Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Genesis 12:12–16

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
¶ And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapterReport issue
More

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

5 selected · 5 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

24 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 12

  1. Genesis 20:11Rank 1 from verse 12
    Open

    11And 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.

  2. Genesis 26:7Rank 2 from verse 12
    Open

    7And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.

  3. 1 John 1:8–10Rank 3 from verse 12
    Open

    8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

    9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

  4. Matthew 10:28Rank 4 from verse 12
    Open

    28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

  5. Proverbs 29:25Rank 5 from verse 12
    Open

    25The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

From verse 13

  1. Genesis 26:7Rank 1 from verse 13
    Open

    7And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.

  2. Genesis 20:12–13Rank 2 from verse 13
    Open

    12And 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.

    13And 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.

  3. Genesis 20:2Rank 3 from verse 13
    Open

    2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

  4. Genesis 20:5Rank 4 from verse 13
    Open

    5Said 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.

  5. Ezekiel 18:4Rank 5 from verse 13
    Open

    4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

From verse 14

  1. Genesis 3:6Rank 1 from verse 14
    Open

    6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

  2. Genesis 39:7Rank 2 from verse 14
    Open

    7¶ And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

  3. Genesis 6:2Rank 3 from verse 14
    Open

    2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

  4. Matthew 5:28Rank 4 from verse 14
    Open

    28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

From verse 15

  1. Genesis 20:2Rank 1 from verse 15
    Open

    2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

  2. 1 Kings 3:1Rank 2 from verse 15
    Open

    1AND Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

  3. 2 Kings 18:21Rank 3 from verse 15
    Open

    21Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

  4. Esther 2:2–16Rank 4 from verse 15
    Open

    2Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

    3And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:

    4And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

    5Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

    6Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

    7And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

    8¶ So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

    9And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

    10Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.

    11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

    12¶ Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

    13Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.

    14In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

    15¶ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

    16So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

  5. Exodus 2:15Rank 5 from verse 15
    Open

    15Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

From verse 16

  1. Genesis 20:14Rank 1 from verse 16
    Open

    14And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

  2. Genesis 13:2Rank 2 from verse 16
    Open

    2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

  3. Genesis 24:35Rank 3 from verse 16
    Open

    35And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

  4. Genesis 26:14Rank 4 from verse 16
    Open

    14For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

  5. Genesis 32:13–15Rank 5 from verse 16
    Open

    13¶ And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;

    14Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,

    15Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Genesis 12:12

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

pass

↗

To go by, through, over, or beyond; to happen, cease, or be transferred.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

see

↗

Sense 1: To perceive or behold with the eyes or in a vision. Sense 2: To observe, examine, discover, ascertain, consider, understand, know, or recognize. Sense 3: To visit, meet, converse with, or be in the presence of. Sense 4: To experience, undergo, endure, or enjoy. Sense 5: To attend to, take care, ensure, or beware.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

save

↗

Sense 1: To rescue, deliver, preserve, keep alive, heal, recover, or bring safely through. Sense 2: Except or apart from.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

alive

↗

Sense 1: Living; having life; not dead. Sense 2: Continuing or active in life, force, or operation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Genesis 12:13

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

pray

↗

Sense 1: To ask, beseech, request, or entreat. Sense 2: To make requests or supplications to God, or address him in worship.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

art

↗

1. The second-person singular present form of be: are, when one person is addressed. 2. Skill, craft, or skilled workmanship used to make or prepare something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sake

↗

Cause, account, purpose, interest, or benefit; used in phrases meaning because of or for the benefit of someone or something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

soul

↗

Sense 1: A living person or creature; a life or self. Sense 2: The inward self distinguished from the body. Sense 3: The seat of desire or appetite.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

live

↗

Sense 1: As a verb, to have or continue in life; to remain alive, be restored to life, or not die. Sense 2: To dwell, abide, or continue in a place, state, relation, or manner of life. Sense 3: To subsist or be sustained by or upon what is named. Sense 4: As an adjective, alive rather than dead; or containing fire and not extinguished.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Genesis 12:14

COMBINED MEANING

pass

↗

To go by, through, over, or beyond; to happen, cease, or be transferred.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

very

↗

Sense 1: Truly, actually, exactly, or the same in identity. Sense 2: To a great or marked degree, used to intensify the quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fair

↗

1. Beautiful, comely, or pleasing in appearance. 2. Of speech or outward show, pleasing or flattering. 3. Of weather, clear or favourable.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Genesis 12:15

COMBINED MEANING

Pharaoh

↗

The royal title used for the king of Egypt, applied to successive Egyptian rulers in the biblical record.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

commended

↗

Sense 1: Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of commend, meaning to entrust to another's care. Sense 2: To praise or recommend.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

before

↗

Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

taken

↗

1. Received, accepted, or chosen. 2. Seized or captured. 3. Carried or laid hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

house

↗

Sense 1: A building or dwelling. Sense 2: The people of a household or family. Sense 3: A lineage or family line. Sense 4: As a verb, to shelter, lodge, or provide a dwelling for.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Genesis 12:16

COMBINED MEANING

entreated

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of entreat, meaning to treat or deal with a person in the manner stated.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sake

↗

Cause, account, purpose, interest, or benefit; used in phrases meaning because of or for the benefit of someone or something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sheep

↗

Sense 1: Flock animals kept for wool, food, and sacrifice. Sense 2: Figuratively, people pictured as a flock or as needing a shepherd.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Genesis 12:10–20

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

12:10¶ And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

12:11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

12:12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

Selected passage

12:13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Selected passage

12:14¶ And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

Selected passage

12:15The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

Selected passage

12:16And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

Selected passage

12:17And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.

12:18And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

12:19Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

12:20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Ask a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.