Bible Strands
Genesis 20:12
Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Abraham addresses King Abimelech in Gerar, explaining his justification for listing Sarah as his sister upon entering a foreign territory.
The words — אָמְנָ֗ה ('a.me.Nah) translates literally as "truly" or "certainly," while אַ֖ךְ ('akh) means "only" or "except," establishing the exact boundary of Abraham’s statement.
The thread — Genesis 12:13 records Abraham’s earlier instruction to Sarah to use the same claim, and Genesis 11:29 notes that Nahor married Milcah, who was Haran’s daughter.
Why it lands — The text presents a precise factual boundary to a survival claim, requiring the reader to observe how partial truth operates within the narrative without endorsing it.
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 yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
Cross-references
- Genesis 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.
- Genesis 12:13 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.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.