Abimelech
malePatriarchalMeaning: “My father is king”
The Philistine king of Gerar who took Sarah into his house, was warned by God in a dream, and later made a covenant with Abraham at Beersheba.
Biography
Abimelech was the Philistine king of Gerar in the days of Abraham (and again, likely a successor of the same dynastic name, in the days of Isaac). He appears as a pagan ruler whom God nonetheless restrained and dealt with directly.
Sarah taken and restored
When Abraham said Sarah was his sister, Abimelech took her into his house — but God warned him in a dream, "thou art but a dead man, for the woman… is a man's wife" (Genesis 20:3). Abimelech, protesting his innocence, restored Sarah with gifts and a rebuke to Abraham.
A covenant at Beersheba
Later, recognizing that "God is with thee in all that thou doest," Abimelech made a covenant of peace with Abraham over a disputed well at Beersheba (Genesis 21:22–32). A similar episode of deception and covenant followed years later with Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26).
Life Timeline
Takes Sarah, then is warned by God in a dream
Makes a covenant with Abraham at Beersheba
On the Bible timeline
Abimelech belongs to the The Patriarchs era (c. 2100 – 1800 BC).
- c. 2091 BCThe Call of Abraham
- c. 1898 BCJoseph Sold into Egypt
Themes & lessons from Abimelech
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Abimelech appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
23 verses in 1 bookGenesis23 verses
Genesis 20:2
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
Genesis 20:3
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. a man's: Heb. married to an husband
Genesis 20:4
But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
Genesis 20:8
Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
Genesis 20:9
Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
Genesis 20:10
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
Genesis 20:14
And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
Genesis 20:15
And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. where: Heb. as is good in thine eyes
Genesis 20:17
So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
Genesis 20:18
For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
Genesis 21:22
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
Genesis 21:25
And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
Genesis 21:26
And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
Genesis 21:27
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
Genesis 21:29
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
Genesis 21:32
Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
Genesis 26:1
And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
Genesis 26:8
And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
Genesis 26:9
And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.
Genesis 26:10
And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
Genesis 26:11
And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.
Genesis 26:16
And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
Genesis 26:26
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.
Frequently asked about Abimelech
Who was Abimelech in the Bible?
The Philistine king of Gerar who took Sarah into his house, was warned by God in a dream, and later made a covenant with Abraham at Beersheba.
What does the name Abimelech mean?
The name Abimelech means “My father is king”.
What did Abimelech do in the Bible?
Abimelech served as king of gerar.
Where does Abimelech appear in the Bible?
Abimelech is mentioned 23 times across 1 book: Genesis.
What can we learn from Abimelech?
The story of Abimelech touches on themes of abraham, abimelech, patriarchal government, chiding — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Abimelech's life.
Sermon Mate
Teaching on Abimelech?
Organize your sermon notes, link Scripture passages, and build your outline in Sermon Mate — the workspace for ministry leaders.
Open Sermon Mate →