Genesis 23:2
New International Version
She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.

New Living Translation
she died at Kiriath-arba (now called Hebron) in the land of Canaan. There Abraham mourned and wept for her.

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

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

King James Bible
And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

New King James Version
So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

New American Standard Bible
Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham came in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

NASB 1995
Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

NASB 1977
And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

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

Amplified Bible
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.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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.

American Standard Version
And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

English Revised Version
And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
She died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in Canaan. Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to cry about her death.

Good News Translation
She died in Hebron in the land of Canaan, and Abraham mourned her death.

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

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

NET Bible
Then she died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

New Heart English Bible
Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

World English Bible
Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Sarah dies in Kirjath-Arba, which [is] Hebron, in the land of Canaan, and Abraham goes to mourn for Sarah, and to lament her.

Young's Literal Translation
and Sarah dieth in Kirjath-Arba, which is Hebron, in the land of Caanan, and Abraham goeth in to mourn for Sarah, and to bewail her.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Sarah shall die in the city of four; this is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. And Abraham will come to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And she died in the city of Arbee which is Hebron, in the land of Chanaan: and Abraham came to mourn and weep for her.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And she died in the city of Arba, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn and weep for her.

New American Bible
She died in Kiriath-arba—now Hebron—in the land of Canaan, and Abraham proceeded to mourn and weep for her.

New Revised Standard Version
And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Sarah died at Koriath Gabarey (the Town of the Giants); that is Hebron in the land of Canaan; and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Sara died in Qorith Ganbarey (Town of Giants)—this is Khebron, which is in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn over Sara and to weep for her.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Sarah died in Kiriatharba--the same is Hebron--in the land of Canaan; and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Sarrha died in the city of Arboc, which is in the valley, this is Chebron in the land of Chanaan; and Abraam came to lament for Sarrha and to mourn.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death and Burial of Sarah
1Now Sarah lived to be 127 years old. 2She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her. 3Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and said to the Hittites,…

Cross References
Genesis 49:29-32
Then Jacob instructed them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. / The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site. / There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried, and there I buried Leah. ...

Genesis 25:9-10
His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. / This was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah.

Genesis 50:13
They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.

2 Samuel 2:32
And they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

1 Kings 2:10
Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.

Acts 7:16
Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

Hebrews 11:13
All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Hebrews 11:9
By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

1 Chronicles 29:28
He died at a ripe old age, full of years, riches, and honor, and his son Solomon reigned in his place.

Matthew 27:60
and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.

John 19:41-42
Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. / And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there.

Luke 23:53
Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid.

Acts 8:2
God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

2 Kings 21:18
And Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzza. And his son Amon reigned in his place.

2 Kings 23:30
From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.


Treasury of Scripture

And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

Kirjath-arba.

Genesis 23:19
And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 13:18
Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

Numbers 13:22
And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

came.

mourn.

Genesis 27:41
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Genesis 50:10
And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.

Numbers 20:29
And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

Jump to Previous
Abraham Arba Bewail Caanan Canaan Death Died Dieth Hebron House Kiriath Kiriatharba Kiriath-Arba Kir'iath-Ar'ba Kirjatharba Kirjath-Arba Mourn Sarah Sarah's Weep Weeping
Jump to Next
Abraham Arba Bewail Caanan Canaan Death Died Dieth Hebron House Kiriath Kiriatharba Kiriath-Arba Kir'iath-Ar'ba Kirjatharba Kirjath-Arba Mourn Sarah Sarah's Weep Weeping
Genesis 23
1. The age and death of Sarah.
3. The purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah;
19. where Sarah is buried.














She died
The Hebrew word for "died" is "mût," which signifies the end of physical life. In the context of Sarah, her death marks the conclusion of a life that was pivotal in the unfolding of God's covenant with Abraham. Her passing is not just a personal loss for Abraham but a significant moment in the biblical narrative, highlighting the mortality of even the most faithful servants of God.

in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron)
Kiriath-arba, later known as Hebron, is a city with deep historical and spiritual significance. The name "Kiriath-arba" means "City of Arba," named after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim, a race of giants. Hebron is one of the oldest cities in the world and becomes a central location in the biblical narrative. It is here that Abraham settles and establishes a connection with the land promised by God. The mention of both names underscores the continuity and change in the land's history, reflecting God's unfolding plan.

in the land of Canaan
Canaan is the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants. It represents not just a physical territory but the fulfillment of God's promises. The mention of Canaan situates Sarah's death within the broader context of God's covenantal relationship with Abraham. It is a reminder of the divine promise and the faith journey that Abraham and Sarah undertook.

and Abraham went in
The phrase "went in" suggests a deliberate and intimate action. Abraham's response to Sarah's death is personal and profound. It indicates his deep love and respect for Sarah, as well as his acknowledgment of the gravity of her passing. This action sets the stage for the mourning rituals that follow, emphasizing the importance of honoring the deceased.

to mourn for Sarah
Mourning in the Hebrew context involves a period of lamentation and reflection. The Hebrew word "saphad" conveys a sense of public lament. Abraham's mourning is an expression of his grief and loss, but it also serves as a testament to Sarah's significance in his life and in the fulfillment of God's promises. Mourning is a sacred act, acknowledging the value of life and the pain of separation.

and to weep over her
The act of weeping, "bakah" in Hebrew, is a natural and emotional response to loss. It reflects the depth of Abraham's sorrow and the genuine love he had for Sarah. Weeping is a universal expression of grief, transcending cultural and temporal boundaries. In this context, it underscores the humanity of the patriarchs and matriarchs, reminding us of their relatable experiences and emotions.

(2) Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron.--This was a very ancient city, built seven years before Zoan in Egypt (Numbers 13:22), probably by a tribe of Semites on their way to the Delta. It lies upon the very border of the Negeb of Judah, about twenty-two miles south of Jerusalem. Originally it was named Kirjath-arba, and though Arba is called "the father of Anak" (Joshua 15:13), yet the literal meaning City of Four (arba being the Hebrew numeral four), coupled with the fact that Hebron means alliance (Genesis 13:18), suggests that its building was the result of the union of four families; and afterwards, from the name of the city, Arba may have been often used as a proper name. At the conquest of Palestine there were descendants of Anak still dwelling there, and apparently they had restored the old title, but were expelled by Caleb (Joshua 15:14), who took it as his possession, and seems to have given its name to a grandchild, as a memorial of his victory (1Chronicles 2:42). It is still an important town, with a population of 17,000 Moslems and about 600 Jews.

Abraham came to mourn.--At this period Abraham was in quiet possession of several headquarters, and apparently was himself at Beer-sheba when Sarah died at Hebron, where probably he had left Isaac in charge of his mother and the cattle. . . .

Verse 2. - And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba - or city of Arba, Abraham having again removed thither after an absence of nearly forty years, during which interval Murphy thinks the reign of Arba the Anakite may have commenced, though Keil postpones it to a later period (cf. Joshua 14:15). The same is Hebron - the Original name of the city, which was supplanted by that of Kir-jath-arba, but restored at the conquest (Keil, Hengstenberg, Murphy; vide Genesis 13:18) in the land of Canaan - indicating that the writer was not then in Palestine ('Speaker's Commentary'); perhaps rather designed to emphasize the circumstance that Sarah's death occurred not in the Philistines' country, but in the promised land (Rosenmüller, Keil, Murphy). And Abraham came - or went; ἤλθε (LXX.), venit (Vulgate); not as if he had been absent at her death (Calvin), either in Beersheba, where he retained a location (Clarke), or in Gerar, whither he had gone to sell the lands and other properties he held there (Luther), or in the pasture grounds adjoining Hebron (Keil, Murphy)'; but as addressing himself to the work of mourning for his deceased wife (Vatablus, Rosenmüller), or perhaps as going into Sarah's tent (Maimonides, Ainsworth, Wordsworth, 'Speaker's Commentary') - to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. "To arrange for the customary mourning ceremony" (Keil); the first verb, סָפַד (cf. σφαδάζω), referring to the beating of the breast as a sign of grief (cf. 1 Kings 14:13); and the second, בָּכָה, to flow by drops, intimating a quieter and more moderate sorrow. Beyond sitting on the ground and weeping in presence of (or upon the face of) the dead, no other rites are mentioned as having been observed by Abraham; though afterwards, as practiced among the Hebrews, Egyptians, and other nations of antiquity, mourning for the dead developed into an elaborate ritual, including such ceremonies as rending the garments, shaving the head, wearing sackcloth, covering the head with dust and ashes (vide 2 Samuel 3:31, 35; 2 Samuel 21:10; Job 1:20; Job 2:12; Job 16:15, 16). Cf. the mourning for Patroclus ('Il.,' 19:211-213).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
[She]
שָׂרָ֗ה (śā·rāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8283: Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham

died
וַתָּ֣מָת (wat·tā·māṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

in Kiriath-arba
אַרְבַּ֛ע (’ar·ba‘)
Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7153: Kiriath-arba -- 'city of the four', an older name of Hebron

(that is,
הִ֥וא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

Hebron)
חֶבְר֖וֹן (ḥeḇ·rō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2275: Hebron -- 'association, league', a city in southern Judah

in the land
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Canaan,
כְּנָ֑עַן (kə·nā·‘an)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3667: Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan

and Abraham
אַבְרָהָ֔ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

went out
וַיָּבֹא֙ (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to mourn
לִסְפֹּ֥ד (lis·pōḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5594: To tear the hair and beat the breasts, to lament, to wail

and to weep
וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ׃ (wə·liḇ·kō·ṯāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1058: To weep, to bemoan

for [her].
לְשָׂרָ֖ה (lə·śā·rāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8283: Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham


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OT Law: Genesis 23:2 Sarah died in Kiriath Arba the same (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 23:1
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