Abram in Egypt
Genesis 12:10-20
Gen.12.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- רעב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וירד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מצרימה: NOUN,prop,f,sg
- לגור: VERB,qal,inf
- שם: ADV,loc
- כי: CONJ
- כבד: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- הרעב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 26:1 (thematic): Isaac also faces a famine and so sojourns in Gerar — a parallel case where famine drives a patriarch to relocate to a foreign land.
- Genesis 41:53-57 (thematic): Description of the widespread famine in the land during Joseph's time, which prompts peoples from surrounding lands to come to Egypt for food — echoes the same crisis motif.
- Genesis 47:13-21 (structural): Accounts of the severe famine, Joseph's grain provision, and the migration of Jacob's family to Egypt — a direct narrative outcome of the same famine theme.
- Ruth 1:1 (thematic): A famine in the land causes Naomi and Elimelech's household to move to Moab — another example of famine-producing migration in the biblical tradition.
- Psalm 105:16-22 (allusion): The psalmist recounts God’s calling of Joseph and the coming famine that brought people to Egypt; a liturgical retelling that alludes to the famine-to-Egypt motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was heavy in the land.
- And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.
Gen.12.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- כאשר: CONJ
- הקריב: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- לבוא: VERB,qal,infc
- מצרימה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,prop
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: PREP
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשתו: NOUN,f,sg,cons+3,m
- הנה: PART
- נא: PART
- ידעתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יפת: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מראה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT
Parallels
- Genesis 20:2 (verbal): Abraham again presents Sarah as his sister to Abimelech; the same deception motif and wording (wife as sister) recur almost verbatim.
- Genesis 20:11-13 (thematic): Abraham's explanation — that he feared for his life because of his wife's beauty and thus said she was his sister — echoes the motive implied in Gen 12:11.
- Genesis 26:7 (thematic): Isaac repeats his father's strategy by claiming Rebekah is his sister when they sojourn in Gerar, showing a patterned patriarchal tactic of deception for protection.
- Genesis 12:10 (structural): Immediate context: the preceding verse reports the famine and Abram's decision to go down into Egypt, which provides the situational background that prompts the 'wife-as-sister' ruse in 12:11.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it happened, as he drew near to enter Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, See now, I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance.
- And as he drew near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, Look, now, I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance.
Gen.12.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- יראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אתך: PRON,2,m,sg
- המצרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ואמרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אשתו: NOUN,f,sg,cons+3,m
- זאת: PRON,dem,f,sg
- והרגו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אתי: PRON,acc,1,sg
- ואתך: PRON,2,m,sg
- יחיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Gen.12.10-13 (structural): Immediate context: Abram instructs Sarai to say she is his sister and explains his fear that Egyptians will kill him to take her—this verse is part of that narrative exchange.
- Gen.20.2 (thematic): Abraham again presents Sarah as his sister (before Abimelech), repeating the same protective deception and the danger posed by another ruler’s desire for the wife.
- Gen.26.7 (verbal): Isaac repeats almost the same words about Rebekah — 'they will say,
Alternative generated candidates
- And it will be, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, This is his wife, and they will kill me, but you they will let live.
- And it will be, when the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife; and they will kill me, but you they will let live.
Gen.12.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אמרי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- נא: PTCL
- אחתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs,1cs
- את: PRT
- למען: PREP
- ייטב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- בעבורך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg+suff:2ms
- וחיתה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs,1cs
- בגללך: PREP,2,f,sg
Parallels
- Gen.12.11 (structural): Immediate context: Abram decides out of fear that Sarai should say she is his sister—this verse sets up 12:13's instruction.
- Gen.20.2 (verbal): Abraham repeats the same claim to Abimelech—'She is my sister'—a direct recurrence of the tactic used in 12:13.
- Gen.20.13 (verbal): Abraham's later justification ('she is indeed my sister…') echoes the wording and rationale found in 12:13.
- Gen.26.7 (thematic): Isaac adopts the same 'sister' ruse concerning Rebekah, repeating the 'sister-wife' deception motif established in Genesis 12.
Alternative generated candidates
- Say, please, you are my sister, so that it may go well with me because of you, and my life will be spared because of you.
- Say, please, you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.
Gen.12.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- כבוא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מצרימה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- המצרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- את: PRT
- האשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- יפה: ADJ,f,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- Gen.12.11-13 (structural): Immediate context: Abram fears for his life and instructs Sarai to say she is his sister because of her great beauty — gives motive for Egyptians' reaction.
- Gen.20:1-2 (verbal): Abimelech sees Sarah's beauty and takes her into his house; Abraham again presents her as his sister — a near-repeat of the Egypt episode.
- Gen.26:6-11 (verbal): Isaac, fearing for his life because of Rebekah's beauty, tells the Philistines she is his sister; the episode echoes Abraham's deception and its social consequences.
- 2 Sam.11:2-4 (thematic): David sees Bathsheba's beauty and acts on desire, initiating a crisis — parallels the motif of a woman's beauty precipitating danger, desire, or moral/political trouble.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it happened, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
- And when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
Gen.12.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויהללו: VERB,piel,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- אל: PREP
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותקח: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- האשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.12:10-20 (structural): Immediate pericope containing the same episode: Abram’s deception, Pharaoh’s officials notice Sarai, she is taken into Pharaoh’s house, and God afflicts Pharaoh’s household.
- Gen.20:2 (verbal): Near-duplicate episode: Abimelech takes Sarah after seeing her; repeats the ‘husband-as-brother’ motif and the royal appropriation of the woman.
- Gen.26:7-11 (thematic): Isaac repeats Abraham’s ‘she is my sister’ strategy with Rebekah; royal officials become involved and the woman’s status before a ruler is threatened—parallel pattern of deception and royal attention.
- Esther 2:2-4 (thematic): Women are brought into the king’s house after being seen and recommended; thematic parallel of a woman being selected/praised and taken into a ruler’s household.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
- And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and they praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
Gen.12.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ולאברם: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היטיב: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- בעבורה: PREP+NOUN+PRON,3,f,sg
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- צאן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובקר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחמרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ועבדים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ושפחת: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואתנת: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וגמלים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 13:2 (verbal): States that Abram was "very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold," paralleling Gen 12:16's catalogue of animals and servants that indicate Abram's prosperity.
- Genesis 24:35 (allusion): Abraham's servant reports that the LORD blessed his master with "sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants," echoing the same items listed in Gen 12:16 and linking the wealth to divine blessing.
- Genesis 26:12-14 (thematic): Isaac's flourishing—sowing, reaping, and accumulating flocks, herds, and servants—recapitulates the patriarchal motif of prosperity as a sign of covenant blessing found in Gen 12:16.
- Deuteronomy 8:18 (thematic): Affirms that God gives the power to acquire wealth, providing theological explanation for the material increase of figures like Abram in Gen 12:16.
Alternative generated candidates
- And for her sake he treated Abram well; and he had flocks and herds, and donkeys, and male servants and female servants, and she-donkeys and camels.
- And Pharaoh dealt well with Abram on her account; and he had sheep and cattle and donkeys, and male servants and female servants, and female donkeys and camels.
Gen.12.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וינגע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגעים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- גדלים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ואת: CONJ+PRT
- ביתו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- דבר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשת: NOUN,f,sg,construct
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 20:3 (allusion): God intervenes to prevent Abimelech from sinning because Sarah is in his house (warning in a dream) — a closely parallel episode to God afflicting Pharaoh over Sarah.
- Genesis 20:17-18 (structural): After the Abimelech incident God deals directly with Abimelech’s household (healing and enabling conception) — a parallel pattern of divine action toward a foreign ruler’s household in connection with Sarah.
- Exodus 12:12 (thematic): Speaks of the LORD executing plagues/judgment on Egypt/Pharaoh — shares the motif of God smiting Pharaoh and his household to accomplish divine purposes.
- 1 Samuel 5:6-12 (thematic): The Philistine cities are struck with tumors and distress after taking the ark — a similar motif of God sending afflictions on a foreign ruler’s house/community in response to a grave offense.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues on account of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
- And the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
Gen.12.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאברם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מה: PRON,interrog
- זאת: PRON,dem,f,sg
- עשית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- למה: ADV
- לא: PART,neg
- הגדת: VERB,hifil,perf,2,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אשתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+suff:2ms
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Gen.12.17 (structural): Immediate context: God afflicted Pharaoh and his house because of Sarai (explains why Pharaoh confronts Abram and returns Sarai).
- Gen.20.2 (verbal): Parallel episode where Abraham again presents Sarah as his sister and King Abimelech takes her — similar deception motif and royal acquisition of the wife. (Gen 20 mirrors Gen 12’s premise.)
- Gen.20.9-10 (thematic): Abimelech confronts Abraham with nearly identical reproach — 'What have you done to us? Why did you not tell me she is your wife?' — a close thematic and verbal echo of Pharaoh’s rebuke in Gen 12:18.
- Gen.26.7-11 (thematic): Isaac repeats Abraham’s 'she is my sister' deception with Rebekah; Abimelech (or his officials) discovers the truth and rebukes Isaac — a later reiteration of the same tactic and its social/diplomatic consequences.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she is your wife?
- And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she is your wife?
Gen.12.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למה: ADV
- אמרת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- אחתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+SUFF,1,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- ואקח: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- לאשה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועתה: CONJ+PRT
- הנה: PART
- אשתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+suff:2ms
- קח: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- ולך: CONJ+VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 20:9-13 (verbal): Abimelech confronts Abraham with almost identical words—'What have you done to us? Why did you say,
Alternative generated candidates
- Why did you say, She is my sister, so that I took her to me for a wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her and go.
- 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.
Gen.12.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אנשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וישלחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אתו: PRT+PRON,3,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ+PRT
- אשתו: NOUN,f,sg,cons+3,m
- ואת: CONJ+PRT
- כל: ADJ,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Gen 20:14-16 (thematic): Abimelech returns Sarah to Abraham and gives gifts; like Pharaoh in Gen 12 Pharaoh orders the man and his wife to be sent away and both episodes portray a foreign ruler resolving a dangerous marital deception and making restitutive gestures.
- Gen 26:7-11 (thematic): Isaac repeats Abraham’s ‘she is my sister’ ruse with Rebekah and Abimelech’s court becomes involved; parallels include the same wife-as-sister deception and a ruler’s intervention on discovering the truth.
- Gen 21:14-21 (structural): Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away at Sarah’s insistence; both passages treat the motif of a patriarch sending a family member out from his household and the subsequent divine care or resolution for those sent away.
- Exod 12:31-36 (structural): Pharaoh urgently orders the Israelites to depart and they leave with silver, gold, and goods; structurally similar as a ruler commands departure and the people depart with possessions, echoing the release motif in Gen 12:20.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that was his.
- And Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they sent him away, with his wife, and all that was his.
And there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. And it was, as he drew near to enter Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, Look, now, I know that you are a woman fair in appearance. And it shall be, when the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife; and they will kill me, but you they will let live.
Say, please, you are my sister, so that it may go well with me on your account, and my life be spared because of you. And it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. And the officials of Pharaoh saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. And he dealt well with Abram on her account; and he had flocks and herds, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels. And the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues on account of Sarai, the wife of Abram. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she is your wife?
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. And Pharaoh charged men concerning him, and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that was his.