Genesis 20:7

20:7 But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed 1  he is a prophet 2  and he will pray for you; thus you will live. 3  But if you don’t give her back, 4  know that you will surely die 5  along with all who belong to you.”

1 tn Or “for,” if the particle is understood as causal (as many English translations do) rather than asseverative.

2 sn For a discussion of the term prophet see N. Walker, “What is a Nabhi?” ZAW 73 (1961): 99-100.

3 tn After the preceding jussive (or imperfect), the imperative with vav conjunctive here indicates result.

sn He will pray for you that you may live. Abraham was known as a man of God whose prayer would be effectual. Ironically and sadly, he was also known as a liar.

4 tn Heb “if there is not you returning.” The suffix on the particle becomes the subject of the negated clause.

5 tn The imperfect is preceded by the infinitive absolute to make the warning emphatic.