Verse
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Genesis 12:13

ESV Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake."
NIV Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you."
NASB Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.'
CSB Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account."
NLT So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.'
KJV Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
NKJV Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”

What does Genesis 12:13 mean?

In the previous two verses, Abram presented his fear to his wife Sarai as they prepared to enter the land of Egypt. She was a woman of great beauty. What was to keep the Egyptians from killing him, a vulnerable immigrant seeking food, and taking Sarai for their own?

Now he reveals his plan: "Tell them you're my sister." This was a half-truth. Sarai and Abram were both children of Abram's father Terah, though they had different mothers. Apparently, it was not uncommon at the time to marry a half-sister. Later, God would later forbid such marriages for the people of Israel, but He had not yet done so.

Of course, Abram's statement was also a lie—it was spoken specifically to mislead others about his relationship to Sarai. Sarai was fully Abram's wife. He was asking her to pretend not to be his wife to protect himself, obviously putting her at great risk. It's possible that Abram hoped that being viewed as Sarai's brother would give him the opportunity to reject any marriage proposals she might receive, rather than being a target for a jealous suitor. The following verses will reveal that it won't work out that way.

Abram's failing here began with not trusting the Lord to protect him. God had promised the land to Abram's offspring, along with promises of protection and greatness (Genesis 12:1–3). Since Abram didn't have any children yet, God's promise meant that he would not be killed. Abram was not yet willing to believe God in a potentially dangerous situation.
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