Genesis 12:10–20

Abram in Egypt

¹⁰There was a famine in the land, ^vso Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine in the land was severe. ¹¹When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are. ¹²When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me but let you live. ^w13Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.” ¹⁴When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. ¹⁵Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, so the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s household. ¹⁶He treated Abram well because of her, and Abram acquired flocks and herds, male and female donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels.

¹⁷But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai. ^x18So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? ¹⁹Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!” ²⁰Then Pharaoh gave his men orders about him, and they sent him away with his wife and all he had.