The Call of Abram

Genesis 12

The Lord calls Abram to leave his country for a land he will show him, promising to make him a great nation and a blessing to all the tribes of the earth. Abram journeys to Chanaan and then, during a famine, to Egypt, where Sara is taken into Pharao's house until the Lord afflicts Pharao and Abram is sent away with his household.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW the Lord said to Abram, Depart from thy land and from thy kindred and from the house of thy father and come to the land which I will shew thee,

BrentonAnd the Lord said to Abram, Go forth out of thy land and out of thy kindred, and out of the house of thy father, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος τῷ Ἅβραμ, ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς γῆς σου, καὶ ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας σου, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός σου, καὶ δεῦρο εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἣν ἄν σοι δείξω.

KJVNow the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

JPSNow the LORD said unto Abram: ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee.

Thomsonand I will make thee a great nation; and I will bless thee and make thy name great, and thou shalt be blessed;

BrentonAnd I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed.

GreekΚαὶ ποιήσω σε εἰς ἔθνος μέγα, καὶ εὐλογήσω σε, καὶ μεγαλυνῶ τὸ ὄνομά σου, καὶ ἔσῃ εὐλογημένος.

KJVAnd I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

JPSAnd I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing.

Thomsonand I will bless them, who bless thee; and those who curse thee I will curse: and by thee all the tribes of the earth shalt be blessed.

BrentonAnd I will bless those that bless thee, and curse those that curse thee, and in thee shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed.

GreekΚαὶ εὐλογήσω τοὺς εὐλογοῦντάς σε, καὶ τοὺς καταρωμένους σε καταράσομαι, καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν σοὶ πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς.

KJVAnd I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

JPSAnd I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

ThomsonSo Abram went as the Lord commanded him, and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he came out of Charran.

BrentonAnd Abram went as the Lord spoke to him, and Lot departed with him, and Abram was seventy-five years old, when he went out of Charrhan.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθη Ἅβραμ, καθάπερ ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ Κύριος, καὶ ᾤχετο μετʼ αὐτοῦ Λώτ· Ἅβραμ δὲ ἦν ἐτῶν ἑβδομηκονταπέντε, ὅτε ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ Χαῤῥάν.

KJVSo Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

JPSSo Abram went, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

ThomsonAnd Abram took Sara his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance which they possessed, and every living creature which they had, and set out from Charran to go to the land of Chanaan.

BrentonAnd Abram took Sara his wife, and Lot the son of his brother, and all their possessions, as many as they had got, and every soul which they had got in Charrhan, and they went forth to go into the land of Chanaan.

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβεν Ἅβραμ Σάραν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸν Λὼτ υἱὸν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτῶν ὅσα ἐκτήσαντο, καὶ πᾶσαν ψυχὴν ἣν ἐκτήσαντο, ἐκ Χαῤῥάν, καὶ ἐξήλθοσαν πορευθῆναι εἰς γῆν Χανάαν.

KJVAnd Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

JPSAnd Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

ThomsonAnd Abram travelled through the land lengthwise till he came to the place of Sychem to the lofty oak. Now the Chananites at that time inhabited that land.

BrentonAnd Abram traversed the land lengthwise as far as the place Sychem, to the high oak, and the Chananites then inhabited the land.

GreekΚαὶ διώδευσεν Ἅβραμ τὴν γῆν εἰς τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς ἕως τοῦ τόπου Συχέμ, ἐπὶ τὴν δρῦν τὴν ὑψηλήν· οἱ δὲ Χαναναῖοι τότε κατῴκουν τὴν γῆν.

KJVAnd Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

JPSAnd Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the terebinth of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

ThomsonAnd the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, To thy seed I will give this land. So Abram built there an altar to the Lord who appeared to him.

BrentonAnd the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, I will give this land to thy seed. And Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who appeared to him.

GreekΚαὶ ὤφθη Κύριος τῷ Ἅβραμ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, τῷ σπέρματί σου δώσω τὴν γῆν ταύτην· καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ Ἅβραμ θυσιαστήριον Κυρίῳ τῷ ὀφθέντι αὐτῷ.

KJVAnd the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

JPSAnd the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said: ‘Unto thy seed will I give this land’; and he builded there an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

ThomsonAnd from that place he went to the mountain east of Baithel and there pitched his tent, having Baithel on the west and Aggai on the east, and built there an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord.

BrentonAnd he departed thence to the mountain eastward of Bæthel, and there he pitched his tent in Bæthel near the sea, and Aggai toward the east, and there he built an altar to the Lord, and called on the name of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστη ἐκεῖθεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος κατὰ ἀνατολὰς Βαιθήλ· καὶ ἔστησεν ἐκεῖ τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν Βαιθὴλ κατὰ θάλασσαν, καὶ Ἀγγαὶ κατὰ ἀνατολάς· καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ἐπεκαλέσατο ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου.

KJVAnd he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

JPSAnd he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east; and he builded there an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

ThomsonAnd Abram removed and proceeding forward encamped in the wilderness.

BrentonAnd Abram departed and went and encamped in the wilderness.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπῇρεν Ἅβραμ, καὶ πορευθεὶς ἐστρατοπέδευσεν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAnd there was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, because the famine prevailed in the land.

BrentonAnd there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, because the famine prevailed in the land.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λιμὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· καὶ κατέβη Ἅβραμ εἰς Αἴγυπτον παροικῆσαι ἐκεῖ, ὅτι ἐνίσχυσεν ὁ λιμὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

KJVAnd there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

JPSAnd there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.

ThomsonAnd when Abram was near entering Egypt, he said to his wife Sara, I know that because thou art a beautiful woman,

BrentonAnd it came to pass when Abram drew nigh to enter into Egypt, Abram said to Sara his wife, I know that thou art a fair woman.

GreekἘγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα ἤγγισεν Ἅβραμ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, εἶπεν Ἅβραμ Σάρα τῇ γυναικὶ, γινώσκω ἐγὼ, ὅτι γυνὴ εὐπρόσωπος εἶ.

KJVAnd 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:

JPSAnd 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.

Thomsonit will therefore come to pass that when the Egyptians see thee, they will say, She is his wife, and they will kill me; but thee they will save alive.

BrentonIt shall come to pass then that when the Egyptians shall see thee, they shall say, This is his wife, and they shall slay me, but they shall save thee alive.

GreekἜσται οὖν ὡς ἂν ἴδωσί σε οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι, ἐροῦσιν ὅτι γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ἐστιν αὐτὴ, καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσί με, σὲ δὲ περιποιήσονται.

KJVTherefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

JPSAnd it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say: This is his wife; and they will kill me, but thee they will keep alive.

ThomsonSay thou therefore, I am his sister, that it may be well with me on thy account, and my life will be preserved for thy sake.

BrentonSay, therefore, I am his sister, that it may be well with me on account of thee, and my soul shall live because of thee.

GreekΕἶπον οὖν, ὅτι ἀδελφὴ αὐτοῦ εἰμι, ὅπως ἄν εὖ μοι γένηται διὰ σὲ, καὶ ζήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου ἕνεκέν σου.

KJVSay, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

JPSSay, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.’

ThomsonSo when Abram came into Egypt the Egyptians beheld his wife, for she was very beautiful;

BrentonAnd it came to pass when Abram entered into Egypt—the Egyptians having seen his wife that she was very beautiful—

GreekἘγένετο δὲ, ἡνίκα εἰσῆλθεν Ἅβραμ εἰς Αἴγυπτον, ἰδόντες οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, ὅτι καλὴ ἦν σφόδρα.

KJVAnd it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

JPSAnd it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

Thomsonand when the princes of Pharaoh saw her they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was brought to Pharaoh’s house.

Brentonthat the princes of Pharao saw her, and praised her to Pharao and brought her into the house of Pharao.

GreekΚαὶ ἴδον αὐτὴν οἱ ἄρχοντες Φαραὼ, καὶ ἐπῄνεσαν αὐτὴν πρὸς Φαραὼ, καὶ εἰσήγαγον αὐτὴν εἰς τὸν οἶκον Φαραώ.

KJVThe princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

JPSAnd the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

ThomsonAnd they treated Abram well for her sake, though he had sheep and oxen and asses and men servants and maid servants and mules and camels.

BrentonAnd they treated Abram well on her account, and he had sheep, and calves, and asses, and men-servants, and women-servants, and mules, and camels.

GreekΚαὶ τῷ Ἅβραμ εὖ ἐχρήσαντο διʼ αὐτήν· καὶ ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ πρόβατα, καὶ μόσχοι, καὶ ὄνοι, καὶ παῖδες, καὶ παιδίσκαι, καὶ ἡμίονοι, καὶ κάμηλοι.

KJVAnd he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

JPSAnd he dealt well with Abram for her sake; and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels.

ThomsonBut God visited Pharaoh and his family with great and grievous plagues because of Sara the wife of Abram.

BrentonAnd God afflicted Pharao with great and severe afflictions, and his house, because of Sara, Abram's wife.

GreekΚαὶ ἤτασεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν Φαραὼ ἐτασμοῖς μεγάλοις καὶ πονηροῖς, καὶ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, περὶ Σάρας τῆς γυναικὸς Ἅβραμ.

KJVAnd the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.

JPSAnd the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.

ThomsonAnd Pharaoh called Abram and said, Why hast thou acted thus with me and didst not tell me that she is thy wife?

BrentonAnd Pharao having called Abram, said, What is this thou hast done to me, that thou didst not tell me that she was thy wife?

GreekΚαλέσας δὲ Φαραὼ τὸν Ἅβραμ, εἶπεν, τί τοῦτο ἐποίησάς μοι, ὅτι οὐκ ἀπήγγειλάς μοι, ὅτι γυνή σου ἐστίν;

KJVAnd Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

JPSAnd Pharaoh called Abram, and said: ‘What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

ThomsonWhy didst thou say, She is my sister? I indeed took her to be my wife, but now there is thy wife before thee. Take her and begone.

BrentonWherefore didst thou say, She is my sister? and I took her for a wife to myself; and now, behold, thy wife is before thee, take her and go quickly away.

GreekἹνατί εἶπας ὅτι ἀδελφή μου ἐστίν; καὶ ἔλαβον αὐτὴν ἐμαυτῷ γυναῖκα· καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἡ γυνή σου ἔναντί σου, λαβὼν ἀπότρεχε.

KJVWhy saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

JPSWhy saidst thou: She is my sister? so that I took her to be my wife; now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.’

ThomsonAnd Pharaoh gave strict orders to men touching Abram, to convoy away him and his wife and all that he had.

BrentonAnd Pharao gave charge to men concerning Abram, to join in sending him forward, and his wife, and all that he had.

GreekΚαὶ ἐνετείλατο Φαραὼ ἀνδράσι περὶ Ἅβραμ συμπροπέμψαι αὐτὸν, καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἦν αὐτῷ.

KJVAnd Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

JPSAnd Pharaoh gave men charge concerning him; and they brought him on the way, and his wife, and all that he had.