Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” New Living Translation Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!” English Standard Version Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” Berean Standard Bible Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Berean Literal Bible Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to myself as a wife? And now, behold, your wife; take her and go!” King James Bible Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. New King James Version Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.” New American Standard Bible Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for myself as a wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go!” NASB 1995 “Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.” NASB 1977 “Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.” Legacy Standard Bible Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for myself as a wife? So now, here is your wife, take her and go.” Amplified Bible Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her and go!” Berean Annotated Bible Why did you say, ‘She is my sister, so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go! Christian Standard Bible Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go! ” Holman Christian Standard Bible Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!” American Standard Version why saidst thou, She is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. Contemporary English Version Why did you make me believe she was your sister? Now I've married her. Take her and go! She's your wife." English Revised Version Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so that I took her to be my wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. GOD'S WORD® Translation Why did you say, 'She's my sister' and allow me to take her for my wife? Here's your wife! Take her and go!" Good News Translation Why did you say that she was your sister, and let me take her as my wife? Here is your wife; take her and get out!" International Standard Version Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her as a wife for myself? Now, here is your wife! Take her and get out!" NET Bible Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Here is your wife! Take her and go!" New Heart English Bible Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, look, your wife is before you. Take, and go." Webster's Bible Translation Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me for a wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhy did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” World English Bible Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go your way.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhy have you said, She [is] my sister, and I take her to myself for a wife? And now, behold, your wife, take and go.” Berean Literal Bible Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to myself as a wife? And now, behold, your wife; take her and go!” Young's Literal Translation Why hast thou said, She is my sister, and I take her to myself for a wife? and now, lo, thy wife, take and go.' Smith's Literal Translation Why saidst thou, She is my sister and I shall take her to me for a wife? and now behold thy wife, take and go. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor what cause didst thou say, she was thy sister, that I might take her to my wife? Now therefore, there is thy wife, take her, and go thy way. Catholic Public Domain Version For what reason did you claim her to be your sister, so that I would take her to me as a wife? Now therefore, behold your mate, receive her and go.” New American Bible Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and leave!” New Revised Standard Version Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her, and be gone.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhy did you say, She is my sister, so that I took her for my wife? Now, therefore, here is your wife, take her, and leave the country. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And why did you say ‘She is my sister’, and I have taken her to me as a wife? Now, behold, take your wife and go.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Why saidst thou: She is my sister? so that I took her to be my wife; now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.' Brenton Septuagint Translation Wherefore didst thou say, She is my sister? and I took her for a wife to myself; and now, behold, thy wife is before thee, take her and go quickly away. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Abram and Sarai in Egypt…18So Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20Then Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning Abram, and they sent him away with his wife and all his possessions.… Cross References Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ 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.” Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight. so that I took her as my wife? Genesis 20:3 One 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.” 2 Samuel 12:9 Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own. You have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. Now then, here is your wife. Genesis 20:14 So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him. Genesis 20:7 Now 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.” Genesis 24:67 And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death. Take her and go!” Genesis 24:51 Rebekah is here before you. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD has decreed.” Genesis 24:58 They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied. Genesis 24:61 Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left. Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 34:16 And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same. Deuteronomy 7:3-4 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you. 1 Kings 3:1 Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem. Treasury of Scripture Why said you, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold your wife, take her, and go your way. Jump to Previous Sister Way WifeJump to Next Sister Way WifeGenesis 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. Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ This phrase highlights Abram's deception regarding Sarai's identity. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such familial relationships were complex, and half-sibling marriages were not uncommon (Genesis 20:12). Abram's fear of being killed for Sarai's beauty led him to this half-truth, reflecting a lack of trust in God's protection. This incident foreshadows similar events in Genesis 20 with Abimelech and later with Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 26, indicating a recurring theme of fear and deception among the patriarchs. so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Persons / Places / Events 1. Abram (Abraham)The patriarch of the Israelites, called by God to leave his homeland and journey to Canaan. In this passage, he deceives Pharaoh by claiming Sarai is his sister. 2. Sarai (Sarah) Abram's wife, who is taken into Pharaoh's house because of Abram's deception. Her beauty is noted, and she plays a crucial role in God's covenant with Abram. 3. Pharaoh The ruler of Egypt who unknowingly takes Sarai as his wife due to Abram's lie. He confronts Abram upon discovering the truth. 4. Egypt The land where Abram and Sarai seek refuge during a famine in Canaan. It becomes a place of testing for Abram's faith and integrity. 5. Deception The event of Abram lying about Sarai's identity, which leads to a series of consequences and divine intervention. Teaching Points The Consequences of DeceptionAbram's lie leads to unintended consequences, reminding us that deceit can harm others and disrupt God's plans. God's Sovereignty and Protection Despite Abram's failure, God intervenes to protect Sarai and preserve His covenant promise, showing His faithfulness. Faith Over Fear Abram's fear led him to deceive, but God calls us to trust Him even in uncertain circumstances. Repentance and Restoration Abram's experience teaches the importance of acknowledging our mistakes and seeking God's forgiveness and guidance. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 12:19?2. Why did Pharaoh ask, "Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?" 3. How does Genesis 12:19 demonstrate consequences of deceit in relationships? 4. What lessons can we learn about honesty from Genesis 12:19? 5. How does Genesis 12:19 connect to the commandment against bearing false witness? 6. How can we apply the importance of truthfulness in our daily interactions? 7. Why did Pharaoh take Sarai into his palace according to Genesis 12:19? 8. How does Genesis 12:19 reflect on Abraham's character and faith? 9. What cultural norms allowed Pharaoh to take Sarai in Genesis 12:19? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 12? 11. Why did Abram claim Sarai was his sister? 12. Genesis 12:11-13: Why would a supposedly divinely guided Abram deceive Pharaoh about his wife, risking moral inconsistency? 13. In Genesis 26:7, does Isaac's deception about Rebekah mirror Abraham's story too closely, suggesting the same incident was repeated or borrowed? 14. Who was Lot in the Bible? What Does Genesis 12:19 Mean Why did you say, “She is my sister”• Pharaoh’s question exposes Abram’s fear-driven deception (Genesis 12:11-13). • Abram worried the Egyptians would kill him for Sarai’s beauty; he overlooked God’s promise of protection (Genesis 12:2-3). • Scripture later affirms that fear of man is a snare (Proverbs 29:25), while trust in the Lord brings safety (Psalm 56:3-4). • Though Abram’s statement was half-true (Sarai was his half-sister; Genesis 20:12), God values truth in the inner being (Psalm 51:6). • This moment reminds us that even people of faith stumble, yet God remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). So that I took her as my wife • Pharaoh unknowingly crossed a moral boundary because Abram misrepresented the relationship. • The king’s action shows how personal sin can ripple outward, drawing others into unintended wrongdoing (Joshua 7:1, 11). • Yet God intervened with plagues (Genesis 12:17), preserving Sarai’s purity and the future lineage through which the Messiah would come (Galatians 3:16). • The episode foreshadows God’s protection of His covenant family even in foreign courts (Psalm 105:13-15; Esther 2:17). Now then, here is your wife • Pharaoh publicly restores Sarai, acknowledging the wrong and vindicating her honor (Genesis 20:14 parallels Abimelech’s restitution). • God’s sovereign hand turns a potential disaster into a testimony of His safeguarding grace (Romans 8:28). • The restitution underscores marital sanctity, affirming the one-flesh bond established in Genesis 2:24. Take her and go! • Pharaoh’s command expels Abram, yet Abram departs richer than he arrived (Genesis 12:16; 13:2), illustrating God’s ability to bless His people even through missteps (Exodus 12:35-36 mirrors this pattern). • The phrase hints at future confrontations between God’s people and Egyptian rulers, culminating in Moses’ repeated call: “Let My people go” (Exodus 5:1; 9:1). • Abram’s exit marks a fresh opportunity to walk in renewed faith, immediately followed by altar-building and worship (Genesis 13:3-4). summary Genesis 12:19 highlights Abram’s lapse, Pharaoh’s rebuke, and God’s deliverance. The verse teaches that fear-based deception endangers others, yet God faithfully preserves His covenant purposes, restoring what sin jeopardizes and moving His people forward in grace. (19) So I might have taken her to me to wife.--The Hebrew is, and I took her to me to wife: that is, I took her with the intention of making her my wife. During the interval before the marriage Pharaoh and his household were visited with such marked troubles that he became alarmed, and possibly Sarai then revealed to him her true relationship to Abram. We find in Esther 2:12 that in the case of maidens there was a probation of twelve months duration before the marriage took place, and Sarai was probably saved by some such formality. The conduct of Pharaoh is upright and dignified; nor ought we to disbelieve his assurance that he had acted upon the supposition that Sarai might lawfully be his. The silence of Abram seems to indicate his consciousness that Pharaoh had acted more righteously than himself, and yet his repetition of the offence (Genesis 20) shows that he did not feel much self-reproach at what he had done; nor, possibly, ought we to judge his conduct from the high standpoint of Christian morality. When, however, commentators speak of it as Abram's fall, they forget that he arranged this matter with Sarai at the very time when he was quitting Haran (Genesis 20:13).
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