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

16So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price and paid the amount he had suggested—400 pieces of silver, weighed according to the market standard. The Hittite elders witnessed the transaction. 17So Abraham bought the plot of land belonging to Ephron at Machpelah, near Mamre. This included the field itself, the cave that was in it, and all the surrounding trees. It was transferred to Abraham as his permanent possession in the presence of the Hittite elders at the city gate. 19Then Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, there in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre (also called Hebron). 20So the field and the cave were transferred from the Hittites to Abraham for use as a permanent burial place.

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 34:20and he went with his father, Hamor, to present this proposal to the leaders at the town gate.
• Ruth 4:1Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there. Just then the family redeemer he had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, “Come over here and sit down, friend. I want to talk to you.” So they sat down together.
• Jeremiah 32:12and I handed them to Baruch son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. I did all this in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, the witnesses who had signed the deed, and all the men of Judah who were there in the courtyard of the guardhouse.

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