King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.
Complete Jewish Bible:
to Avraham as his possession in the presence of the sons of Het who belonged to the ruling council of the city.
Berean Standard Bible:
to Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city.
American Standard Version:
unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Unto Abraham{H85} for a possession{H4736} in the presence{H5869} of the children{H1121} of Heth{H2845}, before all that went in{H935} at the gate{H8179} of his city{H5892}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 32:12
- And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's [son], and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
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,
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.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 23:18
Genesis 23:18 is part of the narrative describing the death of Sarah, Abraham's wife, and the subsequent purchase of a burial site by Abraham. The verse is set in the ancient city of Hebron, in the land of Canaan, which is part of the broader historical context of the Patriarchal narratives in the Book of Genesis.
**Themes:**
1. **Land Ownership:** The theme of land ownership is central to this verse. Abraham, a sojourner in Canaan, seeks to secure a permanent burial place for his family, which signifies the establishment of a physical claim in the Promised Land.
2. **Faith and Providence:** Abraham's actions reflect his faith in God's promise that his descendants would inherit the land. His purchase of the cave of Machpelah demonstrates his trust in God's providence, despite not yet seeing the fulfillment of the promise.
3. **Legal Transaction:** The verse highlights the legal and cultural practices of the time, as Abraham conducts the transaction publicly "before all that went in at the gate of his city." The city gate was where official business and legal matters were settled, indicating a formal and witnessed agreement.
4. **Cultural Interaction:** Abraham's negotiation with the Hittites shows interaction between different peoples and the integration of cultural practices. It also reflects the respect and status Abraham had earned among the local inhabitants.
5. **Mortality and Legacy:** The context of buying a burial site addresses the human concerns of mortality and legacy. Abraham ensures a resting place for his family, which becomes a significant site in the religious memory of the Israelites.
**Historical Context:**
The events in Genesis 23 occur during the Patriarchal age, which is traditionally dated to the early 2nd millennium BCE. This period is characterized by the stories of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are depicted as semi-nomadic herders living among the Canaanites and other groups in the region.
Abraham's purchase of the cave of Machpelah as a family tomb is the first recorded instance of land acquisition by the patriarchs in Canaan, foreshadowing the future possession of the land by his descendants, as prophesied by God. The transaction is conducted according to the customs of the time, with Abraham insisting on paying full price to avoid any future disputes over the land's ownership.
This event is also significant as it marks the establishment of a physical inheritance in the Promised Land, which would later become central to the identity and claims of the Israelite nation. The cave at Machpelah eventually becomes a burial site not only for Sarah but also for Abraham himself and other key figures in the patriarchal narratives.
*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: 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: H4736
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִקְנָה
Transliteration: miqnâh
Pronunciation: mik-naw'
Description: feminine of מִקְנֶה; properly, a buying, i.e. acquisition; concretely, a piece of property (land or living); also the sum paid; (he that is) bought, possession, piece, purchase. - Strong's Number: H5869
There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַיִן
Transliteration: ʻayin
Pronunciation: ah'-yin
Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). - 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: 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.