Genesis 23:16

Translations

Modern

Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had spoken of in the ears of the sons of Heth—four hundred shekels of silver, passing with the merchant.

Latin

Quod cum audisset Abraham, appendit pecuniam, quam Ephron postulaverat, audientibus filiis Heth, quadringentos siclos argenti probatæ monetæ publicæ.

Original

Hebrew

English

Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.

Notes

Genesis 23:16–20

Abraham paid the full amount and completed the deal. He avoided debt by not accepting gifts from the people (compare 14:21–24). The Hittite elders witnessed the deal, ensuring no one could dispute Abraham's ownership of the land. The transaction happened at the city gate, where they conducted public legal and business matters (see 19:1).

The land became Abraham's permanent property, a first step toward God's promise to give him the land. God had not yet fulfilled his promise with this purchase. Abraham knew it, so he planned for the future (12:7). By buying land for his dead, he showed that God's promises continue beyond this life. This is the hope for all who die with faith.

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

Jeremiah 32:9
So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out seventeen shekels of silver.
Zechariah 11:12
Then I told them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver.
Genesis 43:21
But when we came to the place we lodged for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us.
Genesis 23:15
“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.”
Exodus 30:13
Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.
Romans 13:8
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Ezra 8:25–30
…and I weighed out to them the contribution of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites there had offered for the house of our God.
Job 28:15
It cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
Ezekiel 45:12
The shekel will consist of twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels will equal one mina.
1 Thessalonians 4:6
…and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.
Matthew 7:12
In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

People

Abraham: Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people Ephron: A Hittite who sold a burial site to Abraham Heth: Son of Canaan and ancestor of the Hittites

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 Merchant Minerals and Metals Money 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 Covenants: Designed For: Selling Land Ephron: Son of Zohar, the Hittite: Sells to Abraham the Field Containing the Cave Machpelah Gates of Cities: Land Sold At Gates: The Place for the Transaction of Public Business, Announcement of Legal Transactions Heth: Son of Canaan, and Ancestor of the Hittites Land: Bought and Sold Land: Conveyance of, by Written Deeds and Other Forms Merchant: General Scriptures Concerning Money was Current with the Merchants Money: Usually Taken by Weight Money: Weighed Silver used As Money from the Earliest Times Silver used for Money Weights: Value of Money Estimated According To Witness: To the Transfer of Land

Genesis 23:16

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