Genesis 20:16 And he said to Sarah, "See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared."

◄ Genesis 20:16 ►

New International Version
To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”

New Living Translation
And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.”

English Standard Version
To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.”

Berean Standard Bible
And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

King James Bible
And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

New King James Version
Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this vindicates you before all who are with you and before everybody.” Thus she was rebuked.

New American Standard Bible
To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you, and before everyone you are cleared.”

NASB 1995
To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you, and before all men you are cleared.”

NASB 1977
And to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you, and before all men you are cleared.”

Legacy Standard Bible
To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother one thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you, and before all you are cleared.”

Amplified Bible
Then to Sarah he said, “Look, I have given this brother of yours a thousand pieces of silver; it is to compensate you [for all that has happened] and to vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are cleared and compensated.”

Christian Standard Bible
And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your brother one thousand pieces of silver. It is a verification of your honor to all who are with you. You are fully vindicated.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your brother 1,000 pieces of silver. It is a verification of your honor to all who are with you. You are fully vindicated.”

American Standard Version
And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee; and in respect of all thou art righted.

Contemporary English Version
Then he said to Sarah, "I have given your brother 1,000 pieces of silver as proof to everyone that you have done nothing wrong."

English Revised Version
And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee; and in respect of all thou art righted.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He said to Sarah, "Don't forget, I've given your brother 25 pounds of silver. This is to silence any criticism against you from everyone with you. You're completely cleared."

Good News Translation
He said to Sarah, "I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver as proof to all who are with you that you are innocent; everyone will know that you have done no wrong."

International Standard Version
Abimelech also told Sarah, "Look! I am giving your brother 1,000 pieces of silver to vindicate you in the eyes of all who are with you. As a result, you will be completely vindicated."

Majority Standard Bible
And he said to Sarah, ?See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.?

NET Bible
To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver to your 'brother.' This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you."

New Heart English Bible
To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Look, it is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you. In front of all you are vindicated."

Webster's Bible Translation
And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, to all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

World English Bible
To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and to Sarah he has said, “Behold, I have given one thousand pieces of silver to your brother; behold, it is to you a covering of eyes, to all who are with you”; and by all this she is reasoned with.

Young's Literal Translation
and to Sarah he hath said, 'Lo, I have given a thousand silverlings to thy brother; lo, it is to thee a covering of eyes, to all who are with thee;' and by all this she is reasoned with.

Smith's Literal Translation
And to Sarah he said, Behold, I gave a thousand of silver to thy brother; behold, he is to thee for a garment of the eyes to all who are with thee, and with all: and she was set right.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And to Sara he said: Behold I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: this shall serve thee for a covering of thy eyes to all that are with thee, and whithersoever thou shalt go: and remember thou wast taken.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then to Sarah he said: “Behold, I have given your brother one thousand silver coins. This will be for you as a veil for your eyes, to all who are with you and wherever you will travel. And so, remember that you were taken.”

New American Bible
To Sarah he said: “I hereby give your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This will preserve your honor before all who are with you and will exonerate you before everyone.”

New Revised Standard Version
To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your exoneration before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given a thousand pieces of silver to your brother; behold, it is given for you, because you have been humbled in the eyes of my people, and because of the other things for which I have reproved you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And to Sara he said, “Behold, I have given one thousand silver pieces to your brother, and behold, that also has been given to you because you were concealed from the eyes of everyone that is with me, and about everything you proved me wrong.”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And unto Sarah he said: 'Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee; and before all men thou art righted.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And to Sarrha he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver, those shall be to thee for the price of thy countenance, and to all the women with thee, and speak the truth in all things.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech
…15And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.” 16And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.” 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 12:18-20
So Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? / Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” / Then Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning Abram, and they sent him away with his wife and all his possessions.

Genesis 26:10-11
“What is this you have done to us?” asked Abimelech. “One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” / So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”

Exodus 12:35-36
Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing. / And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.

Numbers 22:32-33
The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me. / The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”

Deuteronomy 22:19
They are also to fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the young woman’s father, because this man has given a virgin of Israel a bad name. And she shall remain his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.

1 Samuel 25:35
Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”

2 Samuel 12:6
Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”

2 Kings 12:16
The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.

Job 42:9-10
So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. / After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions.

Proverbs 6:31
Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Matthew 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, / leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 18:15
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

Luke 19:8
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

John 8:11
“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”

Treasury of Scripture

And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to you a covering of the eyes, to all that are with you, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

thy.

Genesis 20:5
Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

Proverbs 27:5
Open rebuke is better than secret love.

thousand.

Genesis 23:15
My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

Genesis 23:16
And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

behold.

Genesis 26:11
And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

a covering.

Genesis 24:65
For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

thus.

1 Chronicles 21:3-6
And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? …

Proverbs 9:8,9
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee…

Proverbs 12:1
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

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Bits Clear Cleared Cover Covering Eyes Front Honour Offense Pieces Reasoned Reproved Respect Right Sarah Shekels Silver Silverlings Thousand Vindicated Vindication Wrong

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Bits Clear Cleared Cover Covering Eyes Front Honour Offense Pieces Reasoned Reproved Respect Right Sarah Shekels Silver Silverlings Thousand Vindicated Vindication Wrong

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.

Berean Study Bible

And he said to Sarah
This phrase introduces the direct communication between Abimelech and Sarah. In the historical context, it is significant that Abimelech addresses Sarah directly, acknowledging her role and agency in the situation. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often implies a declaration or proclamation, indicating the importance of the message being conveyed. This direct address also highlights the respect and recognition of Sarah's dignity and status, which is crucial in the narrative of her vindication.

Behold
The word "behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh) is an imperative that draws attention to what follows. It serves as a call to observe or consider something significant. In the context of this verse, it emphasizes the importance of the restitution being made. This word often precedes a revelation or an important announcement in Scripture, underscoring the gravity of Abimelech's actions and the divine orchestration behind the events.

I have given your brother
The phrase "I have given" (נָתַן, natan) indicates a completed action, a gift or offering. The use of "your brother" instead of "your husband" is a reminder of the earlier deception, yet it also serves to restore the relationship dynamics publicly. This phrase reflects the cultural and legal practices of restitution and compensation, which were common in ancient Near Eastern societies to resolve disputes and restore honor.

a thousand pieces of silver
The "thousand pieces of silver" represent a substantial sum, indicating the seriousness of the restitution. Silver was a common medium of exchange and wealth in the ancient world. This generous compensation underscores Abimelech's desire to make amends and publicly clear any misunderstanding. It also reflects the biblical principle of restitution, where wrongs are not only acknowledged but also rectified in a tangible way.

It is your vindication
The term "vindication" (כְּסוּת עֵינַיִם, kesut einayim) literally means "a covering of the eyes." This phrase suggests a removal of any reproach or suspicion from Sarah. In a broader theological context, it symbolizes God's protection and justice for His people. The concept of vindication is central to the biblical narrative, where God often intervenes to uphold the honor and integrity of His chosen ones.

before all who are with you
This phrase emphasizes the public nature of the vindication. It is not just a private matter but one that is witnessed by the community. The Hebrew word for "before" (לִפְנֵי, lifnei) implies presence and visibility. This public acknowledgment serves to restore Sarah's reputation and ensures that there is no lingering doubt about her integrity among those who are aware of the situation.

you are completely cleared
The phrase "completely cleared" (וְנֹכָחַת, venokachat) signifies total exoneration. It implies that any blame or suspicion has been entirely removed. This assurance of innocence is crucial for Sarah's standing in the community and her relationship with Abraham. In a spiritual sense, it reflects the biblical theme of redemption and the complete forgiveness that God offers to His people, restoring them to a state of righteousness and honor.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) A thousand pieces of silver.--Heb., a thousand of silver. This was the total value of Abimelech's present, and not an additional gift. A thousand shekels would be about 125, a large sum at a time when silver was scarce and dear.

He is to thee a covering of the eyes.--This speech of Abimelech is full of difficulty. It begins with a touch of irony in calling Abraham "thy brother." Next, if the pronoun is translated in the masculine, he, the meaning would be that Abraham ought to have been Sarah's protector, but had failed in this duty; but, more probably, it is neuter, and refers to the gift. The "covering of the eyes" may mean a veil to protect her from the wanton desires of others, or to conceal her shame at the wrong done to her. Finally, the verb rendered "reproved" is equivocal, and should rather be translated righted. It may also be the third person singular feminine, as in our version, or the second person, in which case it is part of Abimelech's speech. The clause "and with all" must then be taken with this verb, and the whole be rendered, and in everything thou art even righted. The correct rendering probably is, "And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother (a gift worth) a thousand (pieces) of silver: behold, it shall be to thee for a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee (that is,--so large a compensation for the wrong done thee in taking thee from thy husband, will be a proof to all thy friends and attendants that thou hast not been disgraced, but treated with honour); and in respect of all that has happened thou art thus righted."

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy Brother a thousand pieces of silver. Literally, a thousand of silver, the exact weight of each piece being uncertain. If sacred shekels (Gesenius, Keil, Kalisch) their value would be over £130, if shekels ordinary somewhat less. Behold, he - i.e. thy brother; or it, i.e. the present (LXX., Vulgate, Targums, Syriac) - is to thee a covering of the eyes. כְּסוּת עֵינַיִם (from a root signifying to cover over) has been understood as

(1) a propitiatory gift - τιμὴ (LXX.), or

(2) a veil for the protection of the face;

and, according as the subject of the sentence has been regarded as Abraham or the sum of money, the sense of the clause has been given as either . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And he said
אָמַ֗ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to Sarah,
וּלְשָׂרָ֣ה (ū·lə·śā·rāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8283: Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham

“See,
הִנֵּ֨ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

I am giving
נָתַ֜תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

your brother
לְאָחִ֔יךְ (lə·’ā·ḥîḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

a thousand [pieces]
אֶ֤לֶף (’e·lep̄)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 505: A thousand

of silver.
כֶּ֙סֶף֙ (ke·sep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

It [is]
הוּא־ (hū-)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

your
לָךְ֙ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

vindication
כְּס֣וּת (kə·sūṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3682: A cover, a veiling

before all
לְכֹ֖ל (lə·ḵōl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

are with you;
אִתָּ֑ךְ (’it·tāḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

you are completely
כֹּ֖ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

cleared.”
וְנֹכָֽחַת׃ (wə·nō·ḵā·ḥaṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 3198: To be right, reciprocal, to argue, to decide, justify, convict

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OT Law: Genesis 20:16 To Sarah he said Behold I have (Gen. Ge Gn)