And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

GENESIS 20:6KJV
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Genesis 20:6 (KJV)

What does Genesis 20:6 mean?

Genesis 20:6 records God speaking to Abimelech in a dream, telling him that He knows Abimelech acted with a sincere heart and that God Himself prevented Abimelech from sinning by not allowing him to touch Sarah. God reassures Abimelech that his innocence was recognized and that divine intervention kept him from wrongdoing.

In this verse, God is addressing Abimelech, a king who had unknowingly taken Abraham’s wife Sarah, believing she was only Abraham’s sister. God’s words highlight both Abimelech’s honest intentions and God’s active role in protecting both Abimelech and Sarah. The verse shows a moment where God steps in to stop someone from making a serious mistake, even when that person is unaware of the full situation.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 20:6

  • אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) — This is the Hebrew word for "God," emphasizing God’s authority and power as the one who intervenes directly in human affairs.
  • תֹּם (tom) — Translated as "integrity," this word means innocence or blamelessness. God acknowledges that Abimelech’s actions came from a place of honesty, not deceit.
  • חָשַׂךְ (chasakh) — Translated as "withheld," this word means to hold back or restrain. God is saying He actively stopped Abimelech from sinning, not just passively observing.
  • חָטָא (chata) — This is the word for "sinning," which carries the sense of missing the mark or committing a moral wrong. God frames the potential act as a sin against Himself, not just against Abraham or Sarah.

Why Genesis 20:6 matters

  • Genesis 20:6 clarifies that God sometimes intervenes directly to prevent people from unknowingly committing serious wrongs, showing both His justice and mercy.
  • The verse emphasizes that God judges not just outward actions but also the intentions of the heart, as seen in His recognition of Abimelech’s integrity.
  • This moment connects to the larger story by explaining why Sarah was protected and by highlighting God’s faithfulness to Abraham and Sarah’s promised future.

Where else these words appear

“integrity” Hebrew H8537 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 20:5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
  • Psalms 7:8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
  • Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

“withheld” Hebrew H2820 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
  • Job 16:6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
  • Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

“Yea” Hebrew H1571 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
  • 1 Samuel 12:16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.
  • Job 12:3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

“dream” Hebrew H2472 · used in 55 verses

  • Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
  • Genesis 41:12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.
  • Job 7:14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: