Back to Genesis 23

Genesis 23:9-20

that he may sell me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him sell it to me among you as a possession for a burial place.”

Now Ephron was sitting in the middle of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, “No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.”

Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land. He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.”

Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, “My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.”

Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard.

So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial place.

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Genesis 23:9-20 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, to the children of Heth. He talked with them, saying, “If you agree that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may sell me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him sell it to me among you as a possession for a burial place.”

Now Ephron was sitting in the middle of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, “No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.”

Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land. He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.”

Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, “My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.”

Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard.

So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial place.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    that he may sell me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him sell it to me among you as a possession for a burial place.”

    Now Ephron was sitting in the middle of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying,

    “No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.”

    Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.

    He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.”

    Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,

    “My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.”

    Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard.

    So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded

    to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

    After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan.

    The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial place.

  • KJV King James Version

    That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.

    And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,

    Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.

    And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.

    And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

    And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,

    My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

    And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

    And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure

    Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.

    And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.

    And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for the full price let him give it to me in the midst of you for a possession of a burying-place.'

    Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the children of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying:

    'Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee; bury thy dead.'

    And Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.

    And he spoke unto Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying: 'But if thou wilt, I pray thee, hear me: I will give the price of the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.'

    And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him:

    'My lord, hearken unto me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.'

    And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

    So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the border thereof round about, were made sure

    unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.

    And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre — the same is Hebron — in the land of Canaan.

    And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the children of Heth.

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Cross-references (84)

  • Genesis 50:13 (vv17, 19, 20) for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the…
  • Genesis 25:9 (vv17, 20) Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near Mamre,
  • Genesis 34:20 (vv10, 18) Hamor and Shechem, his son, came to the gate of their city, and talked with the men of their city, saying,
  • Ezekiel 45:12 (vv15–16) The shekel shall be twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels shall be your mina.
  • Genesis 34:24 (v10) All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor, and to Shechem his son; and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the…
Show all 70 cross-references
  • Jeremiah 32:9 (v16) I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
  • Zechariah 11:12 (v16) I said to them, “If you think it best, give me my wages; and if not, keep them.” So they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver.
  • Genesis 23:20 (v17) The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial place.
  • Luke 19:24 (v11) He said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to him who has the ten minas.’
  • Romans 13:8 (vv9, 13, 16) Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
  • Genesis 23:18 (vv10–11) to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
  • Genesis 49:29-32 (vv17, 19) He instructed them, and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron…
  • Ruth 4:7-10 (vv17, 20) Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his…
  • Isaiah 32:8 (v11) But the noble devises noble things; and he will continue in noble things.
  • Jeremiah 32:10-14 (v20) I signed the deed, sealed it, called witnesses, and weighed the money in the balances to him. So I took the deed of the purchase, both that…
  • Acts 7:16 (v17) and they were brought back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem.
  • Exodus 30:13 (vv15–16) They shall give this, everyone who passes over to those who are counted, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel…
  • Ruth 4:1 (vv11, 18) Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. Behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by. Boaz said to him, “Come over here,…
  • 2 Samuel 24:24 (vv13, 20) The king said to Araunah, “No; but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God…
  • Colossians 4:5 (vv13, 17) Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
  • Genesis 3:19 (v19) You will eat bread by the sweat of your face until you return to the ground, for you were taken out of it. For you are dust, and you shall…
  • Genesis 14:22-23 (v13) Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a…
  • Genesis 18:2 (v12) He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and…
  • Genesis 19:1 (v12) The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his…
  • Genesis 23:6 (v11) “Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb.…
  • Genesis 23:7 (v12) Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, to the children of Heth.
  • Genesis 23:15 (v16) “My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.”
  • Genesis 24:10 (v10) The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to…
  • Genesis 25:9-10 (v19) Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near…
  • Genesis 35:27-29 (v19) Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners. The days of Isaac…
  • Genesis 43:21 (v16) When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full…
  • Genesis 47:30 (v19) but when I sleep with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.” Joseph said, “I will do as you have…
  • Genesis 49:31-32 (v20) There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah: the field and the…
  • Genesis 50:5 (v20) ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying. Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now…
  • Genesis 50:24-25 (v20) Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to…
  • Genesis 50:25 (v19) Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”
  • Exodus 30:15 (v15) The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of Yahweh, to make…
  • Numbers 35:30 (v11) “ ‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain based on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify alone…
  • Deuteronomy 17:6 (v11) At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put…
  • Deuteronomy 19:15 (v11) One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth…
  • Ruth 4:1-4 (v10) Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. Behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by. Boaz said to him, “Come over here,…
  • Ruth 4:4 (v11) I thought I should tell you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who sit here, and before the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem…
  • Ruth 4:9 (v11) Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was…
  • Ruth 4:11 (v11) All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May Yahweh make the woman who has come into your house like…
  • 2 Samuel 24:20-24 (v11) Araunah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. Then Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with…
  • 2 Kings 21:18 (v20) Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza; and Amon his son reigned in his…
  • 1 Chronicles 21:22-24 (v11) Then David said to Ornan, “Give me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar to Yahweh on it. You shall sell it to me…
  • Ezra 8:25-30 (v16) and weighed to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, his counselors, his…
  • Job 28:15 (v16) It can’t be gotten for gold, neither will silver be weighed for its price.
  • Job 29:7 (v10) when I went out to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
  • Job 30:23 (v19) For I know that you will bring me to death, To the house appointed for all living.
  • Psalms 112:5 (v17) It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.
  • Ecclesiastes 6:3 (v19) If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good,…
  • Ecclesiastes 12:5 (v19) yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a…
  • Ecclesiastes 12:7 (v19) and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
  • Isaiah 28:6 (v10) and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
  • Jeremiah 32:7-12 (v11) ‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is…
  • Jeremiah 32:7-14 (v17) ‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is…
  • Jeremiah 32:12 (v18) and I delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and…
  • Matthew 7:12 (v16) Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
  • Matthew 9:1 (v10) He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.
  • Matthew 10:16 (v17) “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
  • Luke 2:3-4 (v10) All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to…
  • Acts 20:35 (v13) In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he…
  • Ephesians 5:15 (v17) Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,
  • Philippians 4:8 (v16) Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever…
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:6 (v16) that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as…
  • Romans 12:17 (v9) Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.
  • Philippians 4:5-8 (v13) Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with…
  • Hebrews 13:5 (v13) Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any…

70 distinct cross-references across this passage (84 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (19 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv11, 16 11. Hear me. Although Ephron earnestly insisted upon giving…

11. Hear me. Although Ephron earnestly insisted upon giving the field freely to Abraham, the holy man adheres to his purpose, and at length compels him, by his entreaties, to sell the field. Ephron, in excusing himself, says that the price was too small for Abraham to insist upon giving; yet he estimates it at four hundred shekels. Now, since Josephus says that the shekel of the sanctuary was worth four Attic drachms, if he is speaking of these, we gather from the computation of Budaeus that the price of the field was about two hundred and fifty pounds of French money; if we understand the common shekel, it will be half that amount. Abraham was not so scrupulous but that he would have received a greater gift, if there had not been a sufficient reason to prevent him. He had been presented with considerable gifts both by the king of Egypt and the king of Gerar, but he observed this rule; that he would neither receive all things, nor in all places, nor from all persons. And I have lately explained, that he bought the field, in order that he might not possess a foot of land, by the gift of any man.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20 Hebrew, in full silver.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 Gen 23:9 That he may give me the cave…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv9, 10, 13, 15, 16 Machpelah, which seems to be the proper name of…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v16 We have here the conclusion of the treaty between…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv9–18 That he may, give me the cave of Machpelah,…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv11, 13, 15, 20 The field give I thee - Abraham thought he…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20 Verse 10. And Ephron dwelt among the children of…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv11, 13, 20 Gen 23:11. The field I give thee — Thus…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v16 Sicles. About £50. (Haydock) --- It was no simony…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 19 Machpelah--the "double cave."
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19 9. Machpelah — This is to be regarded as…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20 9. the cave of Machpelah] Machpelah is not the…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20 (9) The cave of Machpelah.—That is, the double cave,…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth. Not…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v16 And Abraham
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On vv10, 17 The Purchase of Machpelah
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv10, 12, 14, 17, 19 Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv9, 11, 12, 15, 16 23:9 This would be a permanent burial place for…
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