Thematic Bible

Themes in Genesis 20

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Themes in Genesis 20

Genesis 20:1 (show verse)

Abraham journeyed from there to the Negev region and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived as a temporary resident in Gerar,

Gerar » A city » A city of the philistines » Abimelech, king of
Gerar » A city » A city of the philistines » Visited by abraham
Kadesh » Abraham lives beside the wells nearby
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream
Shur » A wilderness southwest of palestine

Genesis 20:2 (show verse)

Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her.

Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Deception » Religious persons guilty of
Deception » Instances of » Abraham, in stating that sarah was his sister
Falsehood » Instances of » Abraham, in denying that sarah was his wife
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:3 (show verse)

But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else's wife."

Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
The Dead » Illustrative of » Impotence
Dream » Instances of » Of abimelech,, concerning sarah
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Abimelech
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:4 (show verse)

Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, "Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation?

Chastity » Exemplified
Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Abimelech
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech
Nation » Involved in sins of rulers
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:5 (show verse)

Did Abraham not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!"

Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Abimelech
Falsehood » Instances of » Sarah » Denying » To king of gerar
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:6 (show verse)

Then in the dream God replied to him, "Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience. That is why I have kept you from sinning against me and why I did not allow you to touch her.

Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Abimelech
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:7 (show verse)

But now give back the man's wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don't give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you."

Abraham » Piety of
Abraham » A prophet
Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Abimelech
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech
Leaders » Names of persons spoken of as » Abraham
Prophets » Names of persons spoken of as » Abraham
Religious » Names of persons spoken of as » Abraham
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:8 (show verse)

Early in the morning Abimelech summoned all his servants. When he told them about all these things, they were terrified.

Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Rising » Instances of » Abimelech
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that would cause you to bring such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done!"

Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Nation » Involved in sins of rulers
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream
Temptation » Instances of » Abimelech

Genesis 20:10 (show verse)

Then Abimelech asked Abraham, "What prompted you to do this thing?"

Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:11 (show verse)

Abraham replied, "Because I thought, 'Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.'

Genesis 20:12 (show verse)

What's more, she is indeed my sister, my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter. She became my wife.

Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Incest » Instances of » Abraham
Marriage » Contracted in patriarchal age with near relations
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Sarah » Also called sarai » Near of kin to abraham
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream

Genesis 20:13 (show verse)

When God made me wander from my father's house, I told her, 'This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, "He is my brother."'"

Incest » Instances of » Abraham
Marriage » Consanguinous, abraham and sarah
Sarah » Also called sarai » Abraham represents her as his sister, and abimelech, king of gerar, takes her; she is restored to abraham by means of a dream
Temptation » Yielding to temptation » Sarah » Lies