Genesis 23

Genesis 23:2

Kiriath Arba

This is the name of a city.

Abraham mourned and wept for Sarah

"Abraham was very sad and cried because Sarah died"

Genesis 23:3

rose up and went from his dead wife

"got up and left his wife's body"

the sons of Heth

"the descendants of Heth" or "the Hittites"

Genesis 23:4

among you

This idea may be expressed in terms of location. "in your country" or "here"

Please grant me a property

"Sell me some land" or "Allow me to buy a piece of land"

my dead

"my dead wife" or "my wife who has died"

Genesis 23:6

my master

This phrase is used to show respect to Abraham.

a prince of God

"a powerful man" or "a mighty leader."

your dead

"your wife who has died" or "your wife"

the choicest of our tombs

"the best of our burial places"

refuse you his tomb

"withhold his burial place from you" or "refuse to give to you his tomb"

Genesis 23:7

bowed down

This means to bend over or kneel down very low to humbly express respect and honor toward someone.

Genesis 23:8

Ephron ... Zohar

These are names of men.

Genesis 23:9

the cave of 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.

which is at the end of his field

This also tells something about the cave. The cave was at the end of Ephron's field.

sell it to me publicly

"sell it to me in front of you all" or "sell it to me in your presence"

as a property

"as a piece of land that I may own and use"

Genesis 23:10

Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth

Here "Now" is used here to mark a change from the story to background information about Ephron.

in the hearing of the sons of Heth

"so that all the sons of Heth could hear him" or "while all the sons of Heth were listening"

gate of his city

The city gate was where the leaders of the city would meet to make important decisions.

Genesis 23:11

in the presence of the sons of my people

"with my fellow countrymen as my witnesses"

sons of my people

This means "my fellow countrymen" or "my fellow Hittites"

I give it to you to bury your dead

"I give it to you. Bury your dead"

Genesis 23:13

in the hearing of the people of the land

"so that the people who lived in the area could hear" or "while the people who lived in the area were listening"

But if you are willing

"No, but if you are willing" or "No, but if you agree with this"

I will pay for the field

"I will give you money for the field"

Genesis 23:15

Please, my master, listen to me

"Hear me, my master" or "Listen to me, kind sir"

A piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between me and you?

"The piece of land is worth only four hundred shekels of silver. For you and me, that is nothing."

four hundred shekels of silver

This is about 4.5 kilograms of silver.

Genesis 23:16

Abraham weighed out to Ephron the amount of silver

"Abraham weighed the silver and gave Ephron the amount" or "Abraham counted out to Ephron the amount of silver"

the sons of Heth

"the descendants of Heth"

according to the standard measurement of the merchants

"He weighed the silver the same way that the merchants used to weigh it"

Genesis 23:17

Mamre

This was another name for the city of Hebron. It may have been named after Mamre, the friend of Abraham who lived there.

that is, the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees

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.

passed

"became property that belonged"

Genesis 23:18

to Abraham by purchase

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"

in the presence of the sons of Heth

"with the people of Heth watching as witnesses"

Genesis 23:19

After this

"After he bought the field"

the cave of the field of Machpelah

"the cave in the field in Machpelah"

Genesis 23:20

passed to Abraham as a property for a burial place from the sons of Heth

"became Abraham's property for a burial ground when he bought it from the sons of Heth"