Genesis 20:18
◄  Genesis 20:18  ►
New International Version (©2011)
for the LORD had kept all the women in Abimelek's household from conceiving because of Abraham's wife Sarah.

New Living Translation (©2007)
For the LORD had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham's wife, Sarah.

English Standard Version (©2001)
For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
for the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

International Standard Version (©2012)
since the LORD had made all the women barren in Abimelech's household on account of Abraham's wife Sarah.

NET Bible (©2006)
For the LORD had caused infertility to strike every woman in the household of Abimelech because he took Sarah, Abraham's wife.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
(The LORD had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech's household to have children because of Abraham's wife Sarah.)

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

American King James Version
For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

American Standard Version
For Jehovah had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the Lord had closed up every womb of the house of Abimelech on ac- count of Sara, Abraham's wife.

Darby Bible Translation
For Jehovah had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

English Revised Version
For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the LORD had made barren all the females of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

World English Bible
For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

Young's Literal Translation
for Jehovah restraining had restrained every womb of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:14-18 We often trouble ourselves, and even are led into temptation and sin, by groundless suspicions; and find the fear of God where we expected it not. Agreements to deceive generally end in shame and sorrow; and restraints from sin, though by suffering, should be thankfully acknowledged. Though the Lord rebuke, yet he will pardon and deliver his people, and he will give them favour in the sight of those with whom they sojourn; and overrule their infirmities, when they are humbled for them, so that they shall prove useful to themselves and others.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - For the Lord (Jehovah; vide supra on Ver. 3) had fast closed up all the wombs - i.e. prevented conception, or produced barrenness (cf. Genesis 16:2; Isaiah 66:9; 1 Samuel 1:5, 6; for the opposite, Genesis 29:31; Genesis 30:22); "poena convenientissima; quid enim convenientius esse poterat, quam ut amittat, qui ad se rapit aliena" (Musculus). Vide Havernick, § 19 - of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife - the motive obviously being to protect the purity of the promised seed.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech,.... With large tumours probably, so that they could not cohabit with their husbands and conceive; nor could those that had conceived bring forth: and this disorder they were smitten with:

because of Sarah Abraham's wife; who was taken into the house of Abimelech, in order to be his; to rebuke and punish for which, and to convince of the evil of it, and cause to abstain from it, this disorder was inflicted on them.

Genesis 20:18 Parallel Commentaries

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Abraham, Sarah and Abimelech
…16And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to you a covering of the eyes, to all that are with you, and with all other: thus she was reproved. 17So Abraham prayed to God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bore children. 18For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

Genesis 12:17 But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai.
Genesis 30:2 Jacob became angry with her and said, "Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?"