Genesis 12:17 (KJV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Genesis 12:15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

Genesis 12:16 And 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.

Genesis 12:17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.

Genesis 12:18 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?

Genesis 12:19 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.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "lord", "plagued", "pharaoh", "house", "great", "plagues", "sarai", and "abram". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "lord" and "plagued", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "And he entreated Abram well for her..." into verse 18's "And Pharaoh called Abram and said What...", so "lord" and "plagued" belong inside that flow. In Genesis context, the local focus is creation, human rebellion, covenant promise, and God's providence.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "lord" and "plagued" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.