Genesis 20:13
New International Version
And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother."’”

New Living Translation
When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.’”

English Standard Version
And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Berean Standard Bible
So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

King James Bible
And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

New King James Version
And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

New American Standard Bible
and it came about, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

NASB 1995
and it came about, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother."’”

NASB 1977
and it came about, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Legacy Standard Bible
and it happened when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is the lovingkindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Amplified Bible
When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This kindness and loyalty you can show me: at every place we stop, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Christian Standard Bible
So when God had me wander from my father’s house, I said to her: Show your loyalty to me wherever we go and say about me, ‘He’s my brother.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So when God had me wander from my father’s house, I said to her: Show your loyalty to me wherever we go and say about me: ‘He’s my brother.’”

American Standard Version
and it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me: at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

Contemporary English Version
When God made us leave my father's home and start wandering, I told her, "If you really love me, then tell everyone that I am your brother."

English Revised Version
and it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When God had me leave my father's home and travel around, I said to her, 'Do me a favor: Wherever we go, say that I'm your brother.'"

Good News Translation
So when God sent me from my father's house into foreign lands, I said to her, 'You can show how loyal you are to me by telling everyone that I am your brother.'"

International Standard Version
When God caused me to journey from my father's house, I asked her to do me this favor and say, 'He's my brother.'"

Majority Standard Bible
So when God had me journey from my father?s house, I said to Sarah, ?This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, ?He is my brother.???

NET Bible
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."'"

New Heart English Bible
It happened, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, 'This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show to me; At every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

World English Bible
When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and it comes to pass, when God has caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I say to her, This [is] your kindness which you do with me: at every place to where we come, say of me, He [is] my brother.”

Young's Literal Translation
and it cometh to pass, when God hath caused me to wander from my father's house, that I say to her, This is thy kindness which thou dost with me: at every place whither we come, say of me, He is my brother.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And it shall be when God causes me to wander from my father's house, and I said to her, This thy kindness which thou shalt do by me; at every place to which we shall come, there say of me, He is my brother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And after God brought me out of my father's house, I said to her: I Thou shalt do me this kindness: In every place, to which we shall come, thou shalt say that I am thy brother.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, after God led me out of my father’s house, I said to her: ‘You will show this mercy to me. In every place, to which we will travel, you will say that I am your brother.’ ”

New American Bible
When God sent me wandering from my father’s house, I asked her: ‘Would you do me this favor? In whatever place we come to, say: He is my brother.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, He is my brother.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it came to pass when God brought me forth out of my father's house, I said to her, This is the favor which you shall do to me; at every place whither we shall go, say of me, He is my brother.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And it was that when God brought me out from my father's house, I said to her, ‘Do this favor for me in every place where we are going; say about me there, "He is my brother”.’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her: This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me: He is my brother.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass when God brought me forth out of the house of my father, that I said to her, This righteousness thou shalt perform to me, in every place into which we may enter, say of me, He is my brother.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech
12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife. 13 So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’” 14So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.…

Cross References
Genesis 12:11-13
As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman, / and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. / Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”

Genesis 26:7-9
But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.” / When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. / Abimelech 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.”

Hebrews 11:8-9
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

1 Peter 3:6
just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.

Genesis 12:1-3
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 17:1-8
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. / I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” / Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, ...

Genesis 18:10-15
Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. / And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. / So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” ...

Genesis 21:1-2
Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. / So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.

Romans 4:17-21
As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist. / Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” / Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. ...

Galatians 3:6-9
So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” / Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. / The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” ...

Genesis 15:1-6
After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” / But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” / Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.” ...

Genesis 24:7
The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there.

Acts 7:2-5
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, / and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’ / So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living. ...

Genesis 11:31-32
And Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai the wife of Abram, and they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Canaan. But when they arrived in Haran, they settled there. / Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran.

Genesis 13:14-17
After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west, / for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever. / I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, This is your kindness which you shall show to me; at every place where we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

God.

Genesis 12:1,9,11
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: …

Acts 7:3-5
And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee…

Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

This.

1 Samuel 23:21
And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

Psalm 64:5
They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

Acts 5:9
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

say.

Genesis 12:13
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

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Caused Everywhere Father's House Household Kindness Love Shew Show Wander Wandering Whither
Genesis 20
1. Abraham sojourns at Gerar.
2. Denies his wife, who is taken by Abimelech.
3. Abimelech is reproved for her in a dream.
9. He rebukes Abraham.
14. Restores Sarah;
16. and reproves her.
17. Abimelech and his family are healed at Abraham's prayer.














So when God had me wander
The Hebrew word for "wander" is "תָּעָה" (ta'ah), which can mean to err, to go astray, or to wander. This term reflects Abraham's journey as one of faith and obedience, even when the path was uncertain. It underscores the idea that God sometimes leads His people into unfamiliar territories to fulfill His divine purposes. Abraham's wandering is not aimless but directed by God, illustrating the life of faith as a pilgrimage.

from my father’s house
This phrase refers to Abraham's departure from Ur of the Chaldeans, as commanded by God in Genesis 12:1. Leaving his father's house signifies a break from his past and a step into a new identity and destiny shaped by God's promises. It highlights the cost of discipleship and the call to trust in God's provision and guidance, even when it requires leaving behind the familiar and secure.

I said to her
This phrase introduces Abraham's conversation with Sarah, his wife. It reflects the patriarchal context of the time, where family decisions were often communicated through the male head. It also sets the stage for understanding the dynamics of their relationship and the challenges they faced in maintaining integrity and faithfulness amidst external pressures.

‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me
The word "loyalty" here is significant, as it implies faithfulness and commitment. In Hebrew, the concept of loyalty is often tied to "חֶסֶד" (chesed), which encompasses love, kindness, and covenant faithfulness. Abraham's request for Sarah's loyalty is a plea for her to support him in a difficult situation, reflecting the mutual trust and partnership expected in a covenant marriage.

Wherever we go
This phrase emphasizes the nomadic lifestyle of Abraham and Sarah, who were constantly on the move as they followed God's leading. It speaks to the transient nature of their earthly journey and the need for adaptability and resilience. Spiritually, it reminds believers that their ultimate home is not in this world, but in the eternal promises of God.

say of me, ‘He is my brother.’
This statement reveals Abraham's strategy to protect himself in foreign lands by presenting Sarah as his sister. Historically, this was a half-truth, as Sarah was indeed his half-sister (Genesis 20:12). However, it also reflects a lapse in faith, as Abraham resorts to deception out of fear. This action serves as a cautionary tale about the temptation to rely on human schemes rather than trusting fully in God's protection and provision.

(13) When God caused me to wander.--According to rule, Elohim is construed with a verb singular for the true God, but with a verb plural for false gods. Here the verb is plural, and the same construction occurs in Genesis 35:7; Exodus 22:9; 2Samuel 7:22 (but singular in 1Chronicles 17:20); and Psalm 58:11 : moreover, in Joshua 24:19, Elohim is joined with an adjective (holy) in the plural. These exceptions may either be relics of a less strict use of the name Elohim, or they may be errors of copyists, misled by the ordinary rules of grammar. This latter view is confirmed by the fact that the Samaritan Pentateuch, both here and in Genesis 35:7, has the singular. . . . Verse 13. - And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander (or to go on pilgrimages) from my father's house, - Elohim, usually construed with a singular verb, is here joined with a verb in the plural, as an accommodation to the polytheistic stand-point of Abimelech (Keil), as a proof that Elohim is to be viewed as a Pluralis Majes-taticus (Kalisch), as referring to the plurality of Divine manifestations which Abraham had received (Lange), as showing that Elohim here signifies angels (Calvin), or, most likely, as an instance of the literal meaning of the term as the supernatural powers (Murphy. Cf. Genesis 35:7; Exodus 22:8; 2 Samuel 7:23; Psalm 58:12 [Psalm 58:11] - that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me. The third plea which the patriarch presented for his conduct; it had no special reference to Abimelech, but was the result of an old compact formed between himself and Sarah. At every place whither he shall come, say of me, He is my brother (cf. Genesis 12:13).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So when
כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

God
אֱלֹהִים֮ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

had me journey
הִתְע֣וּ (hiṯ·‘ū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8582: To vacillate, reel, stray

from my father’s
אָבִי֒ (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

house,
מִבֵּ֣ית (mib·bêṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

I said
וָאֹמַ֣ר (wā·’ō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to [Sarah],
לָ֔הּ (lāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

‘This is how
זֶ֣ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

you can show
תַּעֲשִׂ֖י (ta·‘ă·śî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

your loyalty
חַסְדֵּ֔ךְ (ḥas·dêḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

to me:
עִמָּדִ֑י (‘im·mā·ḏî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5978: Against, by, from, me, mine, of, that I take, unto,

Wherever
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

we go,
נָב֣וֹא (nā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

say of me,
אִמְרִי־ (’im·rî-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“He is
הֽוּא׃ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

my brother.”’”
אָחִ֥י (’ā·ḥî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )


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OT Law: Genesis 20:13 It happened when God caused me (Gen. Ge Gn)
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