BibleWord.ai› Bible› Genesis› Chapter 26› Verse 11

Genesis 26:11

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 26:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Abimelech charged all the people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Abimelech charged all the people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.
Genesis 26:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 26

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
9And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife. And how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die because of her.
10And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? One of the people might easily have lain with thy wife, and thou wouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
11And Abimelech charged all the people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.
12And Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold. And Jehovah blessed him.
13And the man waxed great, and grew more and more until he became very great.
14And he had possessions of flocks, and possessions of herds, and a great household. And the Philistines envied him.
← Genesis 26:10Genesis 26:12 →
← Full Chapter 26 Genesis Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Abimelech charged all [his] people, etc.] All his subjects throughout his kingdom, and particularly the inhabitants of Gerar, and more especially his courtiers and servants about him: saying, he that toucheth this man or his wife; that does any injury to one either by words or deeds, or behaves immodestly to the other, or attempts to ravish her; this being sometimes used as a modest expression carnal knowledge of a woman; or that does either of them any harm or hurt in any respect whatever: shall surely be put to death; this severe edict he published, in order to deter his subjects from using them ill, to which they might be provoked by Isaac’s dissimulation, and by his evil suspicions…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Genesis 26 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification