Bible Strands
Genesis 12:14
So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Abram has just instructed Sarai to claim she is his sister to preserve his life, and upon his arrival in Egypt, the local population observes her physical appearance.
The words — The Hebrew verbs וַ/יְהִ֕י (va/y.Hi, "and it was") and כְּ/ב֥וֹא (ke./Vo', "when he entered") establish the narrative timing, while וַ/יִּרְא֤וּ (va/i.yir.'U, "and they saw") records the Egyptians' direct visual perception of הָ֣/אִשָּׁ֔ה (ha./'i.Shah, "the woman").
The thread — This pattern of sight triggering consequential action appears in Genesis 3:6, Genesis 6:2, and Genesis 39:7.
Why it lands — The text records how Abram's deception immediately activates external observation and intervention, requiring the reader to track the practical consequences of compromised truth.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
Cross-references
- Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
- Genesis 6:2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.
- Genesis 39:7 and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.”
- Matthew 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.