And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

GENESIS 26:9KJV
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Genesis 26:9 (KJV)

What does Genesis 26:9 mean?

Genesis 26:9 shows King Abimelech confronting Isaac after realizing that Rebekah is actually Isaac’s wife, not his sister as Isaac had claimed. Isaac admits he lied because he was afraid someone might kill him to take Rebekah.

In this verse, Abimelech speaks directly to Isaac, questioning why Isaac said Rebekah was his sister. The situation is tense: Isaac, living as a foreigner in Abimelech’s land, feared for his life because of Rebekah’s beauty. The verse highlights both Isaac’s fear and Abimelech’s concern for honesty and the well-being of his people.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 26:9

  • אִשָּׁה (ishah, "wife"): This word makes it clear that Abimelech recognizes Rebekah’s true relationship to Isaac, which is central to the confrontation.
  • מוּת (muth, "die"): Isaac’s use of this word shows his fear was about self-preservation; he believed someone might kill him for his wife.
  • אָמַר (amar, "said"): This word appears several times, emphasizing the importance of what was spoken and the consequences of Isaac’s words.

Why Genesis 26:9 matters

  • Genesis 26:9 clears up any confusion about Isaac’s relationship to Rebekah and why he misrepresented it.
  • The verse highlights a recurring theme in Genesis, where patriarchs fear for their lives and resort to deception when living among foreign peoples.
  • This moment sets up the following verses, where Abimelech takes steps to protect Isaac and Rebekah, showing the importance of truth and the responsibilities of leadership.

Where else these words appear

“surety” Hebrew H389 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 7:23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
  • Exodus 12:16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
  • Judges 7:19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.

“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.

“Isaac” Hebrew H3327 · used in 101 verses

  • Genesis 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
  • Genesis 26:16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
  • Genesis 35:28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

“sister” Hebrew H269 · used in 104 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • Leviticus 18:18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
  • Job 1:4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.