Thematic Bible

Themes in Genesis 20

AMP

Themes in Genesis 20

Genesis 20:1 (show verse)

Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the Negev (the South country), and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he lived temporarily in Gerar.

Gerar » A city » A city of the philistines » Abimelech, king of
Gerar » A city » A city of the philistines » Visited by abraham
Kadesh » Abraham lives beside the wells nearby
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream
Shur » A wilderness southwest of palestine

Genesis 20:2 (show verse)

Abraham said [again] of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah [into his harem].

Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Deception » Religious persons guilty of
Deception » Instances of » Abraham, in stating that sarah was his sister
Falsehood » Instances of » Abraham, in denying that sarah was his wife
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:3 (show verse)

But God came to Abimelech in a dream during the night, and said, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken [as your wife], for she is another man’s wife.”

Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
The Dead » Illustrative of » Impotence
Dream » Instances of » Of abimelech,, concerning sarah
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Abimelech
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:4 (show verse)

Now Abimelech had not yet come near her; so he said, “Lord, will you kill a people who are righteous and innocent and blameless [regarding Sarah]?

Chastity » Exemplified
Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Abimelech
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech
Nation » Involved in sins of rulers
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:5 (show verse)

Did Abraham not tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”

Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Abimelech
Falsehood » Instances of » Sarah » Denying » To king of gerar
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I who kept you back and spared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you an opportunity to touch her.

Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Abimelech
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:7 (show verse)

So now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her [to him], know that you shall die, you and all who are yours (your household).”

Abraham » Piety of
Abraham » A prophet
Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Abimelech
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech
Leaders » Names of persons spoken of as » Abraham
Prophets » Names of persons spoken of as » Abraham
Religious » Names of persons spoken of as » Abraham
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:8 (show verse)

So Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were terrified.

Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Rising » Instances of » Abimelech
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:9 (show verse)

Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I offended you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me what ought not to be done [to anyone].”

Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Nation » Involved in sins of rulers
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream
Temptation » Instances of » Abimelech

Genesis 20:10 (show verse)

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

Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:11 (show verse)

Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely there is no fear or reverence of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’

Genesis 20:12 (show verse)

Besides, she actually is my [half] sister; she is the daughter of my father [Terah], but not of my mother; and she became my wife.

Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Incest » Instances of » Abraham
Marriage » Contracted in patriarchal age with near relations
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Sarah » Also called sarai » Near of kin to abraham
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:13 (show verse)

When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This kindness and loyalty you can show me: at every place we stop, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Incest » Instances of » Abraham
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream
Temptation » Yielding to temptation » Sarah » Lies

Genesis 20:14 (show verse)

Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him [as God commanded].

Good for evil » Returning » Abraham, to abimelech
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Oxen » Often given as a present
Presents » Things given as » Servants
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:15 (show verse)

So Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.”

Good for evil » Returning » Abraham, to abimelech
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah

Genesis 20:16 (show verse)

Then to Sarah he said, “Look, I have given this brother of yours a thousand pieces of silver; it is to compensate you [for all that has happened] and to vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are cleared and compensated.”

Falsehood » Instances of » Sarah » Denying » To king of gerar
Good for evil » Returning » Abraham, to abimelech
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Silver » Used for money
Silver » Used as money

Genesis 20:17 (show verse)

So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, and they again gave birth to children,

Barrenness » Sent as a judgment
Good for evil » Returning » Abraham, to abimelech
intercession » Additional instances of » Abraham » In behalf of abimelech
Miracles » Catalogue of » The closing of the wombs of abimelech's household
Prayer » Answered » Abraham entreating » For abimelech

Genesis 20:18 (show verse)

for the Lord had securely closed the wombs of all [the women] in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.