### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term מַכְפֵּלָה (Makpêlâh, `{{H4375}}`) is a proper noun derived from the root כָּפַל (kaphal), which means "to double," "to fold," or "to repeat." While the etymological root suggests a meaning related to "a fold" or "a doubling," מַכְפֵּלָה is used exclusively in the biblical text as a geographical designation. It refers to a specific field and, more notably, a cave within that field, located in Canaan. The name itself might allude to a physical characteristic of the cave (e.g., a double cave or one with multiple chambers) or the terrain, though its precise etymological connection to its geographical feature is debated among scholars. In all its biblical occurrences, it functions solely as the proper name of this significant site.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word מַכְפֵּלָה appears exclusively in the book of Genesis, always in reference to the field and cave that Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite. Its significance is intimately tied to the patriarchal narratives:
* **Abraham's Purchase:** The most extensive account is found in [[Genesis 23:9]], [[Genesis 23:17-20]], where Abraham meticulously negotiates and purchases the field and cave of Machpelah from Ephron for 400 shekels of silver. This transaction, conducted publicly at the city gate of Hebron (Kirjath-arba), establishes Abraham's legal ownership of a piece of the promised land. The purpose of this purchase is explicitly stated: to serve as a burial place for his wife Sarah.
* **Patriarchal Burial Site:** Machpelah becomes the sacred family tomb for the patriarchs and matriarchs:
* Sarah is the first to be buried there ([[Genesis 23:19]]).
* Abraham himself is later buried there by his sons Isaac and Ishmael ([[Genesis 25:9-10]]).
* Isaac and Rebekah are also interred in the cave ([[Genesis 49:31]]).
* Jacob, on his deathbed in Egypt, makes his sons promise to carry his body back to Canaan and bury him with his ancestors in Machpelah ([[Genesis 47:29-30]], [[Genesis 49:29-32]]). This instruction is fulfilled in [[Genesis 50:13]], marking the final interment in this sacred site within the Genesis narrative.
The consistent association with Hebron (or Kirjath-arba) reinforces its specific geographical location and its importance within the emerging narrative of the land of promise.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Root כָּפַל (kaphal):** The verbal root `{{H3717}}` from which מַכְפֵּלָה is derived signifies "to double," "to fold," or "to repeat." While the geographical name does not directly carry this meaning in its usage, the etymological link suggests a potential characteristic of the site, such as a "double" cave or a folded landscape.
* **Hebron (`{{H2275}}`):** The city of Hebron (originally Kirjath-arba) is inextricably linked to Machpelah. The cave of Machpelah is consistently described as being "before Mamre" or "near Mamre," which is identified as Hebron ([[Genesis 23:19]]). Hebron later becomes a significant city in Judah and a city of refuge.
* **Covenant Land Promise:** The purchase of Machpelah is a tangible, albeit small, fulfillment of God's promise of land to Abraham ([[Genesis 12:7]], [[Genesis 13:15]]). It is the first piece of the promised land that Abraham formally possesses, providing a physical anchor for the covenant.
* **Ancient Burial Practices:** The detailed account of the land transaction for Machpelah provides valuable insight into ancient Near Eastern legal and burial customs, including the importance of family burial plots and the formal acquisition of land.
### Theological Significance
The cave of Machpelah holds profound theological significance within the biblical narrative:
* **A Down Payment on the Land Promise:** While God promised Abraham the entire land of Canaan, Machpelah represents the first actual, legally owned piece of that land. It is a concrete, tangible down payment on the vast inheritance promised by God, demonstrating the faithfulness of God's word even in the patriarchs' nomadic existence. It underscores that the promise was real and would eventually be fully realized.
* **Continuity of the Covenant:** The successive burials of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah in the same cave powerfully symbolize the continuity of God's covenant with the patriarchal line. It visually represents the unbroken lineage of faith and the enduring nature of the divine promises across generations. Jacob's insistence on being buried there, despite dying in Egypt, highlights his unwavering faith in the covenant and his desire to be gathered with his people in the promised land.
* **Identity and Belonging:** For the patriarchs, being buried in Machpelah was an ultimate act of identification with the land and the people of the covenant. It was a declaration of their belonging, even as sojourners, to the land that God had set apart for their descendants.
* **Hope Beyond Death:** While the concept of resurrection is more fully developed later in Scripture, the careful preservation and use of Machpelah as a family tomb, especially Jacob's desire to be buried there, can be seen as an early, implicit expression of hope beyond physical death and a desire to be gathered with one's ancestors in the land of promise.
### Summary
מַכְפֵּלָה (Makpêlâh, `{{H4375}}`) is a pivotal geographical proper noun in Genesis, denoting the field and cave near Hebron that Abraham purchased as a burial site. Derived from a root meaning "to fold" or "to double," its primary biblical significance lies in its function as the sacred patriarchal tomb, housing Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah. The detailed account of its acquisition in [[Genesis 23]] marks it as the first tangible piece of the promised land legally owned by Abraham, serving as a concrete down payment on God's covenantal pledge. The repeated use of Machpelah as the family's resting place underscores the continuity of the divine covenant through generations, symbolizing the patriarchs' enduring faith in God's promises, their deep sense of belonging to the land, and an implicit hope beyond death. Machpelah stands as a silent, yet powerful, testament to the faithfulness of God and the unfolding of His redemptive plan for His chosen people.
TRV