Genesis 23:17

Genesis 23:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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
• New International Version (NIV)So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded
• English Standard Version (ESV)So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded

Context of Genesis 23:17

15“My lord, listen to me. Land worth four hundred shekels of silver — what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” 16Abraham agreed with Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver that he had agreed to in the hearing of the Hethites: four hundred standard shekels of silver. So Ephron’s field at Machpelah near Mamre — the field with its cave and all the trees anywhere within the boundaries of the field — became 18Abraham’s possession in the sight of all the Hethites who came to the gate of his city. 19After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 23:17 word by word

וַיָּ֣קָם׀ שְׂדֵ֣ה עֶפְר֗וֹן אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְהַמְּעָרָ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֔וֹ וְכָל־הָעֵץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכָל־גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
• of Ephronעֶפְרוֹן‛ephrôn · EphronH6085
• in Machpelahמַכְפֵּלָהmakpêlâh · MachpelahH4375
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: eastH6440
• Mamreמַמְרֵאmamrê' · MamreH4471
• and the caveמְעָרָהme‛ârâh · caveH4631
• therein, and all the treesעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
• in all the bordersגְּבוּלgebûl gebûl · border: areaH1366
• round aboutסָבִיבsâbîyb sebîybâh · around: wholeH5439
• were made sureקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965

Cross-references for Genesis 23:17

• Genesis 23:20The field with its cave passed from the Hethites to Abraham as burial property.
• Genesis 25:9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hethite.
• Genesis 49:30The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hethite as burial property.
• Genesis 50:13They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased as burial property from Ephron the Hethite.
• Acts 7:16were carried back to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
• Ruth 4:7At an earlier period in Israel, a man removed his sandal and gave it to the other party in order to make any matter legally binding concerning the right of redemption or the exchange of property. This was the method of legally binding a transaction in Israel.
• Psalms 112:5Good will come to the one who lends generously and conducts his business fairly.
• Jeremiah 32:7Watch! Hanamel, the son of your uncle Shallum, is coming to you to say, ‘Buy my field in Anathoth for yourself, for you own the right of redemption to buy it.’
• Matthew 10:16“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.
• Ephesians 5:15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk — not as unwise people but as wise —
• Colossians 4:5Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.

Commentaries on Genesis 23:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17All the trees that were in the field - It is possible that all these were specified in the agreement.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-20Verses 1-20 - The Death of Sarah 2. ארבע קרית qı̂ryat -'arba‛ “Qirjath-arba, city of Arba.” ארבע 'arba‛ “Arba, four.” 8. עפרון ‛eprôn “Ephron, of the dust, or resembling a calf.” צחר tshochar “Tsochar, whiteness.” 9. מכפלה makpêlâh “Makpelah, doubled.” The death and burial of Sarah are here recorded. This occasions the purchase of the field of Makpelah, in the cave of which is her sepulchre. Genesis 23:1-2 Sarah is the only woman whose age is recorded…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-20Verses 14-20 Prudence, as well as justice, directs us to be fair and open in our dealings; cheating bargains will not bear the light. Abraham, without fraud or delay, pays the money. He pays it at once in full, without keeping any part back; and by weight, current money with the merchant, without deceit. See how anciently money was used for the help of trade, and how honestly it should be paid when it is due. Though all the land of Canaan was Abraham by…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-20Abraham 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…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-203. Abraham stood up, &c.--Eastern people are always provided with family burying-places; but Abraham's life of faith--his pilgrim state--had prevented him acquiring even so small a possession (Ac 7:5). spake unto the sons of Heth--He bespoke their kind offices to aid him in obtaining possession of a cave that belonged to Ephron--a wealthy neighbor.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 23:17

• Abraham
• Cave
• Ephron
• Hittites
• Land
• Machpelah
• Property
• Witness

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Burial
• Cave
• Choice
• Cunning
• Ephron
• Field
• Hebron
• Hittites
• Machpelah

Commentaries on Genesis 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings