Even though Abraham is a man of faith, Abimelech, a pagan king, highlights how Abraham's deception brought "a great sin" upon his kingdom, suggesting that Abraham's actions exposed them to serious moral and spiritual offense. This shows that even those outside of direct covenant with God can possess a keen moral awareness and hold those who claim faith to a higher standard.
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? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Abimelech, a king of the Philistines, has taken Sarah into his household, unaware that she is Abraham's wife, as Abraham had falsely claimed she was his sister. God intervenes in a dream, warning Abimelech that he will die for taking a married woman, and reveals Abraham's true identity as a prophet. Abimelech then confronts Abraham, demanding to know why he endangered Abimelech and his kingdom by his deception.
Abraham, the patriarch chosen by God, finds himself being corrected by a pagan king. How could this happen, and what does it reveal about true morality?
This passage is striking because it's a non-Israelite king, Abimelech, who holds Abraham accountable. God Himself confirms Abimelech acted 'in the integrity of [his] heart' (Genesis 20:6). This means Abimelech, though not a worshipper of the true God, possessed a strong moral compass based on the 'laws' or customs of his people and a basic understanding of right and wrong, likely imprinted by God on all humanity.
A Higher Standard Than Expected
The Universal Law
Ask a follow-up
Why did Abraham, a man of faith, resort to deception again? Explore the tension between his fear and God's unwavering protection.
Abraham's decision to claim Sarah was his sister, not his wife, was driven by fear. He explicitly states, 'Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake' (Genesis 20:11).
The Deceptive Nature of Fear
God's Steadfast Protection
Abimelech speaks of a 'great sin' brought upon his kingdom. What does this reveal about the far-reaching consequences of deception?
Abimelech's accusation isn't just about personal offense; it's about the profound 'sin' that Abraham's actions nearly led him and his entire kingdom into. This 'great sin' speaks volumes about the interconnectedness of our actions and their impact.
Adultery as a Societal Threat
The Wider Impact of Deception
Understand the original words
chata'ah · Hebrew Noun
An action that deviates from God’s commandments or standard. In a communal context, sin brings guilt upon a group, necessitating atonement or repentance to restore divine favor.
This event highlights a critical moment where the moral standards of a pagan king, informed by natural law and custom, are shown to be higher than those of Abraham, who, despite his faith, faltered due to fear and deception.
c. 2000 BC— this verse
Abraham sojourns in Gerar
Abraham, seeking new pastures, travels south from Mamre and settles in Gerar, a Philistine city. He repeats a past deception, telling the people that Sarah is his sister out of fear for his life.
c. 2000 BC
God warns Abimelech in a dream
God intervenes in a dream, revealing to King Abimelech that Sarah is Abraham's wife and that he is a dead man for taking her. God explains He withheld Abimelech from sinning against Him.
c. 2000 BC
Abimelech confronts Abraham
Abimelech, having learned the truth, calls Abraham to account for his deception, questioning how he could bring such a 'great sin' upon him and his kingdom. He also returns Sarah to Abraham.
c. 2000 BC
Abraham prays for Abimelech
Following God's instruction, Abraham prays for Abimelech and his household. God heals them, restoring their ability to bear children, which had been withheld because of the incident with Sarah.
c. 2000 BC
Isaac is promised and born
Shortly after these events, God fulfills His covenant promise by announcing that Sarah will bear Abraham a son, Isaac. Isaac is born in Gerar, solidifying Abraham's presence in the land.
This passage shows a similar situation where Abraham, out of fear, also claimed his wife Sarah was his sister, leading to her being taken into Pharaoh's house, highlighting a recurring pattern of distrust and deception in Abraham's life.
Genesis 26:6-11Here, Isaac repeats Abraham's deception regarding his wife Rebekah, claiming she was his sister out of fear, demonstrating that this pattern of behavior and its potential consequences were not isolated incidents.
Leviticus 19:11This verse speaks about not stealing or dealing falsely, which directly relates to Abimelech's accusation against Abraham for his deceptive actions that ought not to be done.
Psalm 105:14This psalm recounts how God 'suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,' directly paralleling Abimelech's rebuke and Abraham's protected status in this Genesis account.
1 Peter 3:15-16This passage encourages believers to always be ready to give an account for their hope, while also advocating for a life free from wrongdoing, echoing Abimelech's concern about 'deeds that ought not to be done' and the importance of integrity.
calvinGenesis 20:1-18: "And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar."
Et dixit Abraham de Sarah uxore sua, Soror mea est. Et misit Abimelech rex Gerar, et accepit Sarah.
But 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.
Et venit Jehova ad Abimelech in somnio noctis, et dixit et, Ecce es mortuus, propter uxor…
gillGenesis 20:9: "Then 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,.... Who might be in the king's palace, being taken into it caressed by the king for the sake of Sarah: and said unto him; not in a passion, as might have been expected, but in a mild and gentle manner, yet with great strength…
Even though Abraham is a man of faith, Abimelech, a pagan king, highlights how Abraham's deception brought "a great sin" upon his kingdom, suggesting that Abraham's actions exposed them to serious moral and spiritual offense. This shows that even those outside of direct covenant with God can possess a keen moral awareness and hold those who claim faith to a higher standard.
Abimelech, a king of the Philistines, has taken Sarah into his household, unaware that she is Abraham's wife, as Abraham had falsely claimed she was his sister. God intervenes in a dream, warning Abimelech that he will die for taking a married woman, and reveals Abraham's true identity as a prophet. Abimelech then confronts Abraham, demanding to know why he endangered Abimelech and his kingdom by his deception.
Abimelech, a king of the Philistines, has taken Sarah into his household, unaware that she is Abraham's wife, as Abraham had falsely claimed she was his sister. God intervenes in a dream, warning Abimelech that he will die for taking a married woman, and reveals Abraham's true identity as a prophet. Abimelech then confronts Abraham, demanding to know why he endangered Abimelech and his kingdom by his deception.
"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? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.”" — Even though Abraham is a man of faith, Abimelech, a pagan king, highlights how Abraham's deception brought "a great sin" upon his kingdom, suggesting that Abraham's actions exposed them to serious mo…
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Last reviewed October 2026
