Genesis 12:18-19
(KJV) And 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? {19} Why 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.
(1611 KJV) {18} And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this
that thou hast done vnto me? Why diddest thou not tell me, that she was thy
wife? {19} Why saidest thou, Shee is my sister? so I might
haue taken her to mee to wife: now therfore behold, thy wife, take her and
goe thy way.
(1587 Geneva Bible) {18} Then Pharaoh called Abram, and saide, Why
hast thou done this vnto me? Wherefore diddest thou not tell me, that she
was thy wife? {19} Why saidest thou, She is my sister, that I should
take her to be my wife? Nowe therefore beholde thy wife, take her and goe
thy way.
(1568 Bishops Bible) {18} And Pharao callyng Abram, sayde: why hast
thou done this vnto me? {19} Why diddest thou not tel me, that she was thy
wyfe? why saydest thou, she is my sister? and so I might haue taken
her to be my wyfe? Nowe therfore beholde, there is thy wyfe, take her, and
go thy way.
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) {18} So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? {19} Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!”
(NIV) {18} So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he
said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? {19} Why did you say, 'She
is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is
your wife. Take her and go!"
(NASV) {18} Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have
done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? {19} "Why did
you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now
then, here is your wife, take her and go."
(ESV) {18} So Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done
to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? {19}Why did you say,
'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is
your wife; take her, and go."
(1901 ASV) {18} And 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?
{19} why 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.
(CEV) {18} Finally, the king sent for Abram and said to him, "What have
you done to me? Why didn't you tell me Sarai was your wife? {19} Why did you
make me believe she was your sister? Now I've married her. Take her
and go! She's your wife."
(HCSB) {18} So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, "What have you done to
me? Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? {19} Why did you say, 'She's
my sister,' so that I took her as my wife? Now, here's your wife.
Take her and go!"
(RSV) [18] So Pharaoh called Abram, and said, "What is this you have
done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? [19] Why did you
say, `She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then,
here is your wife, take her, and be gone."
(NAB-Roman Catholic) {18} Then Pharaoh summoned Abram and said to him:
"How could you do this to me! Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? {19}
Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife?
Here, then, is your wife. Take her and be gone!"
Affected Teaching
This is one of the more subtle, yet major abominations in the modern
versions. In the KJV we read the single word in verse 19, “might.” This
means that Pharaoh did not yet take Sarah to be one of his wives. The modern
versions omit the word “might” and teach that Pharaoh took Sarah to be his
wife which would make Sarah an adulteress. This would also mean that the
plagues which God sent on the house of Pharaoh would have been fruitless
(verse 17). The reason that God sent those plagues was to prevent Pharaoh
from taking her as his wife. According to the KJV, Pharaoh did not take
Sarah as wife and returned her to Abraham who was rebuked by Pharaoh for
lying about Sarah. When one little qualifying word is omitted, it changes
the entire meaning of the passage which also affects the teachings of other
passages and the continuity of the flow of Scripture. All the modern
versions above use the word “took” which means that the action of taking
Sarah as wife had already been completed, as the word “took“ is the past
tense of the word “take.” The CEV states plainly that Pharaoh married her.
A quick English lesson:
I may take the one on sale - It means the possibility exists that I
may take the item on sale.
I took the one on sale - This means a definite action on my part has
already taken place.
This is the seriousness of the change in Genesis 12:19!