Genesis 20 in the early church

62 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 20, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 9 · 11 · 12 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18

Genesis 20:1

Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:1Arabic Pentateuch fragment VI · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Gen 20:1Fragment 14 · Julius Africanusallusion, medium confidenceafter 221
Gen 20:1–14Against Secundinus the Manichaean 23 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 399
Gen 20:1–16Genesis, lines 675–699 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Gen 20:1–18City of God 16.30 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence413–426

Genesis 20:2

Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:2To Autolycus 2.31 · Theophilus of Antiochallusion, medium confidenceca. 180–185
Gen 20:2Arabic Pentateuch fragment VI · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Gen 20:2Tractates on the Psalms 127.7 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–367
Gen 20:2Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.5 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 20:2Against Faustus the Manichaean 32.4 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 20:2Tractates 0 · Gaudentius of Bresciaallusion, medium confidenceca. 397-410
Gen 20:2On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.27 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 419–421
Gen 20:2Against Lying 23 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 420

Genesis 20:3

One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:3Arabic Pentateuch fragment VI · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Gen 20:3Homilies 17.17 · Anonymousallusion, high confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Gen 20:3Demonstration of the Gospel 4.15.26 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Gen 20:3On the Decrees of Nicaea 7 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, medium confidenceca. 350–356
Gen 20:3Homilies on Matthew 4.6 · John Chrysostomallusion, high confidenceca. 390
Gen 20:3Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.33 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 20:3On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.27 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 419–421
Gen 20:3On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.30 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 419–421

Genesis 20:4

Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:4Fragments on Genesis, column 117 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 20:4Commentary on Galatians 4:8 · Ambrosiasterquotation, high confidenceca. 366–384
Gen 20:4On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.27 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 419–421

Genesis 20:5

Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:5On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.27 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 419–421

Genesis 20:6

Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:6PG 12:1631 (Ps 123–124 LXX) · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 20:6Homilies 17.17 · Anonymousallusion, high confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Gen 20:6The Conferences 13.11 · John Cassianallusion, medium confidenceca. 426–429

Genesis 20:7

Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:7Miscellanies 4.21.133 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, medium confidenceca. 198–203
Gen 20:7Homilies on Jeremiah 1.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
Gen 20:7On the Computation of Easter 10 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidence243
Gen 20:7Prophetic Extracts 1.3 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, medium confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Gen 20:7Demonstration of the Gospel 4.15.27 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Gen 20:7Question 108, section 2 · Ambrosiasterallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–384
Gen 20:7Question 117, section 8 · Ambrosiasterallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–384
Gen 20:7City of God 17.1 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidence413–426
Gen 20:7City of God 18.37 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidence413–426

Genesis 20:9

Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:9Arabic Pentateuch fragment VI · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)

Genesis 20:11

Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:11Arabic Pentateuch fragment VI · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)

Genesis 20:12

Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:12Miscellanies 2.23.138 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Gen 20:12Miscellanies 6.12.101 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Gen 20:12Arabic Pentateuch fragment VI · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Gen 20:12Against Helvidius 17 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 383
Gen 20:12Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.35 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 20:12Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.39 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 20:12Against Faustus the Manichaean 23.6 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 20:12City of God 16.19 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidence413–426
Gen 20:12City of God 16.30 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence413–426
Gen 20:12Against Lying 23 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 420

Genesis 20:14

So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:14Arabic Pentateuch fragment VI · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Gen 20:14Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.38 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 20:14On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.27 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 419–421

Genesis 20:15

And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:15Arabic Pentateuch fragment VI · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)

Genesis 20:16

And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:16Arabic Pentateuch fragment VI · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)

Genesis 20:17

Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:17Demonstration 4.4 · Aphrahatallusion, medium confidence337-345
Gen 20:17On the Destruction of Jerusalem 5.16 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 370
Gen 20:17–18Genesis, lines 700–724 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Gen 20:17On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.27 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 419–421
Gen 20:17On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.30 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 419–421

Genesis 20:18

for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 20:18Homilies on Ezekiel 4.1 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s)
Gen 20:18On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.27 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 419–421
Gen 20:18On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.30 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 419–421