Genesis 20 (KJV)
Read Genesis chapter 20 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Genesis 20
Explore Topics Related to Genesis 20
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Commentary
Genesis 26:24 Commentary
In-depth study • God's Faithfulness
Commentary
Genesis 8:22 Commentary
In-depth study • God's Faithfulness
Spiritual Warfare
The Serpent in Eden — Satan in Genesis 3 (KJV)
The serpent in Eden is Satan's first appearance in Scripture — questioning God's
Devotional
Genesis 50:20 — Meaning & Devotional
God's Sovereignty
Prayer
Prayer for Protection of My Marriage
A hedge of protection around the marriage covenant.
Prayer
Prayer for Protection at Work
Guarding integrity and safety in the workplace.
Genesis 20 Summary
Genesis 20 recounts Abraham's sojourn in Gerar, where he once again identifies Sarah as his sister rather than his wife. King Abimelech takes Sarah into his household, but God intervenes through a dream, warning the king and preventing sin.
The chapter reveals both Abraham's ongoing struggle with fear and God's sovereign protection of His covenant promises. Abimelech's integrity contrasts with Abraham's deception, yet God works through imperfect people to advance His plan of redemption.
Key Themes
God's sovereign protectionHuman deception and fearIntegrity of outsidersIntercessory prayerCovenant faithfulness
Key Verses in Genesis 20
"And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me."
— Genesis 20:6
Demonstrates God's active involvement in preventing sin and protecting His purposes.
"Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live."
— Genesis 20:7
First use of the word 'prophet' in Scripture, establishing Abraham's intercessory role.
Life Application
Even when we stumble into old patterns of fear and deception, God remains faithful to His promises. This chapter encourages believers to trust God's protection rather than relying on their own schemes, and to recognize that God can use even our failures to reveal His grace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Abraham lie about Sarah again in Genesis 20?
Abraham repeated his earlier deception from Genesis 12 out of fear for his life, revealing that even great figures of faith struggle with recurring weaknesses. This shows that spiritual growth is a process.
Was Abimelech innocent in Genesis 20?
God acknowledged Abimelech's integrity of heart, confirming that the king acted in ignorance. God prevented him from sinning by keeping him from touching Sarah.
Free Bible widgets and more ways to read
Free widgets
- All widgetsDirectory of every free Bible widget with copy-paste embed code and theme options.
- Church website widgetsAll three free widgets in one place, with use-cases and install guides.
- Bible verse widgetA fresh KJV verse of the day on your homepage — one line of HTML.
- Daily devotion widgetA KJV passage plus a short reflection that changes every morning.
- Bible quiz widgetAn embeddable Bible trivia quiz for church, school and youth sites.
- Notion Bible widgetStep-by-step guide to embedding a KJV verse, devotion, or quiz in Notion.
- Widget gallerySee every theme, size and language side by side before you embed.
- Widget builderPick the verse, theme and width, then copy your embed code.
- Widget usage statsLive numbers on how many sites are serving Scripture with our widgets.
Read and study
- Read the KJV Bible onlineFree chapter-by-chapter reader, no signup, works on any device.
- Bible reading plansStructured plans from 7 days to the whole Bible in a year.
- Bible quizzesHundreds of KJV quiz questions by book, theme and difficulty.
- Bible trivia questionsPrintable trivia with answers for groups, kids and small groups.