But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him: Revised Standard Version But suggests a contrast between what Abimelech has done and what God accepts, and many other versions also use it. Came to Abimelech means he “appeared,” or “showed himself.” Translators may find it more natural to place the time of the dream at the opening of this verse; for example, “But one night God appeared to Abimelech….”

Behold, you are a dead man: Behold introduces what certainly must have been a shocking statement to Abimelech. In this context it is best understood as a marker of impact or emphasis that should be taken into account in the way the following statement is expressed. Dead man translates a Hebrew active participle and suggests a dying man, or one who will soon be dead, and so Good News Translation says “You are going to die….” In some languages this dream message will have more force in a familiar figurative form; for example, “Your grave is being dug,” “You have eaten your final meal.”

Because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man’s wife: the first clause gives the reason for the death sentence on Abimelech, and the second elaborates it. In some languages translators may find it more natural to reduce these two clauses to one; for example, “because you have taken a married woman.” If it is clearer to retain the names, we may say, for example, “because you have taken Sarah, who is Abraham’s wife.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .