Genesis 20:18

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 20:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For Jehovah had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham`s wife.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For Jehovah had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham`s wife.
Genesis 20:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18For Jehovah had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham`s wife.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, etc.] With large tumours probably, so that they could not cohabit with their husbands and conceive; nor could those that had conceived bring forth: and this disorder they were smitten with, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife; who was taken into the house of Abimelech, in order to be his; to rebuke and punish for which, and to convince of the evil of it, and cause to abstain from it, this disorder was inflicted on them.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- Abraham in Gerar 2. אבימלך .2 'ǎbı̂ymelek, Abimelekh, “father of the king.” 7. נביא nābı̂y' “prophet,” he who speaks by God, of God, and to God, who declares to people not merely things future, but also things past and present, that are not obvious to the sense or the reason; related: “flow, go forth.” 13. התעוּ hı̂t‛û is plural in punctuation, agreeing grammatically with אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym. ו(w), however, may be regarded as the third radical, and the verb may thus really be singular. 16. נכהת nokachat an unusual form, either for נכחת nokaḥat the second person singular feminine perfect or נכחה nokeḥâh the third person singular feminine perfect, from a verb signifying in hiphil, “make…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification