Genesis 12:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Ultimately, what Abraham anticipated from the Lord came to pass: Pharaoh, who ruled over Egypt and had taken Sarah as his wife, was struck with severe afflictions and returned her to Abraham. Therefore, we should not assume that she was tainted by being with another man, as it is more credible to believe that the harsh punishments imposed on Pharaoh deterred him from such actions.

A wife may belittle her husband if she perceives herself as superior, which often stems from pride. Sarah, however, was neither wealthier nor of higher birth status than Abraham, thus she regarded him as her equal. She loved him with dignity, undeterred by material wealth, family, or kinship, following him wherever he might go. When she entered a foreign nation, she identified herself as his sister, choosing to risk her honor for her husband’s safety. To protect him, she misrepresented their relationship, fearing that those who threatened her honor might view him as a rival and harm him. Indeed, upon seeing her, the Egyptians were captivated by her remarkable beauty and brought her to their king, treating Abraham with respect as the brother of the woman who captivated their ruler.

On a spiritual plane, those who wander from righteousness into sin are described as descending into Egypt. It is frequently lamented, “Woe to them that go down into Egypt.” However, the term "came" is used here, signifying that his descent is an arrival. Every righteous person, while not straying themselves, descends to those who are lost, guiding them instead. Just as some become Jews for the sake of association without genuinely converting, and some act lawlessly for the benefit of the lawless without truly engaging in wrongdoing, others venture into Egypt without adopting the ways of the Egyptians.

Thus, while many go downs into Egypt, Abram approaches for a different reason; it is not their immorality that leads him there, but the fulfillment of necessary duties. The virtuous person visits Egypt, often utilizing aspects of foreign culture for beneficial purposes, as the Apostle Paul did, referencing the words of Aratus, "we are his and his generation" (Acts 17:28), and "to an unknown God" (Acts 17:23), as well as the assertion "the Cretans are always liars" (Titus 1:12). Consequently, he encourages us to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

Upon arriving in Egypt, as previously mentioned, Abram holds back virtue from declaring that she is his wife. The dedicated and righteous husband refrains from claiming that virtue belongs solely to him to avoid inciting jealousy; instead, he refers to her as his sister. He takes a humble position in his connection with virtue to accommodate the weak, making her appear accessible to all. When we aim to highlight a particular truth, such as that of Divine Providence, we often seek common ground with others so they may embrace the teaching as their own. Thus, the doctrine of the Gospel is an exalted companion to the virtuous, who does not monopolize it, even when discussing it among the righteous (1 Cor. 2:6), but shares it broadly as Paul expresses, "For I desire that all men should be like me" (1 Cor. 7:7); for when they attain this state, they will recognize that this doctrine is indeed the companion of the perfected. In truth, wisdom begets understanding in the virtuous partner, and the perfect one declares, "I have become a lover of her beauty" (Prov. 8:2), referring to wisdom. The wise individual seeks to share their gifts with all, thereby eliminating any possibility of envy among them.