Genesis 12:20 - Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they escorted him away with his wife and all that he had.

Generated Verse: Genesis 12:20

What does "Genesis 12:20" mean?


This verse is the conclusion of a story in Genesis 12:10-20 where Abram (later Abraham) and Sarai (later Sarah) travel to Egypt because of a famine. Abram, fearing he would be killed for his beautiful wife, Sarai, tells the Egyptians she is his sister. Pharaoh takes Sarai into his house, intending to marry her. However, God plagues Pharaoh's house, revealing the truth about Sarai's relationship to Abram.

Therefore, Genesis 12:20, "Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they escorted him away with his wife and all that he had," means:

Pharaoh commanded men concerning him: Pharaoh, realizing he had been deceived and that God was punishing him for taking Sarai, ordered his men to take charge of Abram. He was likely angry but also afraid of further divine retribution.
and they escorted him away with his wife: The men were instructed to ensure Abram and Sarai left Egypt together. This shows Pharaoh returning Sarai to Abram, acknowledging her as his wife.
and all that he had: Abram was not only sent away with his wife but also with all the gifts and wealth Pharaoh had given him while he believed Sarai was Abram's sister. This underscores the irony: Abram's deception, while intended to protect him, ironically resulted in him gaining wealth from the situation.

In summary, the verse describes Pharaoh, after realizing the truth and experiencing divine punishment, ordering his men to ensure Abram, along with his wife Sarai and all the possessions Pharaoh had given him, left Egypt immediately. It highlights Pharaoh's fear of God and his desire to rectify the situation by returning Sarai and sending Abram away with his accumulated wealth.

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