Thematic Bible




Genesis 23:1 (show verse)

Now Sarah lived 127 years; these were all the years of her life.

Genesis 23:2 (show verse)

Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

Genesis 23:3 (show verse)

Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites:

Genesis 23:4 (show verse)

“I am a foreign resident among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead.”

Genesis 23:5 (show verse)

The Hittites replied to Abraham,

Genesis 23:6 (show verse)

“Listen to us, lord. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in our finest burial place. None of us will withhold from you his burial place for burying your dead.”

Genesis 23:7 (show verse)

Then Abraham rose and bowed down to the Hittites, the people of the land.

Genesis 23:8 (show verse)

He said to them, “If you are willing for me to bury my dead, listen to me and ask Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf

Genesis 23:9 (show verse)

to give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me in your presence, for the full price, as a burial place.”

Genesis 23:10 (show verse)

Ephron was sitting among the Hittites. So in the presence of all the Hittites who came to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham:

Genesis 23:11 (show verse)

“No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”

Genesis 23:12 (show verse)

Abraham bowed down to the people of the land

Genesis 23:13 (show verse)

and said to Ephron in the presence of the people of the land, “Please listen to me. Let me pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, and let me bury my dead there.”

Genesis 23:14 (show verse)

Ephron answered Abraham and said to him,

Genesis 23:15 (show verse)

“My lord, listen to me. Land worth 400 shekels of silver—what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”

Genesis 23:16 (show verse)

Abraham agreed with Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver that he had agreed to in the presence of the Hittites: 400 shekels of silver at the current commercial rate.

Genesis 23:17 (show verse)

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

Genesis 23:18 (show verse)

Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites who came to the gate of his city.

Genesis 23:19 (show verse)

After 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 23:20 (show verse)

The field with its cave passed from the Hittites to Abraham as a burial place.