Abraham's interaction with the people show that he was greatly respected. This would have been unusual for a foreigner and indicates that Abraham was a man of great character. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Burial was a common practice when Abraham lived, but only the wealthy were able to bury their dead relatives in this way.
Some translations do not include this sentence. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)
This is the name of a city. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"Abraham was very sad and cried because Sarah died"
"got up and left his wife's body"
Here "sons" stands for those who descended from Heth. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Heth" or "the Hittites" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This idea may be expressed in terms of location. "in your country" or "here"
"Sell me some land" or "Allow me to buy a piece of land"
The nominal adjective "dead" can be stated as an adjective or a verb. Alternate translation: "my dead wife" or "my wife who has died" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-nominaladj)
Here "sons" stands for those who descended from Heth. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:3. Alternate translation: "The descendants of Heth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This phrase is used to show respect to Abraham.
This is an idiom. This probably means "a powerful man" or "a mighty leader." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
The nominal adjective "dead" can be stated as a verb or simply as "wife." Alternate translation: "your wife who has died" or "your wife" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-nominaladj)
"the best of our burial places"
"withhold his burial place from you" or "refuse to give to you his tomb"
This means to bend over or kneel down very low to humbly express respect and honor toward someone. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-symlanguage)
"to the sons of Heth who lived in the area"
Here "sons" stands for those who descended from Heth. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:3. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Heth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
The nominal adjective "dead" can be stated as a verb or simply as "wife." Alternate translation: "my wife who has died" or "my wife" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-nominaladj)
These are names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"his cave that is at the end of his field in Machpelah"
"the cave in Machpela." Machpela was the name of an area or region. Ephron owned a field in Machpela and the cave that was in the field. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This tells something about the cave. Ephron owned the cave. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-distinguish)
This also tells something about the cave. The cave was at the end of Ephron's field. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-distinguish)
"sell it to me in front of you all" or "sell it to me in your presence"
"as a piece of land that I may own and use"
Here "Now" is used here to mark a change from the story to background information about Ephron. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
This is the name of a man. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:8. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
Here "sons" stands for those who descended from Heth. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:3. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Heth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
The abstract noun "the hearing" can be stated as "hear" or "listening." Alternate translation: "so that all the sons of Heth could hear him" or "while all the sons of Heth were listening" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
This tells which sons of Heth were listening. Alternate translation: "all those who had gathered at the gate of his city" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-distinguish)
The city gate was where the leaders of the city would meet to make important decisions.
"the city where he lived." This phrase shows that Ephron belonged to that city. It does not mean that he owned it.
This phrase is used to show respect to Abraham.
Here "presence" stands for the people serving as witnesses. Alternate translation: "with my fellow countrymen as my witnesses" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
This means "my fellow countrymen" or "my fellow Hittites"
This phrase shows that Ephron was part of that group of people. It does not mean that he was their leader.
"I give it to you. Bury your dead"
The nominal adjective "dead" can be stated as a verb or simply as "wife." Alternate translation: "your wife who has died" or "your wife" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-nominaladj)
This means to bend over or kneel down very low to humbly express respect and honor toward someone. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-symlanguage)
"people who lived in that area"
The abstract noun "the hearing" can be stated as "hear" or "listening" Alternate translation: "so that the people who lived in the area could hear" or "while the people who lived in the area were listening" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
The word "but" shows a contrast. Ephron wanted to give the field to Abraham; Abraham wanted to pay for it. Alternate translation: "No, but if you are willing" or "No, but if you agree with this"
"I will give you money for the field"
The nominal adjective "dead" can be stated as a verb or simply as "wife." Alternate translation: "my wife who has died" or "my wife" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-nominaladj)
This is the name of a man. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:8. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"Hear me, my master" or "Listen to me, kind sir"
This phrase is used to show respect to Abraham.
Ephron meant that since he and Abraham were both so wealthy, 400 pieces of silver was a small amount. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "The piece of land is worth only four hundred shekels of silver. For you and me, that is nothing." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
This is about 4.5 kilograms of silver. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-bweight)
"400" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
The nominal adjective "dead" can be stated as a verb or simply as "wife." Alternate translation: "Go bury your wife who has died" or "Go bury your wife" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-nominaladj)
"Abraham weighed the silver and gave Ephron the amount" or "Abraham counted out to Ephron the amount of silver"
"the amount of silver that Ephron had said"
The abstract noun "the hearing" can be stated as "hear" or "listening." Alternate translation: "so that all the sons of Heth could hear him" or "while all the sons of Heth were listening" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
Here "sons" stands for those who descended from Heth. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:3. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Heth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"using the standard measurement of weight that merchants used." This can be stated as a new sentence. Alternate translation: "He weighed the silver the same way that the merchants used to weigh it"
Machpela was the name of an area or region. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:9. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This was another name for the city of Hebron. It may have been named after Mamre, the friend of Abraham who lived there. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This phrase explains what the author meant when he wrote "the field of Ephron." It was not only the field, but also the cave and trees in the field.
"became property that belonged"
These words complete the idea that begins with the word "passed" in verse 17. "became Abraham's possession when he purchased it" or "belonged to Abraham after he bought it"
Here "presence" stands for the people serving as witnesses. Alternate translation: "with the people of Heth watching as witnesses" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
Here "sons" stands for those who descended from Heth. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:3. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Heth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This tells which sons of Heth saw Abraham buy the property. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:10. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-distinguish)
The city gate was where the leaders of the city would meet to make important decisions.
"the city where he lived." This phrase shows that Ephron belonged to that city. It does not mean that he owned it.
"After he bought the field"
"the cave in the field"
"the field in Machpelah"
Possible meanings are 1) Mamre was another name for Hebron or 2) Hebron was formerly called Mamre or 3) Mamre was very near the larger city of Hebron, so people usually called it Hebron.
"became Abraham's property for a burial ground when he bought it from the sons of Heth"
Here "sons" stands for those who descended from Heth. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:3. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Heth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)