King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Ephron dwelt 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,
Complete Jewish Bible:
'Efron the Hitti was sitting among the sons of Het, and he gave Avraham his answer in the presence of the sons of Het who belonged to the ruling council of the city:
Berean Standard Bible:
Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham,
American Standard Version:
Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of 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,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Ephron{H6085} dwelt{H3427} among{H8432} the children{H1121} of Heth{H2845}: and Ephron{H6085} the Hittite{H2850} answered{H6030} Abraham{H85} in the audience{H241} of the children{H1121} of Heth{H2845}, even of all that went in{H935} at the gate{H8179} of his city{H5892}, saying{H559},
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 34:20
- And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
Genesis 34:24
- And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
Genesis 23:18
- Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.
Isaiah 28:6
- And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
Ruth 4:1
- ¶ Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
Ruth 4:4
- And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy [it] before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem [it], redeem [it]: but if thou wilt not redeem [it, then] tell me, that I may know: for [there is] none to redeem [it] beside thee; and I [am] after thee. And he said, I will redeem [it].
Luke 2:3
- And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 23:10
Genesis 23:10 is part of the narrative concerning the death of Sarah, Abraham's wife, and the subsequent purchase of a burial site by Abraham. The verse is set in the land of Canaan, where Abraham and his descendants are strangers and sojourners among the Hittites, a people group living in the region.
**Themes:**
1. **Land Ownership and Hospitality:** The interaction between Ephron the Hittite and Abraham highlights the customs and negotiations surrounding land ownership. Ephron's initial willingness to give Abraham a burial site for free, yet Abraham's insistence on paying the full price, reflects the cultural values of hospitality and fair dealing.
2. **Covenant Relationship:** Abraham's actions are guided by his understanding of God's covenant promise to give the land to his descendants. His purchase of the land is a step of faith, acknowledging God's provision while living among foreigners.
3. **Mortality and Burial Customs:** The narrative underscores the importance of proper burial in the ancient Near East. Abraham's concern for a suitable resting place for Sarah reflects the cultural significance of honoring the dead.
**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** This event occurs during the patriarchal age, around the early 2nd millennium BCE, a time when the Hittites were a prominent group in the region of modern-day Turkey and parts of the Levant.
- **Cultural Practices:** The mention of the city gate is significant as it was the place where legal matters, including property transactions, were conducted in the presence of witnesses. This public setting underscores the legitimacy and communal recognition of the transaction.
- **Hittite Presence in Canaan:** The Hittites in Canaan were likely a remnant or offshoot of the greater Hittite empire, which was a major power in the region. Their presence in the land of Canaan indicates a diverse ethnic and cultural mix during this period.
In summary, Genesis 23:10 reflects themes of land acquisition, covenant faith, and burial customs within the historical context of the patriarchal age, highlighting the interactions between the patriarch Abraham and the indigenous people of Canaan, the Hittites.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6085
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶפְרוֹן
Transliteration: ʻEphrôwn
Pronunciation: ef-rone'
Description: from the same as עֵפֶר; fawn-like; Ephron, the name of a Canaanite and of two places in Palestine; Ephron, Ephrain (from the margin). - Strong's Number: H3427
There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשַׁב
Transliteration: yâshab
Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. - Strong's Number: H8432
There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
Transliteration: tâvek
Pronunciation: taw'-vek
Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H2845
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֵת
Transliteration: Chêth
Pronunciation: khayth
Description: from חָתַת; terror; Cheth, an aboriginal Canaanite; Heth. - Strong's Number: H2850
There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חִתִּי
Transliteration: Chittîy
Pronunciation: khit-tee'
Description: patronymically from חֵת; a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth; Hittite, Hittities. - Strong's Number: H6030
There are 317 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָנָה
Transliteration: ʻânâh
Pronunciation: aw-naw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce; give account, afflict (by mistake for עָנָה), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for עָנָה), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, [idiom] scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness. See also בֵּית עֲנוֹת, בֵּית עֲנָת. - Strong's Number: H85
There are 1159 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַבְרָהָם
Transliteration: ʼAbrâhâm
Pronunciation: ab-raw-hawm'
Description: contracted from אָב and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram; Abraham. - Strong's Number: H241
There are 652 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹזֶן
Transliteration: ʼôzen
Pronunciation: o'-zen
Description: from אָזַן; broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man); [phrase] advertise, audience, [phrase] displease, ear, hearing, [phrase] show. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H8179
There are 302 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׁעַר
Transliteration: shaʻar
Pronunciation: shah'-ar
Description: from שָׁעַר in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or gate; city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er). - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.