Genesis Chapter 23
Showing all 20 verses for Genesis Chapter 23.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. "
"Sarah lived to be 127 years old - that was her total lifespan."
Sarah's long life is recorded with simple respect, marking the full span of who she was. Every life, however ordinary its final years may look, is worth remembering in full, not just for its most dramatic moments.
"And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. "
"Sarah died in Kiriath Arba - that is, Hebron - in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for her and weep."
Abraham weeps openly for his wife, unashamed of his grief. Let yourself grieve honestly and visibly when you lose someone you love; deep faith and deep sorrow have always belonged together, not in opposition.
"And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, "
"Then Abraham got up from beside his wife's body and spoke to the local people, the Hittites."
Abraham eventually rises from his mourning to attend to practical necessities. Grief doesn't have to be resolved before you can act; you can carry real sorrow and still take the next needed step forward.
"I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. "
"'I am an outsider and a temporary resident here among you. Sell me some property for a burial site, so I can bury my wife.'"
Abraham describes himself honestly as 'a stranger and a sojourner,' with no land of his own even after decades in Canaan. It's alright to acknowledge your own vulnerability and lack of standing when you need help from others; humility opens doors that pride tends to close.
"And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, "
"The Hittites replied to Abraham,"
The Hittites listen and prepare to respond to Abraham's request. Being willing to genuinely hear someone's need before responding is itself a form of kindness worth practising.
"Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. "
"'Listen to us, sir: you are a mighty leader among us. Bury your wife in the best of our burial sites - none of us will refuse you a tomb for your dead.'"
The Hittites offer Abraham the best of what they have, calling him a mighty prince among them. Let generosity be your instinct towards someone in need, even a person who is not originally from your own community.
"And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. "
"Abraham stood up and bowed respectfully to the local people, the Hittites."
Abraham bows before the people in gratitude for their offer. Receiving kindness with visible, genuine gratitude honours the person who gave it; don't let pride make you too proud to bow, literally or figuratively, in thanks.
"And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, "
"He said to them, 'If you're willing to let me bury my wife here, please ask Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf'"
Abraham is specific and clear about what he actually wants, rather than simply accepting whatever is offered. It's alright to know your own mind and state your actual need clearly, even after someone has made a generous general offer.
"That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you. "
"'so that he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which is at the edge of his field. Tell him I'll pay the full price for it, as a permanent burial site among you.'"
Abraham asks to purchase the cave at full value, not to receive it as a favour. There is real dignity in paying your own way when you're able to, rather than leaning on others' generosity for something you can rightly provide yourself.
"And Ephron among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"Ephron was sitting there among the Hittites, and he answered Abraham in front of everyone gathered at the city gate."
The negotiation happens publicly, at the city gate, in front of the whole community. Let your important dealings be conducted with the kind of transparency that leaves no room for later dispute or doubt.
"Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead. "
"'No, sir, listen to me. I'll give you the field, and I'll give you the cave in it too - I give it to you in front of my people. Bury your wife.'"
Ephron offers the land as an outright gift in front of everyone. Generosity offered publicly, even as part of a negotiation, still reflects real honour towards the person receiving it.
"And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. "
"Again Abraham bowed down before the local people."
Abraham bows a second time, continuing to show respect throughout the negotiation. Sustained courtesy through a whole negotiation, not just at the start, reflects real character, not just good manners in the moment.
"And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. "
"He said to Ephron, with everyone listening, 'No - please, hear me out. I will pay you for the field. Accept my payment, and I will bury my wife there.'"
Abraham insists on paying, wanting no doubt about his ownership. When something matters for the long term, it's worth the extra effort to secure it properly and unambiguously, even if a shortcut is offered.
"And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, "
"Ephron answered Abraham,"
Ephron responds to Abraham's insistence rather than brushing past it. Take people's genuine convictions seriously when they express them clearly, even if it means the conversation takes a little longer to resolve.
"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. "
"'Listen to me, sir: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver - what is that between us? Just bury your wife.'"
Ephron names his price plainly, however he frames it. Clarity, even about difficult things like cost, serves a relationship better than vague generosity that leaves the real terms unspoken.
"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. "
"Abraham agreed to Ephron's price. He weighed out the silver Ephron had named in front of the Hittites - four hundred shekels, using the standard weight accepted by merchants at the time."
Abraham pays the full amount without haggling, sealing the deal with integrity. Let your dealings with others be marked by straightforward fairness rather than trying to extract every possible advantage for yourself.
"And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure "
"So Ephron's field at Machpelah, near Mamre - the field itself, the cave in it, and all the trees within its boundaries - was legally transferred"
The details of the property are recorded with great care, covering field, cave, and every tree. Taking care over the details of an important agreement isn't pettiness; it's what protects the relationship and the outcome for everyone involved, later on.
"Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. "
"to Abraham as his permanent property, witnessed by the Hittites and everyone who came through the gate of that city."
The transfer of ownership is made undeniable, witnessed by the whole community. Where possible, let your important commitments be clear and witnessed, not left as private, easily disputed understandings.
"And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. "
"After all this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre - that is, Hebron, in the land of Canaan."
Abraham finally lays Sarah to rest in the land he has just secured. Sometimes the practical steps you take in grief, however businesslike they seem, are themselves an act of love and honour for the person you've lost.
"And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth. "
"So the field and the cave in it were legally confirmed as Abraham's property, a burial site, by the Hittites."
This first piece of the Promised Land comes to Abraham not through conquest, but through a legitimate, honourable purchase. Trust that God's promises to you don't require you to take shortcuts or compromise your integrity to see them begin to take shape.