Genesis 23:11

Translations

Modern

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

Traditional

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.

Literal

“No, my lord, hear me: The field I give to you, and the cave that is in it I give it to you; before the eyes of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.”

Latin

Nequaquam ita fiat, domine mi, sed tu magis ausculta quod loquor. Agrum trado tibi, et speluncam quæ in eo est, præsentibus filiis populi mei; sepeli mortuum tuum.

Original

Hebrew

English

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

Notes

Genesis 23:11

Ephron did not intend to give the cave to Abraham for free. He expected Abraham to pay the full price. Ephron wanted to sell the cave to avoid taking care of it and to get the highest price possible.

Genesis 23:7–16

Abraham wanted to buy Ephron’s cave at Machpelah, but Ephron wanted him to buy the entire field.

Genesis 23:1–20

She died: Abraham bought a piece of land for Sarah's burial. This was the first sign of a permanent change, as people usually buried their dead in their ancestral homeland (compare 49:29–50:13). By burying Sarah, Abraham separated himself from his ancestral home (where his relatives still lived, 22:20–24). His future would be in Canaan, where his descendants would fulfill the promise.

Theme notes and profiles

Abraham Hittites Sarah Symbolic Numbers

Related verses

Luke 19:24
Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
Isaiah 32:8
But a noble man makes honorable plans; he stands up for worthy causes.
Deuteronomy 19:15
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Deuteronomy 17:6
On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.
Genesis 23:6
“Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.”
1 Chronicles 21:22–24
Then David said to Ornan, “Grant me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar to the LORD. Sell it to me for the full price, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.”
Numbers 35:30
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.
Genesis 23:18
…to Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city.
2 Samuel 24:20–24
When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king.
Ruth 4:4
I thought I should inform you that you may buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do so. But if you will not redeem it, tell me so I may know, because there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” “I will redeem it,” he replied.
Jeremiah 32:7–12
Behold! Hanamel, the son of your uncle Shallum, is coming to you to say, ‘Buy for yourself my field in Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it.’
Ruth 4:11
“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

Glossary

Abraham Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Burial, Burial Customs Ebla Tablets Elder Ephron (Person) Gate Genesis, Book of Hebron (Place) Hittites Isaac Machpelah Patriarchs, Period of the Sarah

Topics

Abraham: He Purchases a Place for Her Burial, and Buries Her in a Cave Abraham: Independence of, in Character Burial: Antiquity of Purchasing Places For Cave: Burial Place Ephron: Son of Zohar, the Hittite: Sells to Abraham the Field Containing the Cave Machpelah Hospitality: Sons of Heth to Abraham Land: Bought and Sold Land: Conveyance of, by Written Deeds and Other Forms Land: Witnessed Unselfishness: The Children of Heth Witness: To the Transfer of Land

Genesis 23:11

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