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And unto Sa'rah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved. (Genesis 20:16)

Webster:

2 : to express disapproval of (as conduct, actions, or beliefs) : indicate disapprobation of especially by contrast or implication : CENSURE, CONDEMN *it is not for me to reprove popular taste— D.W.Brogan

3 obsolete : to prove (as an idea or statement) to be false or erroneous : DISPROVE, REFUTE *reprove my allegation, if you can— Shakespeare

4 obsolete : CONVINCE, CONVICT will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness— Jn 16:8 (Authorized Version) intransitive verb : to express rebuke or reproof came ...to to reprove and exhort— Mary E. Braddon

Was she proved as a guilty or a righteous?

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  • That seems to be Genesis 20:16, not 21:16.
    – oerkelens
    Commented Sep 10, 2017 at 17:24
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    You seem to be reading the KJV, it helps looking at other, more modern version to help your understanding. The New International Version gives To Sarah he said, ‘I am giving your brother a thousand shekels[a] of silver. This is to cover the offence against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.’ which may be clearer?
    – oerkelens
    Commented Sep 10, 2017 at 17:27

1 Answer 1

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In this translation of the Bible, it means she was reprimanded:

Thus she was reproved, or admonished to be more circumspect for the future
BibleHub: Matthew Poole's Commentary


It's important to note that other Bibles translate this passage differently. Instead of "she was reproved", some Bibles have "you are vindicated" (interpreting it as part of what the king was saying; "you" refers to Sarah).

The discrepancies are because the original Hebrew (וְנֹכָחַת) is ambiguous. BibleHub has a list of commentaries on the verse, and this point is brought up in a few of them. (I personally found The Pulpit Commentary the most helpful because it took a neutral stance and outlined several different interpretations.)

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