Genesis 20:13

So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Abraham speaks to Abimelech, explaining his deception regarding Sarah. He recounts instructing Sarah to identify him as her brother whenever they traveled.

The words — The Hebrew הִתְעוּ (hit.'U) means "they caused to wander," describing God's action in sending Abraham away. The phrase מִ/בֵּ֣ית אָבִ/י (mi./Beit 'a.V/i) literally translates to "from the household of my father."

The thread — This instruction echoes Abraham’s earlier deception in Genesis 12:11–13, where he tells Sarai to claim she is his sister to avoid harm in Egypt. The call to leave his father’s household also recalls God’s initial command in Genesis 12:1.

Why it lands — The text records Abraham’s explicit command to Sarah to use a half-truth for self-preservation. It asks the reader to note how fear repeatedly overrides trust in divine protection.

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, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

Cross-references

Genesis 12:1 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.
Genesis 12:9 And Abram journeyed on toward the Negev.
Genesis 12:11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,
1 Samuel 23:21 “May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.
Psalms 64:5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.
Acts 5:9 “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
Acts 7:3 and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.