Keraia
Genesis 23

Genesis 23:7

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

Translations

Modern
Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.
Traditional
And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
Literal
And Abraham rose up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.
Latin
Surrexit Abraham, et adoravit populum terræ, filios videlicet Heth:

Original

Hebrew
English
Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.

Notes

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

Abraham: Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people Heth: Son of Canaan and ancestor of the Hittites

Glossary

Abraham Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Burial, Burial Customs Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of Hittites Isaac Machpelah Patriarchs, Period of the People of the Land Sarah Zohar

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 Heth: Son of Canaan, and Ancestor of the Hittites Land: Bought and Sold Land: Conveyance of, by Written Deeds and Other Forms Salutations by Bowing