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

say that
אִמְרִי־ (’im·rî-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

you are
אָ֑תְּ (’āt)
Pronoun - second person feminine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

my sister,
אֲחֹ֣תִי (’ă·ḥō·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

so that
לְמַ֙עַן֙ (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

I will be treated well
יִֽיטַב־ (yî·ṭaḇ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3190: To be good, well, glad, or pleasing

for your sake,
בַעֲבוּרֵ֔ךְ (ḇa·‘ă·ḇū·rêḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5668: Crossed, transit, on account of, in order that

and on account of you
בִּגְלָלֵֽךְ׃ (biḡ·lā·lêḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 1558: A circumstance, on account of

my life
נַפְשִׁ֖י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

will be spared.”
וְחָיְתָ֥ה (wə·ḥā·yə·ṯāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive


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OT Law: Genesis 12:13 Please say that you are my sister (Gen. Ge Gn)
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