Genesis 26 · Verse 9

Genesis 26:9

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 for her.
Genesis 26:9, King James Version

Genesis 26:9 in other translations

BSBAbimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.”
WEBAbimelech called Isaac, and said, “Behold, surely she is your wife. Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die because of her.’”
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAnd Abimelech calleth for Isaac, and saith, ‘Lo, she is surely thy wife; and how hast thou said, She is my sister?' and Isaac saith unto him, ‘Because I said, Lest I die for her.'
DARBYThen Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, she is certainly thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? and Isaac said to him, Because I said, Lest I die on account of her.
BBEAnd he said to Isaac, It is clear that she is your wife: why then did you say, She is my sister? And Isaac said, For fear that I might be put to death because of her.
WebsterAnd Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, surely she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? and Isaac said to him, Because I said, Lest I should die on her account.

What does Genesis 26:9 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 26:6-11

There is nothing in Isaac's denial of his wife to be imitated, nor even excused. The temptation of Isaac is the same as that which overcame his father, and that in two instances. This rendered his conduct the greater sin. The falls of those who are gone before us are so many rocks on which others have split; and the recording of them is like placing buoys to save future mariners. This Abimelech was not the same that…

Read the full comment on Genesis 26:6-11 →

Genesis 26:9 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.

וַיִּקְרָ֨אvai.yik.Ra'and he summonedH7121
אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhAbimelechH40
לְיִצְחָ֗קle.yitz.Chak<to> IsaacH3327
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אַ֣ךְ'akhsurelyH389
הִנֵּ֤הhi.Nehhere!H2009
אִשְׁתְּךָ֙'ish.te.Kha[is] wife yourH802
הִ֔ואhi'sheH1931
וְאֵ֥יךְve.'Eikhand how?H349
אָמַ֖רְתָּ'a.Mar.tadid you sayH559
אֲחֹ֣תִי'a.Cho.ti[is] sister myH269
הִ֑ואhi'sheH1931
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֵלָיו֙'e.Lavto himH413
יִצְחָ֔קyitz.ChakIsaacH3327
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
אָמַ֔רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiI thoughtH559
פֶּן\־pen-lestH6435
אָמ֖וּת'a.MutI should dieH4191
עָלֶֽיהָ\׃'a.Lei.haon herH5921

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

Context

  • Genesis 26:8

    And 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.

  • Genesis 26:9

    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 for her.

  • Genesis 26:10

    And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.

Read all of Genesis 26

Genesis 26:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y llamó Abimelech á Isaac, y dijo: He aquí ella es de cierto tu mujer: ¿cómo, pues, dijiste: Es mi hermana? E Isaac le respondió: Porque dije: Quizá moriré por causa de ella.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Abimélec appela Isaac, et dit: Voici, assurément c’est ta femme; et comment as-tu dit: C’est ma sœur? Et Isaac lui dit: Parce que je disais: De peur que je ne meure à cause d’elle.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Da rief Abimelech den Isaak und sprach: Siehe, fürwahr, sie ist dein Weib; und wie hast du gesagt: Sie ist meine Schwester? Und Isaak sprach zu ihm: Weil ich mir sagte: daß ich nicht sterbe ihretwegen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et accersito eo, ait: Perspicuum est quod uxor tua sit: cur mentitus es eam sororem tuam esse? Respondit: Timui ne morerer propter eam.