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Genesis 20:12

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
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.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

And besides, she really is my sister, she's my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter, and she became my wife.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Abraham is explaining that Sarah is technically his half-sister (they share the same father but have different mothers) as well as his wife.

📚 Historical Context

In the book of Genesis, Abraham and his wife Sarah are traveling through the region of Gerar, where Abraham fears for his safety and claims Sarah is his sister to avoid potential harm from the local king. This deception leads King Abimelech to take Sarah into his household, prompting God to intervene and warn the king in a dream. Abraham then clarifies that Sarah is indeed his half-sister, the daughter of his father but not his mother, which reflects ancient Near Eastern customs where marriages between close relatives were not uncommon.

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