Genesis 20:10
New International Version
And Abimelek asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?”

New Living Translation
Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”

English Standard Version
And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?”

Berean Standard Bible
Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

King James Bible
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

New King James Version
Then Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you have in view, that you have done this thing?”

New American Standard Bible
And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered, that you have done this thing?”

NASB 1995
And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered, that you have done this thing?”

NASB 1977
And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered, that you have done this thing?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you seen, that you have done this thing?”

Amplified Bible
And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered or seen [in us or our customs], that you have done this [unjust] thing?”

Christian Standard Bible
Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What made you do this? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abimelech also said to Abraham, “What did you intend when you did this thing?”

American Standard Version
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

Contemporary English Version
What were you thinking when you did this?

English Revised Version
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Abimelech also asked Abraham, "What were you thinking when you did this?"

Good News Translation
Why did you do it?"

International Standard Version
Abimelech also asked Abraham, "What could you have been thinking when you did this?"

Majority Standard Bible
Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

NET Bible
Then Abimelech asked Abraham, "What prompted you to do this thing?"

New Heart English Bible
Abimelech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking, to do this thing?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abimelech said to Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

World English Bible
Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Abimelech also says to Abraham, “What have you seen that you have done this thing?”

Young's Literal Translation
Abimelech also saith unto Abraham, 'What hast thou seen that thou hast done this thing?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abimelech will say to Abraham, What sawest thou that thou didst this thing?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And again he expostulated with him, and said, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And remonstrating him again, he said, “What did you see, so that you would do this?”

New American Bible
What did you have in mind,” Abimelech asked him, “that you would do such a thing?”

New Revised Standard Version
And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abimeleck said to Abraham, What induced you to do this thing?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abimelek said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have made this response?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abimelech said unto Abraham: 'What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abimelech said to Abraam, What hast thou seen in me that thou hast done this?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech
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 asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?” 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.’…

Cross References
Genesis 12:18-19
So Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? / 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!”

Genesis 26:9-10
Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.” / “What is this you have done to us?” asked Abimelech. “One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”

Exodus 32:21
“What did this people do to you,” Moses asked Aaron, “that you have led them into so great a sin?”

1 Samuel 21:1-2
Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” / “The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place.

2 Samuel 12:9-10
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. / Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

1 Kings 21:20
When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Kings 5:25-27
When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?” “Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied. / But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants? / Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.

Psalm 51:3-4
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. / Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

Proverbs 12:19
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

Isaiah 29:15
Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?”

Jeremiah 9:4-5
“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. / Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity.

Matthew 5:37
Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

Matthew 12:36-37
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. / For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Mark 7:21-23
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”


Treasury of Scripture

And Abimelech said to Abraham, What saw you, that you have done this thing?

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Genesis 20
1. Abraham sojourns at Gerar.
2. Denies his wife, who is taken by Abimelech.
3. Abimelech is reproved for her in a dream.
9. He rebukes Abraham.
14. Restores Sarah;
16. and reproves her.
17. Abimelech and his family are healed at Abraham's prayer.














And Abimelech asked Abraham
The name "Abimelech" is of Hebrew origin, meaning "my father is king." This title was likely used for Philistine kings, similar to "Pharaoh" in Egypt. Abimelech's interaction with Abraham highlights the cultural and political dynamics of the time. As a ruler, Abimelech's inquiry reflects a diplomatic approach, seeking to understand Abraham's motives. Historically, this encounter underscores the significance of communication and negotiation in ancient Near Eastern societies, where misunderstandings could lead to conflict.

What prompted you
The phrase "what prompted you" delves into the motivations behind actions. In Hebrew, the root idea is about the driving force or reason behind a decision. Abimelech's question is not just about curiosity but a deeper quest for understanding the moral and ethical considerations that led Abraham to misrepresent Sarah as his sister. This reflects a universal human concern with integrity and the reasons behind our actions, urging believers to examine their own motives in light of God's truth.

to do such a thing?
The phrase "to do such a thing" indicates an action that is unexpected or out of character. In the context of Genesis 20, Abraham's decision to present Sarah as his sister was a protective measure, yet it compromised the truth. This highlights the tension between human fear and divine trust. Historically, this reflects the precarious position of travelers and foreigners in ancient times, where survival often depended on strategic decisions. Scripturally, it serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and honesty, even in challenging circumstances, encouraging believers to rely on God's protection rather than their own schemes.

(10) What sawest thou?--Some modern commentators explain the Hebrew as meaning, What purpose hadst thou? What didst thou look for? But the old rendering is probably right. Abimelech first denies by indignant questions that he had been guilty of any wrong towards Abraham, and then asks what he had seen in the conduct of himself and people to justify such mistrust of them. Throughout, the king speaks as a man conscious that his citizens so respected the rights of a stranger and of marriage, that Sarah would have been perfectly safe had Abraham openly said that she was his wife.

Verse 10. - And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, - either, What hadst thou in view? (Knobel, Delitzsch, Keil, Murphy, et alii), or, What didst thou see? Didst thou see any of my people taking the wives of strangers and murdering their husbands? (Rosenmüller, 'Speaker's Commentary') - that thou hast done this thing?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Abimelech
אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ (’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 40: Abimelech -- 'father is king', a Philistine name, also an Israelite name

also asked
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Abraham,
אַבְרָהָ֑ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

“What
מָ֣ה (māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

prompted
רָאִ֔יתָ (rā·’î·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

you to do
עָשִׂ֖יתָ (‘ā·śî·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

such
הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

a thing?”
הַדָּבָ֥ר (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause


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OT Law: Genesis 20:10 Abimelech said to Abraham What did you (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 20:9
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