Keraia
Genesis 23

Genesis 23:15

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

Translations

Modern
“Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
“My lord, hear me: Land worth four hundred shekels of silver—between me and between you, what is it? And bury your dead.”
Latin
Domine mi, audi me: terra, quam postulas, quadringentis siclis argenti valet: istud est pretium inter me et te: sed quantum est hoc? sepeli mortuum tuum.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”

Notes

Genesis 23:15

four hundred shekels of silver: This was a high price. Ephron's politeness was part of the usual bargaining process.

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

Measurements

  • four hundred shekels of silver: About 10.1 lb (4.6 kg)

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 Minerals and Metals Money Patriarchs, Period of the Sarah The Flood

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 Covenants: Designed For: Selling 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: Originally Stamped with the Image of a Lamb Silver used As Money from the Earliest Times Silver used for Money