The Church Fathers on this verse

Genesis 20:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And after God brought me out of my father's house, I said to her: Thou shalt do me this kindness: In every place, to which we shall come, thou shalt say that I am thy brother.

Douay-Rheims

וַיְהִ֞י כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר הִתְע֣וּ אֹתִ֗י אֱלֹהִים֮ מִבֵּ֣ית אָבִי֒ וָאֹמַ֣ר לָ֔הּ זֶ֣ה חַסְדֵּ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשִׂ֖י עִמָּדִ֑י אֶ֤ל כָּל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָב֣וֹא שָׁ֔מָּה אִמְרִי־לִ֖י אָחִ֥י הֽוּא׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

3 Church Fathers comment on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

Observe how the just man strives to demonstrate that he has remained truthful in this matter as well. If you wish to understand my perspective clearly, he states, heed the very dialogue we engaged in together. ‘When God caused me to journey from my father’s house.’ Notice the profound wisdom exhibited by the righteous man, who, through the sequence of his account, illustrates that from the outset he has been among God's chosen ones. He emphasizes that God Himself called him away from his home and brought him into their land, so that the king could recognize him as someone who possesses great boldness before the Lord.

Read more (165 words)

‘When,’ he declares, ‘God led me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, “Please show me this kindness: at every place we arrive, say of me, ‘This is my brother.’”’ Previously, he mentioned, ‘I thought there was no fear of God in this location,’ and it seemed to him that his words might have struck them too hard. Therefore, seeking to soften the impact of his accusation, he continues, ‘Do not assume that we devised this only for your sake. No, even then, ‘when God led me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, “Please show me this kindness wherever we go.”’ He asserts that he offered her this counsel concerning all the inhabitants of the earth; yet this intention is not deceitful but rather a response to the fear of death that compelled us to act thus. By articulating this, the righteous man soothed their resentment, revealed his integrity, and imparted valuable wisdom regarding the reverence of God.

Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)

19th centuryChurch Father

When the Lord guided me, etc. In a more literal translation from the Hebrew: When Elohim directed me and so forth. The term Elohim in this context is interpreted as relating to the idolatrous Chaldean rulers, from whom Abraham separated. However, they were not the ones who caused him to stray; instead, it refers to God, as understood by Abimelech. Like Abraham, Abimelech recognized the reverence due to the one true God, as did the angels who accompanied Abraham. It is fitting, therefore, to attribute this to the sovereign God, for He led Abraham away from his family’s home (Gen. 12:1). It might appear unusual that God is referred to in the plural form here without implying unity; however, there are other biblical passages that utilize similar phrasing (Gen. 35:7, 2 Sam. 7:23; see also 1 Chron. 17:21). The essence of this expression indicates the action of the one God, together with the divine mediators who serve Him, holding a supreme and sacred status before humanity.

Roshdestwenski W.G.

Teacher of the Church

When we depart from the traditions and principles instilled in us by our ancestors, we come to understand that it is the Lord who has delivered us from our familial confines. This is evident in the scripture, “Everyone who commits sin is born of the devil” (1 Jn. 3:8; cf. Jn. 8:34), as well as in the life of one who has entirely renounced sin. Such an individual has been guided by God away from the household of their father.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.