Genesis 26:11

11 So Abimelek gave orders to all the people: “Anyone who harms this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

Genesis 26:11 in Other Translations

KJV
11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.
ESV
11 So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, "Whoever touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death."
NLT
11 Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”
MSG
11 Then Abimelech gave orders to his people: "Anyone who so much as lays a hand on this man or his wife dies."
CSB
11 So Abimelech warned all the people with these words: "Whoever harms this man or his wife will certainly die."

Genesis 26:11 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 26:11

And Abimelech charged all [his] people
All his subjects throughout his kingdom, and particularly the inhabitants of Gerar, and more especially his courtiers and servants about him: saying, he that toucheth this man or his wife;
that does any injury to one either by words or deeds, or behaves immodestly to the other, or attempts to ravish her; this being sometimes used as a modest expression carnal knowledge of a woman; or that does either of them any harm or hurt in any respect whatever: shall surely be put to death;
this severe edict he published, in order to deter his subjects from using them ill, to which they might be provoked by Isaac's dissimulation, and by his evil suspicions of them.

Genesis 26:11 In-Context

9 So Abimelek summoned Isaac and said, “She is really your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac answered him, “Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her.”
10 Then Abimelek said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”
11 So Abimelek gave orders to all the people: “Anyone who harms this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”
12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.
13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Samuel 26:9; Psalms 105:15
  • 2. S Genesis 20:3
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