Genesis 12 · Verse 17

Genesis 12:17

And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
Genesis 12:17, King James Version

Genesis 12:17 in other translations

BSBThe LORD, however, afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai.
WEBThe LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
ASVAnd Jehovah plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
YLTAnd Jehovah plagueth Pharaoh and his house--great plagues--for the matter of Sarai, Abram's wife.
DARBYAnd Jehovah plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
BBEAnd the Lord sent great troubles on Pharaoh's house because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
WebsterAnd the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues, because of Sarai, Abram's wife.

What does Genesis 12:17 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 The Lord plagued Pharaoh - What these plagues were we know not. In the parallel case, Gen 20:18, all the females in the family of Abimelech, who had taken Sarah in nearly the same way, were made barren; possibly this might have been the case here; yet much more seems to be signified by the expression great plagues. Whatever these plagues were, it is evident they were understood by Pharaoh as proofs of the disapprobation of God; and, consequently, even at this time in Egypt there was some knowledge of the primitive and true religion.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 12:10-20

There is no state on earth free from trials, nor any character free from blemishes. There was famine in Canaan, the glory of all lands, and unbelief, with the evils it ever brings, in Abram the father of the faithful. Perfect happiness and perfect purity dwell only in heaven. Abram, when he must for a time quit Canaan, goes to Egypt, that he might not seem to look back, and meaning to tarry there no longer than…

Read the full comment on Genesis 12:10-20 →

Genesis 12:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְנַגַּ֨עvay.na.Ga'and he struckH5060
יְהוָ֧ה\׀Yah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
פַּרְעֹ֛הpar.'OhPharaohH6547
נְגָעִ֥יםne.ga.'ImplaguesH5061
גְּדֹלִ֖יםge.do.LimgreatH1419
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
בֵּית֑וֹbei.Tohouse hisH1004
עַל\־'al-onH5921
דְּבַ֥רde.Var[the] matter ofH1697
שָׂרַ֖יsa.RaiSaraiH8297
אֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shet[the] wife ofH802
אַבְרָֽם\׃'av.RamAbramH87

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 12:17

  • 1 Chronicles 16:21

    He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

  • Genesis 20:18

    For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.

  • Psalms 105:14-15

    He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:22

    Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.

  • Hebrews 13:4

    Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

  • Job 34:19

    How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20:18; 1Ch 16:21; 21:22; Job 34:19; Ps 105:14,15; Heb 13:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 12:16

    And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

  • Genesis 12:17

    And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.

  • Genesis 12:18

    And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

Read all of Genesis 12

Genesis 12:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas Jehová hirió á Faraón y á su casa con grandes plagas, por causa de Sarai mujer de Abram.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’ Éternel frappa de grandes plaies le Pharaon et sa maison, à cause de Saraï, femme d’Abram.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jehova schlug den Pharao und sein Haus mit großen Plagen um Sarais willen, des Weibes Abrams.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Flagellavit autem Dominus Pharaonem plagis maximis, et domum ejus, propter Sarai uxorem Abram.