For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

GENESIS 20:18KJV
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Genesis 20:18 (KJV)

What does Genesis 20:18 mean?

Genesis 20:18 says that the LORD had prevented every woman in Abimelech’s household from having children because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. This verse explains that God directly caused infertility in Abimelech’s house as a consequence of Sarah being taken into his household.

This verse comes at the end of the story where Abimelech, the king of Gerar, had taken Sarah, not knowing she was Abraham’s wife. The verse clarifies that God’s intervention was not just a warning to Abimelech but also a physical sign affecting his entire household. It sets up the resolution in the next verses, where God restores the situation after Abimelech returns Sarah.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 20:18

  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the action was God’s direct doing, not a natural event.
  • "fast closed up" (עָצַר, atsar): This verb means to restrain or shut up tightly. It stresses that the infertility was a deliberate act by God, not just a coincidence or a natural problem.
  • "wombs" (רֶחֶם, rechem): This word specifically means the womb, making it clear that the punishment was the inability to bear children, affecting the future of Abimelech’s family.

Why Genesis 20:18 matters

  • Genesis 20:18 clears up why God intervened so strongly in Abimelech’s household, showing that the consequences of taking Sarah were immediate and serious.
  • The verse highlights God’s protection of Sarah and His involvement in the promises made to Abraham, since Sarah was to be the mother of the promised child.
  • By mentioning the closing of wombs, Genesis 20:18 connects to other stories in Genesis where God controls fertility, showing His power over life and family lines.

Where else these words appear

“wombs” Hebrew H7358 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
  • Numbers 12:12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
  • Job 38:8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

“Sarah” Hebrew H8283 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 17:15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
  • Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
  • Genesis 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

“fast” Hebrew H6113 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
  • 1 Kings 14:10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

“Abimelech” Hebrew H40 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 20:2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
  • Genesis 26:16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
  • Judges 9:34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.