Called Isaac means Abimelech sent for Isaac, had someone bring Isaac to him.

Behold, she is your wife: here Behold (Hebrew hinneh) is preceded by another word often translated “Surely,” so that it introduces an affirmation, a statement based on evidence. Good News Translation, Revised English Bible translate “So she is your wife!” We may also say “She is for certain your wife,” “There is now no doubt; she is your wife!” In some languages a literal rendering of “Look! …,” calling Isaac’s attention to what Abimelech has just found out, will be quite natural and appropriate. In others it is very natural to say “Now I know….”

How then could you say, ‘She is my sister’?: or we may say “Why did you say ‘She is my sister?’ ” or as indirect speech, “Why did you say she was your sister?” (Good News Translation). For a similar question put to Abraham, see 12.19. The question is not taken by Isaac to be rhetorical, because he attempts to give a reply. In translation some languages will use in contexts like this a form of the question word “Why?” which indicates anger directed against the hearer. In some translations the main part of the question is expressed as a statement (accusation): “You lied to us when you told us she was your sister. Why did you do that?”

Isaac’s reply Because I thought … refers to the reason he gave in Gen 26.7. Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew form, which must sometimes be expressed as “Because I thought they would kill me and take her.”

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 .