Genesis 23:18

Genesis 23:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.
• New International Version (NIV)to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city.
• English Standard Version (ESV)to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
• New King James Version (NKJV)to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

Context of Genesis 23:18

16Abraham agreed to the price that Ephron had asked for. He weighed the correct amount of silver to give to Ephron. The Hittites there knew that it had been done properly. The weight of 400 shekels agreed with the weights that people used at that time. 17In that way, Ephron's field in Machpelah, near Mamre, now belonged to Abraham. This included the field, the cave in the field and all the trees in the field as far as its edge. All the Hittite people who were sitting there at the city gate agreed that Abraham was the new owner. 19After this, Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, in the cave in the field of Machpelah. This field was near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. That place is also called Hebron. 20That is how Abraham bought the field and the cave that was in it from the Hittite people. He bought it so that he could bury there his family who died.

Genesis 23:18 word by word

לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְמִקְנָ֖ה לְעֵינֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת בְּכֹ֖ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִירֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Unto Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• for a possessionמִקְנָהmiqnâh · purchaseH4736
• in the presenceעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: before(the eyes)H5869
• of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Hethחֵתchêth · HethH2845
• before all that went inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• at the gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
• of his cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892

Cross-references for Genesis 23:18

• Genesis 34:20So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of the city. They spoke to their men there.
• Ruth 4:1In the morning, Boaz went to the gate of the town and he sat down there. Later, the family-redeemer that Boaz had talked about to Ruth came there. Boaz said to him, ‘Come here, my friend, and sit down.’ So the man went to sit with Boaz.
• Jeremiah 32:12I gave both pieces of paper to Baruch, the son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. Hanamel watched me as I did this, as well as the men who had written their names on the paper. The people of Judah who were there in the guards' yard also watched me.

Commentaries on Genesis 23:18

• 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 23:18

• Abraham
• Cave
• Contracts
• Heth
• Hittites
• Land
• Machpelah
• Property
• Witness

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Abraham, Abram
• Burial
• Cave
• Choice
• Cunning
• Field
• Hebron
• Heth
• Hittites

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