The Meaning of Genesis 20:4 Explained

Genesis 20:4

KJV: But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

YLT: And Abimelech hath not drawn near unto her, and he saith, 'Lord, also a righteous nation dost thou slay?

Darby: But Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, Lord, wilt thou also kill a righteous nation?

ASV: Now Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, Lord, wilt thou slay even a righteous nation?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But Abimelech  had not come near  her: and he said,  Lord,  wilt thou slay  also a righteous  nation? 

What does Genesis 20:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 20:1-18 - Abraham Again Denies His Wife
It is wonderful that Abraham should fall like this. He had walked with God for so many years, and experienced so many deliverances, that we should have expected him to have reached an unassailable position. But the best of men are men at the best; and God, who knows us better than we know ourselves, remembers that we are dust. He often steps in by His providence to intercept the full consequences of our wrongdoing, provided always that our heart is really true to Him. There is delightful reassurance in the words, "I withheld thee." God may have to chastise His children for their backslidings, but He will not hand them over to the will of their enemies, nor allow His covenant to fail. He rebukes king's for the sake of His people. See Psalms 105:15. There is a high-toned morality in some who are outside our religious pale, which may put us to shame. It crops up in unexpected places, as here in Abimelech's remonstrance. It was terrible that He was compelled to address Abraham as in Genesis 20:9. God has direct dealings with such men, but they need our prayer and help. See Genesis 20:3; Genesis 20:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 20

1  Abraham sojourns at Gerar
2  Denies his wife, who is taken by Abimelech
3  Abimelech is reproved for her in a dream
9  He rebukes Abraham
14  Restores Sarah;
16  and reproves her
17  Abimelech and his family are healed at Abraham's prayer

What do the individual words in Genesis 20:4 mean?

But Abimelech not had come near her and he said Lord will a nation also righteous You slay
וַאֲבִימֶ֕לֶךְ לֹ֥א קָרַ֖ב אֵלֶ֑יהָ וַיֹּאמַ֕ר אֲדֹנָ֕י הֲג֥וֹי גַּם־ צַדִּ֖יק ؟ תַּהֲרֹֽג

וַאֲבִימֶ֕לֶךְ  But  Abimelech 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king of Gerar in Abraham’s time.
קָרַ֖ב  had  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
אֵלֶ֑יהָ  near  her 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וַיֹּאמַ֕ר  and  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲדֹנָ֕י  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
הֲג֥וֹי  will  a  nation 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
גַּם־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
צַדִּ֖יק  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
؟ תַּהֲרֹֽג  You  slay 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הָרַג  
Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.