Genesis 26:7
WEB
The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “My wife”, lest, he thought, “the men of the place might kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to look at.”
BSB
But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.”
KJV
And 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.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H7592
v — inquire, request, demand
Derivation: or שָׁאֵל; a primitive root;
to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand
KJV: ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, × earnestly, enquire, greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, salute, × straitly, × surely, wish.
vb — ask
שָׁאַל 170 vb. ask, inquire
Qal
1.
a. ask, ask for
b. specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow
c. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
2.
a. inquire of
b. inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.
c. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
Niph. ask for oneself
Pi.
1. inquire carefully
2. beg, practise beggary
Hiph. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)
H376
n-m — man
Derivation: contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant);
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), none, one, people, person, steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare 802.
n.m — man
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
H4725
n-m — standing, spot, condition
Derivation: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from 6965;
properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
KJV: country, × home, × open, place, room, space, × whither(-soever).
n.m — standing-place
מָקוֹם, מָקֹם 399 n.m. standing-place, place
1.
a. standing-place
b. station, where soldiers are placed
c. post, office
2.
a. place where a thing belongs
b. esp.
(1). place of human abode
(2). of י׳’s abode
3. place
4. in gen. place, locality, spot
5.
a. space, room
b. space, distance, between
6. region, quarter, direction
7. peculiar uses
H802
n-f — woman
Derivation: feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as 582)
a woman
KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, × many, none, one, together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
n.f — woman
אִשָּׁה 773 n.f. woman, wife, female
1. woman
2. Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)
3. Female of animals
4. With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one
H559
v — say
Derivation: a primitive root;
to say (used with great latitude)
KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, × desire, determine, × expressly, × indeed, × intend, name, × plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), × still, × suppose, talk, tell, term, × that is, × think, use (speech), utter, × verily, × yet.
vb — utter
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
1. Say
2. Say in the heart (= think)
3. Promise
4. Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
H269
n-f — sister
Derivation: irregular feminine of 251;
a sister (used very widely [like 251], literally and figuratively)
KJV: (an-) other, sister, together.
n.f — sister
אָחוֹת 114 n.f. sister
1. sister
2. = beloved
3. symbol. of Judah, Samaria, Sodom & Jerusalem
4. fig. of intimate connection
5. another
H1931
p — he, she, it, self, same, this, that, as, are
Derivation: of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is הִיא; he a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular;
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.
m — he
הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it
1. an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
2. It resumes the subj. with emph.
3. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
4. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
5. As an emph. predicate, of God
6. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
7. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
H3588
conj — relative conjunction
Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
conj — that
כִּי conj. that, for, when
1. that
2.
a. Of time, when, of the past
b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
3. Because, since
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
H3372
v — fear, revere, frighten
Derivation: a primitive root;
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
KJV: affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), × see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).
vb — fear
יָרֵא vb. fear
Qal
1. fear, be afraid
2. stand in awe of
3. fear, reverence, honour
Niph.
1. be fearful, dreadful
2. cause astonishment and awe
3. inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe
Piel. make afraid, terrify
H6435
conj — removal, lest
Derivation: from 6437;
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
KJV: (lest) (peradventure), that...not.
conj — lest
פֶּן־ 133 (alw. with Makkeph) conj. (adverting or deprecating), lest
1. with impf.
2. with Pf., the result feared being conceived as having possibly already taken place
H2026
v — smite
Derivation: a primitive root;
to smite with deadly intent
KJV: destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), × surely.
vb — kill
הָרַג vb. kill, slay
Qal
1.
a. kill, slay, implying ruthless violence
b. hence of wholesale slaughter after battle
2. of God’s slaying in judgment
3. rarely of judicial killing by men (at God’s command)
4. of killing beasts
5. of killing by beasts
6. quite general
7. destroy, ruin
Niph.
1. shall priest and prophet be slain in the sanctuary?
2. pass. of Qal 1 b
Pu. be slain
H5921
prep — above, over, upon, against
Derivation: properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following);
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, × as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, × both and, by (reason of), × had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, × with.
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
subst — above
עַל, עָ֑ל
I. subst. height
II. As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1. Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
a. —
(a). of clothing, etc., which any one wears
(b). With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
b. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
c. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
d. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
e. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
f. Of the ground or basis, on which a thing is done
2. It expresses excess
3. It denotes elevation or pre-eminence
4. It expresses addition
5. It expresses the idea of being extended, or suspended over anything, without however being in contact with it, above, over
6. From the sense of inclining or impending over, על comes to denote contiguity or proximity, Engl. by (or sts. on)
7. In connection with verbs of motion (actual or fig.)
8. By writers of the silver age, על is sts. used with the force of a dative
9. With other particles:
III. As conj.
a. עַל אֲשֶׁר because that
b. עַל כִּי similar in meaning, but less frequent
c. עַל alone:
(a). because
(b). notwithstanding that, although
IV. Compounds:
1. with כְּ (rare and late)
a. as concerning, as upon
b. the like of their deeds is the like of (that which) he will repay
2. מֵעַל from upon, from over, from by
H7259
n-pr-f — Ribkah
Derivation: from an unused root probably meaning to clog by tying up the fetlock; fettering (by beauty);
Ribkah, the wife of Isaac
KJV: Rebekah.
n.pr.f — Rebekah
רִבְקָה 30 n.pr.f. Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel and wife of Isaac
H2896
a n-m n-f — good
Derivation: from 2895;
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
KJV: beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, × fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, × most, pleasant, pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).
n.m — a good thing
טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare
1. welfare, prosperity, happiness
2. good things
3. good = benefit
4. moral good
adj — pleasant
טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good
1. pleasant, agreeable to the senses
2. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well
3. good, excellent, of its kind
4. good, rich, valuable in estimation
5. good, appropriate, becoming
6. c. מִן compar. = better
7. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous
8. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding
9. good, kind, benign
10. good (ethical), right
n.f — welfare
טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good
1. welfare, prosperity, happiness
2. good things
3. bounty, good
H4758
n-m — view, appearance
Derivation: from 7200a;
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision
KJV: × apparently, appearance(-reth), × as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision.
n.m — sight
מַרְאֶה 102 n.m. sight, appearance, vision
1.
a. sight, phenomenon, spectacle
b. appearance
c. appearance, sight, vision
2. in gen. what is seen
3. specif. a (supernat.) vision
4. sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late
Bible49 app
Get translation compare, commentary, and interlinear study — offline, on iPhone and Mac.
See Bible49
Verses 6–11
Genesis 26:6–11
Isaac had now laid aside all thoughts of going to Egypt, and, in obedience to the heavenly vision, sets up his staff in Gerar, the country in which he was born (Gen 26:6), yet there he enters into temptation, the same temptation that his good father had been once and again surprised and overcome by, namely, to deny his wife, and to give out that she was his sister. Observe,
I. How he sinned, Gen 26:7. Because his wife was handsome, he fancied the Philistines would find some way or other to take him off, that some of them might marry her; and therefore she must pass for his sister. It is an unaccountable thing that both these great and good men should be guilty of so strange a piece of dissimulation, by which they so much exposed both their own and their wives' reputation. But we see, 1. That very good men have sometimes been guilty of very great faults and follies. Let those therefore that stand take heed lest they fall, and those that have fallen not despair of being helped up again. 2. That there is an aptness in us to imitate even the weaknesses and infirmities of those we have a value for. We have need therefore to keep our foot, lest, while we aim to tread in the steps of good men, we sometimes tread in their by-steps.
II. How he was detected, and the cheat discovered, by the king himself. Abimelech (not the same that was in Abraham's days, ch. 20, for this was nearly 100 years after that, but this was the common name of the Philistine kings, as Caesar of the Roman emperors) saw Isaac more familiar and pleasant with Rebekah than he knew he would be with his sister (Gen 26:8): he saw him sporting with her, or laughing; it is the same word with that from which Isaac has his name. He was rejoicing with the wife of his youth, Pro 5:18. It becomes those in that relation to be pleasant with one another, as those that are pleased with one another. Nowhere may a man more allow himself to be innocently merry than with his own wife and children. Abimelech charged him with the fraud (Gen 26:9), showed him how frivolous his excuse was and what might have been the bad consequences of it (Gen 26:10), and then, to convince him how groundless and unjust his jealousy of them was, took him and his family under his particular protection, forbidding any injury to be done to him or his wife upon pain of death, Gen 26:11. Note, 1. A lying tongue is but for a moment. Truth is the daughter of time; and, in time, it will out. 2. One sin is often the inlet to many, and therefore the beginnings of sin ought to be avoided. 3. The sins of professors shame them before those that are without. 4. God can make those that are incensed against his people, though there may be some colour of cause for it, to know that it is at their peril if they do them any hurt. See Psa 105:14, Psa 105:15.
Cross-references: Gen 26:6 · Gen 26:7 · Gen 26:8 · Prov 5:18 · Gen 26:9 · Gen 26:10 · Gen 26:11 · Ps 105:14 · Ps 105:15