Genesis 23:20
New International Version
So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.

New Living Translation
So the field and the cave were transferred from the Hittites to Abraham for use as a permanent burial place.

English Standard Version
The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

Berean Standard Bible
So the field and its cave were deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.

King James Bible
And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.

New King James Version
So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.

New American Standard Bible
So the field and the cave that was in it were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth.

NASB 1995
So the field and the cave that is in it, were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth.

NASB 1977
So the field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded over to Abraham for a possession for a burial site by the sons of Heth.

Amplified Bible
The field and the cave in it were deeded over to Abraham by the Hittites as a [permanent] possession and burial place.

Christian Standard Bible
The field with its cave passed from the Hethites to Abraham as burial property.

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

American Standard Version
And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the children of Heth.

Contemporary English Version
he had bought from the Hittites.

English Revised Version
And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the children of Heth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So the field and its cave were sold by the Hittites to Abraham as his property to be used as a tomb.

Good News Translation
So the field which had belonged to the Hittites, and the cave in it, became the property of Abraham for a burial ground.

International Standard Version
And so the field with its cave was deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.

Majority Standard Bible
So the field and its cave were deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.

NET Bible
So Abraham secured the field and the cave that was in it as a burial site from the sons of Heth.

New Heart English Bible
The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham as a possession for a burial place by the sons of Heth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the field, and the cave that is in it were made sure to Abraham for a possession of a burying-place, by the sons of Heth.

World English Bible
The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial place.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and established are the field, and the cave which [is] in it, to Abraham for a possession of a burying-place, from the sons of Heth.

Young's Literal Translation
and established are the field, and the cave which is in it, to Abraham for a possession of a burying-place, from the sons of Heth.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the field will stand, and the cave which is in it, to Abraham for the possession of a burying place, from the sons of Heth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the field was made sure to Abraham, and the cave that was in it, for a possession to bury in, by the children of Heth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the field was confirmed to Abraham, with the cave that was in it, as a memorial possession before the sons of Heth.

New American Bible
Thus the field with its cave was transferred from the Hittites to Abraham as a burial place.

New Revised Standard Version
The field and the cave that is in it passed from the Hittites into Abraham’s possession as a burying place.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham for a possession of a burial ground by the Hittites.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the field of the cave remained, and the cave which is in it, for Abraham as an inheritance of the tomb which was with the sons of Khyth.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the children of Heth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So the field and the cave which was in it were made sure to Abraam for possession of a burying place, by the sons of Chet.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death and Burial of Sarah
19After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20So the field and its cave were deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.

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.

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 11:9-10
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. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:13-16
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. / Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. / If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ...

Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, / even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Genesis 12:7
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Genesis 13:15-17
for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever. / I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. / Get up and walk around the land, through its length and breadth, for I will give it to you.”

Genesis 15:18-21
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates— / the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, / Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, ...

Genesis 17:8
And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.

Genesis 24:7
The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there.

Genesis 26:3-4
Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. / I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,

Genesis 28:13-14
And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.


Treasury of Scripture

And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure to Abraham for a possession of a burial plot by the sons of Heth.

were.

Ruth 4:7-10
Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel…

2 Samuel 24:24
And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Jeremiah 32:10,11
And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances…

for a.

Genesis 25:9
And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

Genesis 49:31,32
There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah…

Genesis 50:5,13,24,25
My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again…

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Genesis 23
1. The age and death of Sarah.
3. The purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah;
19. where Sarah is buried.














So the field
The Hebrew word for "field" is "שָׂדֶה" (sadeh), which refers to a piece of land or territory. In the ancient Near Eastern context, owning land was a significant marker of wealth and stability. For Abraham, acquiring this field was not just a transaction but a fulfillment of God's promise to give his descendants the land of Canaan. This field represents the first tangible piece of the Promised Land that Abraham's family would own, symbolizing God's faithfulness to His covenant.

and the cave that was in it
The cave, referred to in Hebrew as "מְעָרָה" (me'arah), served as a burial site. Caves were commonly used for burials in ancient times due to their natural protection and permanence. This particular cave, the Cave of Machpelah, would become the family tomb for the patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel. It signifies a place of rest and honor, a sacred space where the legacy of faith and God's promises are remembered and cherished.

were deeded to Abraham
The act of deeding, or "קָנָה" (qanah) in Hebrew, implies a legal and formal transfer of ownership. This transaction was not merely a verbal agreement but a documented and witnessed event, ensuring that Abraham's claim to the land was recognized by the local inhabitants, the Hittites. This legal acquisition underscores the legitimacy of Abraham's presence in the land and God's providence in securing a future for his descendants.

by the Hittites
The Hittites, or "חִתִּי" (Hitti) in Hebrew, were a significant people group in the region of Canaan. Their willingness to sell the land to Abraham reflects the respect and esteem they held for him as a "mighty prince" (Genesis 23:6). This interaction highlights the peaceful and respectful relationships Abraham maintained with the surrounding nations, serving as a model of godly conduct and integrity.

as a burial site
The phrase "burial site," or "לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָבֶר" (la'achuzat-qaver) in Hebrew, indicates a permanent place for interment. This site was not just for Sarah, Abraham's wife, but would also become the burial place for Abraham himself, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob. It represents a continuity of faith and the hope of resurrection, as the patriarchs were laid to rest in the land promised to their descendants. This burial site is a testament to the enduring faith of Abraham and his family in God's promises, serving as a physical reminder of their trust in God's eternal covenant.

(20) Were made sure unto Abraham.--For the difficulties connected with St. Stephen's apparent confusion of this transaction with that recorded in Genesis 33:19, see Note on Acts 7:16.

Verse 20. - And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the sons of Heth. The palpable discrepancy between the statements of the Hebrew historian in this chapter concerning the patriarchal sepulcher and those of the Christian orator when addressing the Jewish Sanhedrim (Acts 7:16) has been well characterized as praegravis quaedam et perardua, et quorundam judicio inextricabilis quaestio (Pererius). Of course the Gordian knot of difficulty may be very readily cut by boldly asserting that a mistake has been committed somewhere; either by Stephen, the original speaker, under the impulse of emotion confounding the two entirely different stories of Abraham's purchase of Machpelah and Jacob's buying of the field near Shechem (Beds, Clarke, Lange, Kalisch, Alford, and others); or by Luke, the first recorder of the Martyr's Apology, who wrote not the ipsissima verba of the speech, but simply his own recollection of them (Jerome); or by some subsequent transcriber who had tampered with the original text, as, e.g., inserting Αβραὰμ, which Luke and Stephen both had omitted, as the nominative to ὠνήσατο (Beza, Calvin, Bishop Pearce). The Just of these hypotheses would not indeed be fatal to the Inspiration of the record; but the claims of either Luke or Stephen to be authoritative teachers on the subject of religion would be somewhat hard to maintain if it once were admitted that they had blundered on a plain point in their own national history. And yet it is doubtful if any of the proposed solutions of the problem is perfectly satisfactory; such as

(1) that the two purchases of Abraham and Jacob are here intentionally, for the sake of brevity, compressed into one account (Bengel, Pererius, Willet, Hughes); or

(2) that Abraham bought two graves, one at Hebron of Ephron the Hittite, as recorded by Moses, and another at Shechem of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem (Words. worth); or

(3) that the words "which Abraham bought for a sum of money" should be regarded as a parenthesis, and the sentence read as intimating that Jacob and the fathers were carried over into Shechem, and (afterwards) by the sons of Hamor the lather of Shechem interred in Abraham's sepulcher at Hebron (Cajetan). Obvious difficulties attach to each of them; but the facts shine out clear enough in spite of the encompassing obscurity, viz., that Abraham bought a tomb at Hebron, in which first the dust of Sarah was deposited, and to which afterwards the bodies of himself, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah were consigned, while Joseph and the twelve patriarchs, who all died in Egypt, were brought over to the promised land and buried in Jacob's field at Shechem. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the field
הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

and its
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

cave
וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה (wə·ham·mə·‘ā·rāh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4631: A cavern

were deeded
וַיָּ֨קָם (way·yā·qām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

by the Hittites
בְּנֵי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

to Abraham
לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם (lə·’aḇ·rā·hām)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

as a burial
קָ֑בֶר (qā·ḇer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6913: A grave, sepulcher

site.
לַאֲחֻזַּת־ (la·’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ-)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 272: Something seized, a possession


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OT Law: Genesis 23:20 The field and the cave that (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 23:19
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