Genesis 12:12 Study Bible: It will happen, when the Egyptians will see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife.' They will kill me, but they will save you alive.

◄ Genesis 12:12 ►

and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live.

When the Egyptians see you
This phrase sets the stage for Abram's concern as he enters Egypt. The Egyptians, known for their advanced civilization and powerful empire, were often seen as a formidable people. Historically, Egypt was a land of wealth and influence, and Abram's journey there was significant. The Hebrew root for "see" (רָאָה, ra'ah) implies not just a physical sight but an understanding or perception. Abram anticipates the Egyptians' perception of Sarai's beauty, which he fears will lead to danger.

they will say, ‘This is his wife.’
Here, Abram predicts the Egyptians' reaction to Sarai's presence. The phrase "This is his wife" highlights the cultural and legal recognition of marriage, which was a sacred institution even in ancient times. The Hebrew word for "wife" (אִשָּׁה, ishah) is significant, as it denotes a woman in a covenant relationship. Abram's fear reflects the potential threat to his life due to the value placed on Sarai as his wife.

Then they will kill me
Abram's fear of being killed underscores the perceived threat he felt from the Egyptians. The Hebrew verb for "kill" (הָרַג, harag) conveys a sense of violent death. This reflects the harsh realities of ancient Near Eastern societies, where power struggles and personal gain often led to violence. Abram's concern for his life reveals his vulnerability and the precariousness of his situation.

but will let you live
This phrase contrasts Abram's fate with Sarai's potential survival. The Hebrew verb for "let live" (חָיָה, chayah) implies preservation of life. Abram's fear that Sarai would be spared due to her beauty and potential value to the Egyptians highlights the societal norms where women could be seen as commodities. This situation sets the stage for Abram's subsequent actions and God's intervention, emphasizing themes of protection and divine providence.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Abram (Abraham)
The central figure in this passage, Abram is later renamed Abraham by God. He is a man of faith, called by God to leave his homeland and journey to a land that God would show him. In this verse, Abram is expressing fear for his life as he anticipates entering Egypt.

2. Sarai (Sarah)
Abram's wife, who is noted for her beauty. Abram fears that because of her beauty, the Egyptians will kill him to take her.

3. Egypt
A significant location in the Bible, often representing a place of refuge but also of potential danger and temptation. In this context, Egypt is where Abram and Sarai go due to a famine in Canaan.

4. The Egyptians
The people of Egypt, who Abram fears will kill him to take Sarai.

5. Famine
The event that drives Abram and Sarai to Egypt, setting the stage for the unfolding of Abram's fear and subsequent actions.

Teaching Points

Fear and Faith
Abram's fear leads him to act deceptively, highlighting the struggle between fear and faith. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's protection rather than resorting to deceit.

Consequences of Deception
Abram's actions have consequences, both immediate and long-term. This serves as a reminder that deceit can lead to complications and challenges in our lives.

God's Sovereignty
Despite Abram's fear and deception, God's plan continues to unfold. This reassures believers that God's purposes prevail even when human actions fall short.

Family Patterns
The repetition of similar actions by Abram's descendants suggests the importance of breaking negative family patterns through faith and obedience.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Abram's fear in Genesis 12:12 reflect common human fears, and how can we apply faith to overcome similar fears in our lives?

2. In what ways do Abram's actions in Egypt foreshadow future events in his family's history, and what can we learn about breaking negative cycles?

3. How does the concept of God's sovereignty in this passage encourage us when we face situations that tempt us to act out of fear?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure that our actions align with faith rather than fear, especially in challenging circumstances?

5. How can we apply the lessons from Abram's experience in Egypt to our understanding of trust and integrity in our personal and professional lives?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 20
Abram's fear and actions are mirrored later when he again claims Sarai is his sister to protect himself, this time with Abimelech.

Genesis 26
Isaac, Abram's son, repeats a similar deception with Rebekah, showing a pattern of fear and self-preservation in the family.

Exodus 1
The fear of foreigners in Egypt is echoed when the new Pharaoh fears the Israelites and enslaves them.

Matthew 10
Jesus teaches about fear and trust in God, contrasting human fear with divine protection.

Sermons

The Strength and Weakness of Abram	W. Roberts	Genesis 12:6-20
A Famine in the Land of Promise	F. B. Meyer, B. A.	Genesis 12:10-20
A Lie Lasting	W. Adamson.	Genesis 12:10-20
Abraham in Egypt	Dean Stanley.	Genesis 12:10-20
Abraham in Egypt	The Congregational Pulpit	Genesis 12:10-20
Abram in Egypt	T. H. Leale.	Genesis 12:10-20
Abram in Egypt	Homilist	Genesis 12:10-20
Abram in Egypt	A. Fuller.	Genesis 12:10-20
Abram in Egypt	The Pulpit Analyst	Genesis 12:10-20
Abram's Sinful Evasion	F. W. Robertson, M. A.	Genesis 12:10-20
Afflictions from God	G. Hughes, B. D.	Genesis 12:10-20
Carnal Policy	F. Hastings.	Genesis 12:10-20
Faith in Weakness and Conflict	The Preacher's Monthly	Genesis 12:10-20
Faith's Infirmity		Genesis 12:10-20
Lessons	G. Hughes, B. D.	Genesis 12:10-20
Lessons	Charles Jerdan, M. A. , LL. B.	Genesis 12:10-20
Lessons	G. Hughes, B. D.	Genesis 12:10-20
Lessons	G. Hughes, B. D.	Genesis 12:10-20
Lessons	G. Hughes, B. D.	Genesis 12:10-20
The Blessed Life Illustrated in the History of Abraham	M. G. Pearse.	Genesis 12:10-20
The Church and the World	R.A. Redford	Genesis 12:10-20
The Holy Tempter	Gurnall, William	Genesis 12:10-20
The Lessons Abraham Learned in Egypt	M. Dods, D. D.	Genesis 12:10-20
The Sombre Tints of Life	A. Maclaren, D. D.	Genesis 12:10-20

People

Abram, Canaanites, Egyptians, Haran, Lot, Pharaoh, Sarai

Places

Ai, Bethel, Betonim, Canaan, Egypt, Haran, Moreh, Negev, Shechem

Topics

Alive, Death, Egypt, Egyptians, Kill, Pass, Save, Slain, Slay, Wife

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Genesis 12:4-20

5076 Abraham, life of

Genesis 12:10-13

8410 decision-making, examples

Genesis 12:10-16

5503 rich, the

Genesis 12:10-20

5077 Abraham, character
5737 sisters

Genesis 12:11-12

4040 beauty
8800 prejudice

Genesis 12:11-13

5811 compromise

Genesis 12:11-15

5173 outward appearance

Genesis 12:12-13

8722 doubt, nature of
8726 doubters

Library

Life in Canaan
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.' GENESIS xii. 3. These are the two first acts of Abram in the land of Canaan. 1. All life should blend earthly and heavenly. They are not to be separated. Religion should run through everything and take the whole of life for its field. Where we cannot carry it is no place for …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Going Forth
'They went forth to go into the land of Canaan, and into the land of Canaan they came.'--GENESIS xii. 5. I The reference of these words is to Abram's act of faith in leaving Haran and setting out on his pilgrimage. It is a strange narrative of a journey, which omits the journey altogether, with its weary marches, privations, and perils, and notes but its beginning and its end. Are not these the main points in every life, its direction and its attainment? There are-- 'Two points in the adventure …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Man of Faith
'And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.'--GENESIS xii. 6, 7. Great epoch and man. Steps of Abram's training. First he was simply called to go--no promise of inheritance--obeyed--came to Canaan-found a thickly peopled land with advanced social order, and received no …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

October the Eleventh the Old Companion on the New Road
"Get thee out ... and I will show thee." "So Abram departed ... and the Lord appeared." --GENESIS xii. 1-9. We must bring these separated passages together if we would appreciate the graciousness of the Lord's call. They are like the two sides of the same shield. They answer each other as voice and echo. When I move in obedience the Lord moves in inspiration. He never lets me go on my own charges. "All things are now ready." Before He makes me hunger the bread is prepared. Before I thirst the …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Twenty-Seventh Day that God's People May Realise their Calling
WHAT TO PRAY.--That God's People may Realise their Calling "I will bless thee; and be thou a blessing: in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed."--GEN. xii. 2, 3. "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us. That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations."--PS. lxvii. 1, 2. Abraham was only blessed that he might be a blessing to all the earth. Israel prays for blessing, that God may be known among all nations. …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

The Promise to the Patriarchs.
A great epoch is, in Genesis, ushered in with the history of the time of the Patriarchs. Luther says: "This is the third period in which Holy Scripture begins the history of the Church with a new family." In a befitting manner, the representation is opened in Gen. xii. 1-3 by an account of the first revelation of God, given to Abraham at Haran, in which the way is opened up for all that follows, and in which the dispensations of God are brought before us in a rapid survey. Abraham is to forsake …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

I Will Bless Thee, --And Thou Shalt be a Blessing. " --Gen. xii. 2
I will bless thee,--and thou shalt be a blessing."--Gen. xii. 2. Where'er the Patriarch pitch'd his tent, He built an altar to his God, And sanctified, where'er he went, With faith and prayer, the ground he trod. Through all the East, for riches famed, Heaven's gifts, he set his heart on none; Nor, when the dearest was reclaim'd, Withheld his son, his only son. Wherefore, in blessing, he was blest; Friendless, the friend of God became; Long-wandering, every where found rest; Long child-less, nations …
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

Letter xxi (Circa A. D. 1128) to the Abbot of S. John at Chartres
To the Abbot of S. John at Chartres Bernard dissuades him from resigning his charge, and undertaking a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 1. As regards the matters about which you were so good as to consult so humble a person as myself, I had at first determined not to reply. Not because I had any doubt what to say, but because it seemed to me unnecessary or even presumptuous to give counsel to a man of sense and wisdom. But considering that it usually happens that the greater number of persons of sense--or …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Four Shaping Centuries
'Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt: every man and his household came with Jacob. 2. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4. Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5. And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6. And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7, And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Plan for the Coming of Jesus.
God's Darling, Psalms 8:5-8.--the plan for the new man--the Hebrew picture by itself--difference between God's plan and actual events--one purpose through breaking plans--the original plan--a starting point--getting inside. Fastening a Tether inside: the longest way around--the pedigree--the start. First Touches on the Canvas: the first touch, Genesis 3:15.--three groups of prediction--first group: to Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3; to Isaac, Genesis 26:1-5; to Jacob, Genesis 28:10-15; through Jacob, …
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

The Night of Miracles on the Lake of Gennesaret
THE last question of the Baptist, spoken in public, had been: Art Thou the Coming One, or look we for another?' It had, in part, been answered, as the murmur had passed through the ranks: This One is truly the Prophet, the Coming One!' So, then, they had no longer to wait, nor to look for another! And this Prophet' was Israel's long expected Messiah. What this would imply to the people, in the intensity and longing of the great hope which, for centuries, nay, far beyond the time of Ezra, had swayed …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

An Analysis of Augustin's Writings against the Donatists.
The object of this chapter is to present a rudimentary outline and summary of all that Augustin penned or spoke against those traditional North African Christians whom he was pleased to regard as schismatics. It will be arranged, so far as may be, in chronological order, following the dates suggested by the Benedictine edition. The necessary brevity precludes anything but a very meagre treatment of so considerable a theme. The writer takes no responsibility for the ecclesiological tenets of the …
St. Augustine—writings in connection with the donatist controversy.

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
ONLY those who have made study of it can have any idea how large, and sometimes bewildering, is the literature on the subject of Jewish Proselytes and their Baptism. Our present remarks will be confined to the Baptism of Proselytes. 1. Generally, as regards proselytes (Gerim) we have to distinguish between the Ger ha-Shaar (proselyte of the gate) and Ger Toshabh (sojourner,' settled among Israel), and again the Ger hatstsedeq (proselyte of righteousness) and Ger habberith (proselyte of the covenant). …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
Josephus thus describes the land of Benjamin; "The Benjamites' portion of land was from the river Jordan to the sea, in length: in breadth, it was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." Let these last words be marked, "The breadth of the land of Benjamin was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." May we not justly conclude, from these words, that Jerusalem and Beth-el were opposite, as it were, in a right line? But if you look upon the maps, there are some that separate these by a very large tract of land, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Divine Calls.
"And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel; Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for Thy servant heareth."--1 Samuel iii. 10. In the narrative of which these words form part, we have a remarkable instance of a Divine call, and the manner in which it is our duty to meet it. Samuel was from a child brought to the house of the Lord; and in due time he was called to a sacred office, and made a prophet. He was called, and he forthwith answered the call. God said, "Samuel, …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Birth and Early Life of John the Baptist.
(Hill Country of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke I. 57-80. ^c 57 Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her [mercy in granting a child; great mercy in granting so illustrious a child] ; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass on the eighth day [See Gen. xvii. 12; Lev. xii. 3; Phil. iii. 5. Male children were named at their circumcision, probably …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Malachy's Pity for his Deceased Sister. He Restores the Monastery of Bangor. His First Miracles.
11. (6). Meanwhile Malachy's sister, whom we mentioned before,[271] died: and we must not pass over the visions which he saw about her. For the saint indeed abhorred her carnal life, and with such intensity that he vowed he would never see her alive in the flesh. But now that her flesh was destroyed his vow was also destroyed, and he began to see in spirit her whom in the body he would not see. One night he heard in a dream the voice of one saying to him that his sister was standing outside in the …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

The Christian's Book
Scripture references 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 2 Samuel 23:2; Luke 1:70; 24:32,45; John 2:22; 10:35; 19:36; Acts 1:16; Romans 1:1,2; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; James 2:8. WHAT IS THE BIBLE? What is the Bible? How shall we regard it? Where shall we place it? These and many questions like them at once come to the front when we begin to discuss the Bible as a book. It is only possible in this brief study, of a great subject, to indicate the line of some of the answers. …
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

Backsliding.
"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away."--Hosea xiv. 4. There are two kinds of backsliders. Some have never been converted: they have gone through the form of joining a Christian community and claim to be backsliders; but they never have, if I may use the expression, "slid forward." They may talk of backsliding; but they have never really been born again. They need to be treated differently from real back-sliders--those who have been born of the incorruptible …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It

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