Genesis 12:20

Then Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning Abram, and they sent him away with his wife and all his possessions.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Pharaoh acts after confronting Abram about the deception regarding Sarai. He orders his officials to release Abram, his wife, and all his belongings.

The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יְצַ֥ו (va/y.Tzav) means "and he commanded," recording Pharaoh's direct order to his men. The verb וַֽ/יְשַׁלְּח֥וּ (va/y.sha.le.Chu) translates literally as "and they sent away," marking the execution of that command.

The thread — This sequence of royal decree and release parallels the sending away of a prophet in Exodus 18:27. It also aligns with the scriptural pattern that human authority operates under divine oversight, as stated in Proverbs 21:1 and Psalm 105:14.

Why it lands — The text states that a foreign ruler commands the departure of a foreigner and his household after a lie is uncovered. It requires the reader to observe how human authority yields to a higher boundary while preserving the named individuals and their property.

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

וַיְצַ֥וva/y.Tzavand/ he commanded עָלָ֛יו'a.La/von/ him פַּרְעֹ֖הpar.'OhPharaoh אֲנָשִׁ֑ים'a.na.Shimmen וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֥וּva/y.sha.le.Chuand/ they sent away אֹת֛וֹ'o.T/o<obj.>/ him וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.T/owife/ his וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>כָּל־kol-all אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-thatלֽוֹ׃l/o[belonged] to <the>/ him

King James Version

And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

Cross-references

Psalms 105:14 He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf:
Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
Exodus 18:27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.
1 Samuel 29:6 So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders.

People named

Pharaoh