Keraia
Genesis 23

Genesis 23:13

The Death and Burial of Sarah · Genesis 23:1–20
Read Genesis 23

Translations

Modern
…and said to Ephron in their presence, “If you will please listen to me, I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
…and he spoke to Ephron in the ears of the people of the land, saying, “Only if you—please—hear me: I give the silver for the field; take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.”
Latin
Et locutus est ad Ephron circumstante plebe: Quæso ut audias me: dabo pecuniam pro agro: suscipe eam, et sic sepeliam mortuum meum in eo.

Original

Hebrew
English
…and said to Ephron in their presence, “If you will please listen to me, I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.”

Notes

Genesis 23:12–13

Abraham did not want the whole field, but he was willing to take it to get the cave.

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

People

Ephron: A Hittite who sold a burial site to Abraham

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 Commerce: Articles of Land Ephron: Son of Zohar, the Hittite: Sells to Abraham the Field Containing the Cave Machpelah Land: Bought and Sold Land: Conveyance of, by Written Deeds and Other Forms Money: Silver Used As Silver used for Money