Genesis 12:11

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Genesis.12.11", "source": "וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הִקְרִ֖יב לָב֣וֹא מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ הִנֵּה־נָ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֛י אִשָּׁ֥ה יְפַת־מַרְאֶ֖ה אָֽתְּ׃", "text": "And-*wayehî* as-*kaʾăšer* *hiqrîb* to-*lābôʾ* *Miṣrāyemāh* and-*wayyōʾmer* to-*Śāray* *ʾištô* behold-*hinnēh*-*nāʾ* *yādaʿtî* that-*kî* *ʾiššāh* *yefat*-*marʾeh* *ʾāt*.", "grammar": { "*wayehî*": "conjunction + imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - and it came to pass", "*kaʾăšer*": "preposition + relative pronoun - when/as", "*hiqrîb*": "perfect 3rd person masculine singular hiphil - he drew near", "*lābôʾ*": "preposition + infinitive construct - to enter", "*Miṣrāyemāh*": "proper noun + directional heh - to Egypt", "*wayyōʾmer*": "conjunction + imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - and he said", "*Śāray*": "proper noun - Sarai", "*ʾištô*": "noun feminine + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his wife", "*hinnēh*": "interjection - behold", "*nāʾ*": "particle of entreaty - please", "*yādaʿtî*": "perfect 1st person singular - I know", "*kî*": "conjunction - that", "*ʾiššāh*": "noun feminine singular - woman", "*yefat*": "construct adjective feminine singular - beautiful of", "*marʾeh*": "noun masculine singular - appearance", "*ʾāt*": "independent pronoun 2nd person feminine singular - you" }, "variants": { "*hinnēh*-*nāʾ*": "behold now/please note/look", "*yefat*-*marʾeh*": "beautiful of appearance/fair to look upon/beautiful in form" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הִקְרִ֖יב לָב֣וֹא מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ הִנֵּה־נָ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֛י אִשָּׁ֥ה יְפַת־מַרְאֶ֖ה אָֽתְּ׃

Transliteration

And-wayehî as-kaʾăšer hiqrîb to-lābôʾ Miṣrāyemāh and-wayyōʾmer to-Śāray ʾištô behold-hinnēh-nāʾ yādaʿtî that-kî ʾiššāh yefat-marʾeh ʾāt.

Grammar Details

• *wayehî*: conjunction + imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - and it came to pass
• *kaʾăšer*: preposition + relative pronoun - when/as
• *hiqrîb*: perfect 3rd person masculine singular hiphil - he drew near
• *lābôʾ*: preposition + infinitive construct - to enter
• *Miṣrāyemāh*: proper noun + directional heh - to Egypt
• *wayyōʾmer*: conjunction + imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - and he said
• *Śāray*: proper noun - Sarai
• *ʾištô*: noun feminine + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his wife
• *hinnēh*: interjection - behold
• *nāʾ*: particle of entreaty - please
• *yādaʿtî*: perfect 1st person singular - I know
• *kî*: conjunction - that
• *ʾiššāh*: noun feminine singular - woman
• *yefat*: construct adjective feminine singular - beautiful of
• *marʾeh*: noun masculine singular - appearance
• *ʾāt*: independent pronoun 2nd person feminine singular - you

Word Meanings

• *hinnēh*-*nāʾ*: behold now/please note/look
• *yefat*-*marʾeh*: beautiful of appearance/fair to look upon/beautiful in form

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And it came to pass, when he was about to enter Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look upon:

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And when he was come nye for to entre in to Egipte he sayd vnto sarai his wife. Beholde I knowe that thou art a fayre woman to loke apo.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And whan he was come nye for to entre in to Egipte, he sayde vnto Sarai his wife: Beholde, I knowe yt thou art a fayre woman to loke vpon.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And when he drewe neere to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, Beholde nowe, I know that thou art a faire woman to looke vpo:

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when he was come neare to enter into Egypt, he sayde vnto Sarai his wife: beholde, I knowe that thou art a fayre woman to loke vpon:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou [art] a fair woman to look upon:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It happened, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look on.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and it cometh to pass as he hath drawn near to enter Egypt, that he saith unto Sarai his wife, `Lo, I pray thee, I have known that thou `art' a woman of beautiful appearance;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now when he came near to Egypt, he said to Sarai, his wife, Truly, you are a fair woman and beautiful to the eye;

• World English Bible (2000)

  It happened, when he had come near to enter Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  As he approached Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai,“Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman.

Referenced Verses

• Gen 26:7 : 7 { "verseID": "Genesis.26.7", "source": "וַֽיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקוֹם֙ לְאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֑וא כִּ֤י יָרֵא֙ לֵאמֹ֣ר אִשְׁתִּ֔י פֶּן־יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקוֹם֙ עַל־רִבְקָ֔ה כִּֽי־טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה הִֽיא׃", "text": "and-*wayyišʾălû* *ʾanšê* *ham-māqôm* about-his-wife and-*wayyōmer* my-sister she for *yārēʾ* to-say my-wife lest-*yahargūnî* *ʾanšê* *ham-māqôm* on-*ribqâ* for-*ṭôbat* *marʾeh* she", "grammar": { "*wayyišʾălû*": "3rd masculine plural Qal imperfect waw-consecutive of שאל - and they asked", "*ʾanšê*": "masculine plural construct of איש - men of", "*ham-māqôm*": "definite article + masculine singular noun - the place", "*wayyōmer*": "3rd masculine singular Qal imperfect waw-consecutive of אמר - and he said", "*yārēʾ*": "3rd masculine singular Qal perfect of ירא - he feared", "*yahargūnî*": "3rd masculine plural Qal imperfect of הרג + 1st singular suffix - they will kill me", "*ribqâ*": "proper noun - Rebekah", "*ṭôbat*": "feminine singular construct of טוב - good of", "*marʾeh*": "masculine singular noun - appearance" }, "variants": { "*wayyišʾălû*": "and they asked/and they inquired/and they questioned", "*ʾanšê*": "men of/people of/inhabitants of", "*yārēʾ*": "he feared/he was afraid/he was frightened", "*ṭôbat* *marʾeh*": "beautiful in appearance/good-looking/attractive" } }
• Gen 29:17 : 17 { "verseID": "Genesis.29.17", "source": "וְעֵינֵ֥י לֵאָ֖ה רַכּ֑וֹת וְרָחֵל֙ הָֽיְתָ֔ה יְפַת־תֹּ֖אַר וִיפַ֥ת מַרְאֶֽה׃", "text": "and-*ʿênê* *lēʾāh* *rakkôt*, *wə-rāḥēl* *hāytāh* *yəpat*-*tōʾar* *wîpat* *marʾeh*", "grammar": { "*ʿênê*": "noun, feminine dual construct - eyes of", "*lēʾāh*": "proper noun, feminine - Leah", "*rakkôt*": "adjective, feminine plural - tender/delicate", "*wə-rāḥēl*": "conjunction + proper noun, feminine - and Rachel", "*hāytāh*": "qal perfect, 3rd feminine singular - was", "*yəpat*": "adjective, feminine singular construct - beautiful of", "*tōʾar*": "noun, masculine singular - form/figure", "*wîpat*": "conjunction + adjective, feminine singular construct - and beautiful of", "*marʾeh*": "noun, masculine singular - appearance" }, "variants": { "*rakkôt*": "tender/weak/delicate/soft", "*yəpat*-*tōʾar*": "beautiful of form/shapely/well-formed", "*yəpat* *marʾeh*": "beautiful of appearance/pretty to look at" } }
• Gen 39:6-7 : 6 { "verseID": "Genesis.39.6", "source": "וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֮ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵף֒ וְלֹא־יָדַ֤ע אִתּוֹ֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא אוֹכֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף יְפֵה־תֹ֖אַר וִיפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה׃", "text": "And *wayyaʿăzōḇ* all-that-to him in *yaḏ*-*Yôsēp̄* and not-*yāḏaʿ* *ʾittô* *mĕʾûmâ* except the-*halleḥem* which-*hûʾ* *ʾôḵēl*; and *wayĕhî* *Yôsēp̄* *yĕp̄ēh*-*tōʾar* and *wîp̄ēh* *marʾeh*.", "grammar": { "*wayyaʿăzōḇ*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he left/abandoned", "*yaḏ*": "noun, feminine singular construct - hand of", "*Yôsēp̄*": "proper noun, masculine singular - Joseph", "*yāḏaʿ*": "qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - he knew", "*ʾittô*": "preposition with 3rd masculine singular suffix - with him", "*mĕʾûmâ*": "noun, feminine singular - anything", "*halleḥem*": "definite article + noun, masculine singular - the bread/food", "*hûʾ*": "independent personal pronoun, 3rd masculine singular - he", "*ʾôḵēl*": "qal participle, masculine singular - eating", "*wayĕhî*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular of היה - and he was", "*yĕp̄ēh*": "adjective, masculine singular construct - beautiful/handsome of", "*tōʾar*": "noun, masculine singular - form/appearance", "*wîp̄ēh*": "conjunction + adjective, masculine singular construct - and beautiful/handsome of", "*marʾeh*": "noun, masculine singular - appearance/sight" }, "variants": { "*wayyaʿăzōḇ*": "left/entrusted/abandoned to care of", "*yāḏaʿ*": "knew/was concerned with/paid attention to", "*mĕʾûmâ*": "anything/something/nothing [with negative]", "*halleḥem*": "bread/food/meal" } } 7 { "verseID": "Genesis.39.7", "source": "וַיְהִ֗י אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַתִּשָּׂ֧א אֵֽשֶׁת־אֲדֹנָ֛יו אֶת־עֵינֶ֖יהָ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֑ף וַתֹּ֖אמֶר שִׁכְבָ֥ה עִמִּֽי׃", "text": "And *wayĕhî* after the *haddĕḇārîm* the *hāʾēlleh*, and *wattiśśāʾ* *ʾēšet*-*ʾăḏōnāyw* *ʾet*-her *ʿênehā* to-*Yôsēp̄*; and *wattōʾmer* *šiḵĕḇâ* with me.", "grammar": { "*wayĕhî*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular of היה - and it was/happened", "*haddĕḇārîm*": "definite article + noun, masculine plural - the things/matters/words", "*hāʾēlleh*": "definite article + demonstrative pronoun, common plural - these", "*wattiśśāʾ*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she lifted", "*ʾēšet*": "noun, feminine singular construct - wife of", "*ʾăḏōnāyw*": "noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his master/lord", "*ʾet*": "direct object marker", "*ʿênehā*": "noun, feminine dual construct with 3rd feminine singular suffix - her eyes", "*Yôsēp̄*": "proper noun, masculine singular - Joseph", "*wattōʾmer*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she said", "*šiḵĕḇâ*": "qal imperative, masculine singular - lie down" }, "variants": { "*haddĕḇārîm*": "things/matters/words/events", "*wattiśśāʾ* *ʿênehā*": "lifted her eyes/looked with desire/cast looks at", "*šiḵĕḇâ*": "lie down/have sexual relations with" } }
• 2 Sam 11:2 : 2 { "verseID": "2 Samuel.11.2", "source": "וַיְהִ֣י ׀ לְעֵ֣ת הָעֶ֗רֶב וַיָּ֨קָם דָּוִ֜ד מֵעַ֤ל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ֙ וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙ עַל־גַּ֣ג בֵּית־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּ֥רְא אִשָּׁ֛ה רֹחֶ֖צֶת מֵעַ֣ל הַגָּ֑ג וְהָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃", "text": "*wə-yhiy* at *ʿēt ha-ʿereb* and *wa-yāqom Dāwid* from upon *mishkābô* and *wa-yithalēch* upon *gag bêyt-ha-melech* and *wa-yarʾ ʾishâ rocheset* from upon *ha-gāg* and *ha-ʾishâ tôbat marʾeh məʾōd*", "grammar": { "*wə-yhiy*": "consecutive imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and it happened/came to pass", "*ʿēt ha-ʿereb*": "construct state - at the time of evening", "*wa-yāqom*": "consecutive imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he arose", "*mishkābô*": "noun masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his bed", "*wa-yithalēch*": "consecutive imperfect 3rd masculine singular hitpael - and he walked about/paced", "*gag bêyt-ha-melech*": "construct chain - roof of the king's house", "*wa-yarʾ*": "consecutive imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he saw", "*ʾishâ rocheset*": "woman bathing/washing herself, participle feminine singular", "*ha-gāg*": "the roof", "*tôbat marʾeh məʾōd*": "good of appearance very - very beautiful in appearance" }, "variants": { "*yithalēch*": "walked about/paced/strolled", "*rocheset*": "bathing/washing/cleansing herself", "*tôbat marʾeh*": "beautiful in appearance/good-looking/attractive" } }
• Prov 21:30 : 30 { "verseID": "Proverbs.21.30", "source": "אֵ֣ין חָ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְנֶ֣גֶד יְהוָֽה", "text": "There-is-no *ḥāḵmāh* and-there-is-no *tĕḇûnāh* and-there-is-no *ʿēṣāh* against *YHWH*", "grammar": { "*ḥāḵmāh*": "feminine singular noun - wisdom", "*tĕḇûnāh*": "feminine singular noun - understanding", "*ʿēṣāh*": "feminine singular noun - counsel/advice", "*YHWH*": "divine name - LORD" }, "variants": { "*ḥāḵmāh*": "wisdom/skill", "*tĕḇûnāh*": "understanding/insight/intelligence", "*ʿēṣāh*": "counsel/advice/plan" } }
• Song 1:14 : 14 { "verseID": "Song of Songs.1.14", "source": "אֶשְׁכֹּ֨ל הַכֹּ֤פֶר ׀ דּוֹדִי֙ לִ֔י בְּכַרְמֵ֖י עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי׃", "text": "*ʾeškōl* the-*kōfer* *dôdî* to-me in-*karmê* *ʿên* *gedî*", "grammar": { "*ʾeškōl*": "noun, masculine, singular construct - cluster of", "*ha-kōfer*": "noun, masculine, singular with definite article - the henna/cyprus", "*dôdî*": "noun, masculine, singular with 1st singular possessive suffix - my beloved", "*lî*": "preposition with 1st singular suffix - to me", "*bĕ-karmê*": "preposition with noun, masculine, plural construct - in vineyards of", "*ʿên gedî*": "proper noun - En Gedi" }, "variants": { "*kōfer*": "henna/cyprus flowers (fragrant flowering plant)", "*ʿên gedî*": "En Gedi (oasis by the Dead Sea)" } }
• Gen 12:14 : 14 { "verseID": "Genesis.12.14", "source": "וַיְהִ֕י כְּב֥וֹא אַבְרָ֖ם מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיִּרְא֤וּ הַמִּצְרִים֙ אֶת־הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּֽי־יָפָ֥ה הִ֖וא מְאֹֽד׃", "text": "And-*wayehî* as-*kebôʾ* *ʾAbrām* *Miṣrāyemāh* and-*wayyirʾû* the-*hammiṣrîm* *ʾet*-the-*hāʾiššāh* that-*kî*-*yāfāh* *hîʾ* *meʾōd*.", "grammar": { "*wayehî*": "conjunction + imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - and it came to pass", "*kebôʾ*": "preposition + infinitive construct - when entered", "*ʾAbrām*": "proper noun - Abram", "*Miṣrāyemāh*": "proper noun + directional heh - to Egypt", "*wayyirʾû*": "conjunction + imperfect 3rd person masculine plural - and they saw", "*hammiṣrîm*": "article + gentilic plural - the Egyptians", "*ʾet*": "direct object marker", "*hāʾiššāh*": "article + noun feminine singular - the woman", "*kî*": "conjunction - that", "*yāfāh*": "adjective feminine singular - beautiful", "*hîʾ*": "independent pronoun 3rd person feminine singular - she", "*meʾōd*": "adverb - very" }, "variants": { "*yāfāh*": "beautiful/fair/pretty" } }