And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

GENESIS 12:16KJV
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Genesis 12:16 (KJV)

What does Genesis 12:16 mean?

Genesis 12:16 describes how Pharaoh treated Abram favorably because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. Abram gained livestock and servants while Sarai was in Pharaoh’s house. The verse shows the material advantage Abram received in a situation brought about by presenting Sarai as his sister.

The storyteller, rather than a character in the story, gives the list of possessions. After Sarai is taken into Pharaoh’s house in verse 15, the list shifts attention to what Abram has: animals useful for food, work, and transport, along with male and female servants.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 12:16

  • “entreated” and “well” — יָטַב (yatav): This word can carry the sense of doing good or treating someone favorably. Here, the two English words express Pharaoh’s favorable treatment of Abram.
  • “sheep” — צֹאן (tson): This word can refer to a flock of sheep and goats. The Hebrew term can cover both kinds of animal, although the KJV uses “sheep.”

Why Genesis 12:16 matters

  • Abram’s favorable treatment is tied directly to Sarai. The phrase “for her sake” connects his new possessions with Pharaoh’s interest in her.
  • The list includes people as well as animals. “Menservants” and “maidservants” were people in dependent service within Abram’s household, not merely items of property in a modern list.
  • Abram’s gain forms a contrast with what follows. In verses 17–20, Pharaoh’s household is struck with plagues, and Pharaoh sends Abram away with Sarai and what he has.

Where else these words appear

“asses” Hebrew H860 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
  • Numbers 22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
  • 1 Samuel 10:14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.

“Abram” Hebrew H87 · used in 50 verses

  • Genesis 11:26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
  • Genesis 13:4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
  • Genesis 15:3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

“camels” Hebrew H1581 · used in 51 verses

  • Genesis 24:10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
  • Genesis 31:17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
  • 1 Chronicles 5:21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.

“maidservants” Hebrew H8198 · used in 58 verses

  • Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
  • Genesis 32:22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
  • 2 Samuel 14:15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.