And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.

GENESIS 12:17KJV
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Genesis 12:17 (KJV)

What does Genesis 12:17 mean?

Genesis 12:17 says that the LORD sent serious plagues on Pharaoh and his household because Pharaoh had taken Sarai, Abram’s wife, into his palace. God intervened directly to protect Sarai and to show Pharaoh that something was wrong.

In this part of the story, Abram and Sarai are in Egypt because of a famine. Pharaoh had taken Sarai, not knowing she was Abram’s wife, because Abram had said she was his sister. The verse highlights God’s active role in safeguarding Sarai and correcting a situation that could have led to greater harm or misunderstanding.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 12:17

  • The word "plagued" (נָגַע, naga‘) means to strike, touch, or afflict. Here, it emphasizes that the LORD’s action was direct and forceful, not just a minor inconvenience.
  • "Plagues" (נֶגַע, nega‘) refers to blows, afflictions, or diseases. The use of the word in the plural and with the adjective "great" (גָּדוֹל, gadol) underlines the seriousness and scale of what happened to Pharaoh’s household.
  • "House" (בַּיִת, bayit) in this context means not just Pharaoh’s physical home but his entire household—his family, servants, and possibly his court—showing the wide impact of God’s intervention.

Why Genesis 12:17 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God was not passive but actively protected Sarai, even when she was in a foreign land and vulnerable.
  • It shows that Pharaoh’s troubles were not random but directly caused by God because of Sarai’s situation, making clear the connection between human actions and divine response.
  • The verse sets up the following events, where Pharaoh realizes something is wrong and confronts Abram, moving the story forward and highlighting the importance of honesty and trust in God’s promises.

Where else these words appear

“Sarai” Hebrew H8297 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.
  • Genesis 12:11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
  • Genesis 16:5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

“Abram's” 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.

“plagues” Hebrew H5061 · used in 62 verses

  • Exodus 11:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
  • Leviticus 13:44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head.
  • Leviticus 14:37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall;

“plagued” Hebrew H5060 · used in 142 verses

  • Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
  • Numbers 19:21 And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even.
  • Psalms 73:14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.