Abimelech (King of Gerar)

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew ’Ăvîmeleḵ (“my father is king” / “father of a king”), a royal-style name used for rulers.
• Period/Era: Patriarchal Period
• Main References: Genesis 20; Genesis 21:22–34; Genesis 26:1–31
• Key Connections: Abraham and Sarah; Isaac and Rebekah; Phicol (commander); Gerar (Philistine region)

Who was Abimelech (King of Gerar)?

Abimelech was a king of Gerar who appears in the patriarchal narratives of Genesis.
He is portrayed as a foreign ruler who received divine warning and acted to avoid guilt.
His encounters with Abraham and later with Isaac involved marriage claims, restitution, and negotiated peace.
He recognized that God’s protection was connected to the patriarchs living in his territory.

Key Events & Achievements

• Event 1: Took Sarah into his household after Abraham presented her as his sister, then restored her after God warned him in a dream (Genesis 20).
• Event 2: Made a covenant with Abraham at Beersheba, acknowledging God’s presence with him and settling a dispute over a well (Genesis 21:22–34).
• Event 3: Confronted Isaac over Rebekah and later established a non-aggression oath after observing Isaac’s growing strength (Genesis 26:1–31).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Abimelech’s story highlights how foreign rulers could recognize divine authority and pursue justice and stability through public restitution and covenant agreements.

Key Verse

"Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife." — Genesis 20:3, ESV