Genesis 20:7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 20:3-7

It appears by this that God revealed himself by dreams (which evidenced themselves to be divine and supernatural) not only to his servants the prophets, but even to those who were out of the pale of the church and covenant; but then, usually, it was with some regard to God's own people as in Pharaoh's dream, to Joseph, in Nebuchadnezzar?s, to Daniel, and here, in Abimelech?s, to Abraham and Sarah, for he reproved this king for their sake, Ps. 105:14, 15. I. God gives him notice of his danger... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:7

Now therefore restore the man his wife ,.... Which will be a full proof and evidence to all of the integrity of thy heart, and the innocence of thine hands, which thou pleadest, and which I own: for he is a prophet ; familiar with God, dear unto him, a friend of his, to whom he communicates his secrets; is able to foretell things to come, as well as to interpret the mind of God, and instruct in the knowledge of divine things, all which agrees with Abraham's character; and he is the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 20:7

He is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee - The word prophet, which we have from the Greek προφητες , and which is compounded of προ , before, and φημι , I speak, means, in its general acceptation, one who speaks of things before they happen, i.e., one who foretells future events. But that this was not the original notion of the word, its use in this place sufficiently proves. Abraham certainly was not a prophet in the present general acceptation of the term, and for the Hebrew נביא... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 20:7

Verse 7 7.Now therefore, restore the man his wife. God does not now speak of Abraham as of a common man, but as of one who is so peculiarly dear unto himself, that He undertakes the defense of his conjugal bed, by a kind of privilege. He calls Abraham a prophet, for the sake of honor; as if he were charging Abimelech with having injured a man of great and singular excellence; that he might not wonder at the greatness of the punishment inflicted upon him. And although the word prophet is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 20:1-18

Abraham in Gerar, or two royal sinners. I. THE SIN OF THE HEBREW PATRIARCH 1. An old sin repeated . "Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister." Twenty years before the same miserable equivocation had been circulated in Egypt. A sin once committed is not difficult to repeat, especially if its legitimate consequences, as in the case of Abraham and Sarah, have been mercifully averted. One is apt to fancy that a like immunity will attend its repetition. 2. A ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 20:7

Now therefore restore the man his wife . Literally, the wife of the man, God now speaking of Abraham non tanquam de homine quolibet, sod peculiariter sibi charum (Calvin). For he is a prophet Nabi, from naba , to cause to bubble up; hence to pour forth, applied to one who speaks by a Divine afflatus ( Deuteronomy 13:2 ; 6:8 ; 1 Samuel 9:9 ; 1 Kings 22:7 ). The office of the Nabi was twofold—to announce the will of God to melt Exodus 4:15 ; Exodus 7:1 ), and also to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 20:1-18

- Abraham in Gerar2. אבימלך .2 'ǎbı̂ymelek, Abimelekh, “father of the king.”7. נביא nābı̂y' “prophet,” he who speaks by God, of God, and to God, who declares to people not merely things future, but also things past and present, that are not obvious to the sense or the reason; related: “flow, go forth.”13. התעוּ hı̂t‛û is plural in punctuation, agreeing grammatically with אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym. ו(w), however, may be regarded as the third radical, and the verb may thus really be singular.16. נכהת... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 20:7

Genesis 20:7. He is a prophet A person favoured with peculiar intercourse with God, who is made acquainted with his will and purposes in an extraordinary way, and is the interpreter of that will, and the revealer of those purposes to others. This seems to be the meaning of the appellation prophet, first, as we here see, given to Abraham in the Scriptures. Genesis 20:9-10 . Thou hast done deeds that ought not to be done Equivocation and dissimulation, however they may be palliated, are... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:1-18

Abraham deceives Abimelech (20:1-18)From Hebron Abraham moved into the territory of the Philistine king Abimelech. As a result of Abraham’s deceit concerning Sarah, Abimelech took Sarah as a wife and brought God’s threat of death upon him (20:1-7). Upon discovering the truth, Abimelech acted quickly and honourably. He restored Sarah’s honour in the eyes of the people, gave gifts to Abraham, and invited Abraham to settle in his land (8-16). Humbled by these events, Abraham turned again in faith... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 20:7

prophet. First occ, showing that prediction is only a small part of its meaning = God's spokesman. Here, it is prayer (compare Exodus 4:16 with Exodus 7:1 ), and prayer is associated with prophesying, i.e. witnessing (1 Corinthians 11:5 ). read more