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Genesis 26:9

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 26:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And 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.
Genesis 26:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 26

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6And Isaac dwelt in Gerar.
7And the men of the place asked him of his wife. And he said, She is my sister. For he feared to say, My wife. Lest, [said he], the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah. Because she was fair to look upon.
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.
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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 called Isaac, etc.] Sent a messenger to desire him to come to him: and said, behold, of a surety she [is] thy wife: and then perhaps told him of what he had observed that passed between them; which was a clear proof that they must be man and wife, or he would never have took such liberties with her: and how saidst thou, she [is] my sister? what reason hadst thou for it? what could induce thee to say so? and Isaac said unto him; not alleging, as Abraham did, any relation that was between them before marriage: because I said; that is, within himself, for, he did not speak it out to others: lest I die for her; for her sake, that another might have and enjoy her; it was fear of…”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification