Read Genesis Chapter 20 in Biblical Hebrew alongside the King James Version (KJV) — 18 verses. Abraham and Abimelech. Original Hebrew text with vowel points (nikud) and full English translation.
1
וַיִּסַּע מִשָּׁם אַבְרָהָם
KJVAnd Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar.
KJVBut God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife."
4
וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ לֹא קָרַב אֵלֶיהָ
KJVBut Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, "Lord, will you kill an innocent people?"
5
הֲלֹא הוּא אָמַר לִי אֲחֹתִי הִוא
KJVSaid he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.
6
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הָאֱלֹהִים בַּחֲלֹם
KJVAnd God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me."
7
וְעַתָּה הָשֵׁב אֵשֶׁת הָאִישׁ כִּי נָבִיא הוּא
KJVNow therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die.
8
וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בַּבֹּקֶר
KJVTherefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid.
9
וַיִּקְרָא אֲבִימֶלֶךְ לְאַבְרָהָם
KJVThen Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin?"
10
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֶל אַבְרָהָם
KJVAnd Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
Abimelech also said to Abraham, "What did you see, that you did this thing?"
11
וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם כִּי אָמַרְתִּי
KJVAnd Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.
Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, there is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife."
12
וְגַם אָמְנָה אֲחֹתִי בַת אָבִי הִוא
KJVAnd 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.
Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife.
13
וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר הִתְעוּ אֹתִי אֱלֹהִים
KJVAnd 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.
And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, 'This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, "He is my brother."'
14
וַיִּקַּח אֲבִימֶלֶךְ צֹאן וּבָקָר
KJVAnd Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him.
15
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ הִנֵּה אַרְצִי לְפָנֶיךָ
KJVAnd Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
And Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you."
16
וּלְשָׂרָה אָמַר הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי
KJVAnd unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated."
17
וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אַבְרָהָם אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים
KJVSo Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.
18
כִּי עָצֹר עָצַר יְהוָה בְּעַד כָּל רֶחֶם
KJVFor the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.
For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.