^20:6Then in the dream God replied to him, “Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience.¹¹ That is why I have kept you¹² from sinning against me and why¹³ I did not allow you to touch her. ^20:7But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed¹⁴ he is a prophet¹⁵ and he will pray for you; thus you will live.¹⁶ But if you don’t give her back,¹⁷ know that you will surely die¹⁸ along with all who belong to you.”

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Footnotes

11 Heb “with the integrity of your heart.”
12 Heb “and I, even I, kept you.”
13 Heb “therefore.”
14 Or “for,” if the particle is understood as causal (as many English translations do) rather than asseverative.
15 For a discussion of the term prophet see N. Walker, “What is a Nabhi?” 73 (1961): 99–100.
16 After the preceding jussive (or imperfect), the imperative with vav conjunctive here indicates result. He will pray for you that you may live. Abraham was known as a man of God whose prayer would be effectual. Ironically and sadly, he was also known as a liar.
17 Heb “if there is not you returning.” The suffix on the particle becomes the subject of the negated clause.
18 The imperfect is preceded by the infinitive absolute to make the warning emphatic.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. I have also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I have not let you touch her. Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours.”

NLTNew Living Translation

In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you did this, and I also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore, I did not allow you to touch her. So now, return the wife of the man, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you and you will live. And if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, and all that are yours.”

KJV 1900King James Version

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. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

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