Event · The Patriarchs
Abram in Egypt
Abram in EgyptGenesis 12:10–20No agreed date
During a famine Abram goes to Egypt and says Sarai is his sister; Pharaoh takes her into his house until plagues reveal the truth.
- Main passage Genesis 12:10–20
Places named Egypt Genesis 12:10
- Place in the order
- Explicit biblical sequence Scripture itself gives the order of these events.
- Historical setting
- No agreed date Disputed date
Scripture gives no calendar date for the patriarchs. They are often placed somewhere in the second millennium BCE, but scholars disagree.
Read it
Genesis 12:10–20 WEB
10There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at. 12It will happen that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will save you alive. 13Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.” 14When Abram had come into Egypt, some Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. 17The LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go your way.” 20Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they escorted him away with his wife and all that he had.