Genesis 23:6
New International Version
“Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”

New Living Translation
“Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way.”

English Standard Version
“Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.”

King James Bible
Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

New King James Version
“Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”

New American Standard Bible
“Hear us, my lord: you are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none of us will refuse you his grave for burying your dead.”

NASB 1995
“Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none of us will refuse you his grave for burying your dead.”

NASB 1977
“Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none of us will refuse you his grave for burying your dead.”

Legacy Standard Bible
“Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial sites; none of us will refuse you his burial sites for burying your dead.”

Amplified Bible
“Listen to us, my lord; you are a prince of God [a mighty prince] among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none of us will refuse you his grave or hinder you from burying your dead [wife].”

Christian Standard Bible
“Listen to us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in our finest burial place. None of us will withhold from you his burial place for burying your dead.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Listen to us, lord. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in our finest burial place. None of us will withhold from you his burial place for burying your dead.”

American Standard Version
Hear us, my lord; thou art a prince of God among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

English Revised Version
Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Listen to us, sir. You are a mighty leader among us. Bury your dead in one of our best tombs. Not one of us will withhold from you his tomb for burying your dead."

Good News Translation
"Listen to us, sir. We look upon you as a mighty leader; bury your wife in the best grave that we have. Any of us would be glad to give you a grave, so that you can bury her."

International Standard Version
"Listen to us, sir. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial tombs. None of us would refuse you his tomb for burying your dead."

Majority Standard Bible
?Listen to us, sir. You are God?s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.?

NET Bible
"Listen, sir, you are a mighty prince among us! You may bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb to prevent you from burying your dead."

New Heart English Bible
"Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to prevent you from burying your dead."

Webster's Bible Translation
Hear us, my lord; thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchers bury thy dead: none of us will withhold from thee his sepulcher, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

World English Bible
“Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb. Bury your dead.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Hear us, my lord; a prince of God [are] you in our midst; in the choice of our burying-places bury your dead: none of our burying-places do we withhold from you, from burying your dead.”

Young's Literal Translation
Hear us, my lord; a prince of God art thou in our midst; in the choice of our burying-places bury thy dead: none of us his burying-place doth withhold from thee, from burying thy dead.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Hear us, lord; thou a prince of God in the midst of us: in the choice of our graves, bury thy dead; a man of us shall not withhold from thee his grave from burying thy dead.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
My Lord, hear us, thou art a prince of God among us: bury thy dead in our principle sepulchers: and no man shall have power to hinder thee from burying thy dead in his sepulcher.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Hear us, O lord, you are a leader of God among us. Bury your dead in our chosen sepulchers. And no man shall be able to prohibit you from burying your dead within his memorial.”

New American Bible
sir, listen to us! You are a mighty leader among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial sites. None of us would deny you his burial ground for the burial of your dead.”

New Revised Standard Version
“Hear us, my lord; you are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places; none of us will withhold from you any burial ground for burying your dead.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Hear us, our lord; you are a prince of God among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our sepulchres; none of us will withhold from you his sepulchre for the burial of your dead.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Hear us our Lord; you are a Prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. No man of us will deny you his tomb to bury your dead.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us; in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
but hear us; thou art in the midst of us a king from God; bury thy dead in our choice sepulchres, for not one of us will by any means withhold his sepulchre from thee, so that thou shouldest not bury thy dead there.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death and Burial of Sarah
5The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6“Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.” 7Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.…

Cross References
Genesis 13:2
And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.

Genesis 24:35
“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.

Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Genesis 21:22
At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.

Genesis 14:14
And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.

Genesis 26:13-14
and he became richer and richer, until he was exceedingly wealthy. / He owned so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.

Genesis 30:43
Thus Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. He owned large flocks, maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys.

Genesis 41:40
You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Genesis 45:8
Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Exodus 11:3
And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.

Exodus 12:36
And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.

1 Kings 3:13
Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.

2 Chronicles 1:12
therefore wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will also give you riches and wealth and honor unlike anything given to the kings before you or after you.”

Psalm 112:3
Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Proverbs 22:1
A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.


Treasury of Scripture

Hear us, my lord: you are a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchers bury your dead; none of us shall withhold from you his sepulcher, but that you may bury your dead.

my lord.

Genesis 18:12
Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

Genesis 24:18,35
And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink…

Genesis 31:35
And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

a mighty prince.

Genesis 21:22
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

Isaiah 45:14
Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

1 John 3:1,2
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not…

prince.

Genesis 13:2
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Genesis 14:14
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

Genesis 24:35
And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

Jump to Previous
Aces Best Bury Burying Chief Choice Choicest Dead es Grave Graves Great Hear Hinder Mayest Mighty Prince Refuse Rest Resting-Places Sepulcher Sepulchers Sepulchre Sepulchres Sir Tomb Tombs Withhold
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Aces Best Bury Burying Chief Choice Choicest Dead es Grave Graves Great Hear Hinder Mayest Mighty Prince Refuse Rest Resting-Places Sepulcher Sepulchers Sepulchre Sepulchres Sir Tomb Tombs Withhold
Genesis 23
1. The age and death of Sarah.
3. The purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah;
19. where Sarah is buried.














Listen to us, sir.
This phrase indicates a respectful address to Abraham by the Hittites, acknowledging his status and the importance of the negotiation. The use of "sir" shows deference, which is significant given Abraham's status as a foreigner in the land. This respect reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to make Abraham's name great (Genesis 12:2).

You are God’s chosen one among us.
The Hittites recognize Abraham as a man blessed by God, which aligns with God's covenant with Abraham, promising to make him a great nation and bless him (Genesis 12:2-3). This acknowledgment by the local people highlights Abraham's reputation and the visible evidence of God's favor upon him. It also foreshadows the future recognition of Israel as God's chosen people.

Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs.
The offer to bury Sarah in the finest tombs indicates the high regard the Hittites have for Abraham. It also reflects the cultural practice of honoring the dead with proper burial rites. This gesture of generosity underscores the peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between Abraham and the Hittites, despite his status as a sojourner.

None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.
This statement emphasizes the willingness of the Hittites to accommodate Abraham's needs, showing a communal respect and generosity. It also highlights the cultural importance of burial practices in ancient times, where securing a burial site was a significant concern. This act of kindness can be seen as a fulfillment of God's promise to give Abraham and his descendants the land, as it begins with the acquisition of a burial site for Sarah.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abraham
A patriarch of the Israelites, recognized as a "mighty prince" by the Hittites, reflecting his status and God's blessing upon him.

2. Hittites
The people living in the land of Canaan, who show respect and honor to Abraham by offering him a burial site for Sarah.

3. Sarah
Abraham's wife, whose death prompts the need for a burial site, leading to this interaction with the Hittites.

4. Canaan
The land where this event takes place, significant as the land promised to Abraham and his descendants by God.

5. Tomb
The burial site offered by the Hittites, symbolizing respect and the recognition of Abraham's standing among them.
Teaching Points
Respect and Influence
Abraham's life and character earned him respect among the Hittites. As Christians, our conduct should reflect Christ, earning respect and opening doors for witness.

God's Promises and Faithfulness
Despite being a foreigner, Abraham's status as a "mighty prince" shows God's faithfulness to His promises. Trust in God's timing and faithfulness in your life.

Community and Relationships
Abraham's interaction with the Hittites highlights the importance of building respectful relationships with those around us, even if they do not share our faith.

Legacy and Testimony
Abraham's legacy was evident to those around him. Consider what legacy and testimony you are leaving in your community.

Handling Grief and Loss
Abraham's respectful negotiation for a burial site for Sarah shows dignity in handling grief. Seek to honor God in times of personal loss.(6) A mighty prince.--Heb., a prince of God. Comp. "wind of God" (Genesis 1:2); "wrestlings of God" (Genesis 30:8); "mountains of God" (Psalm 36:6); "cedars of God" (Psalm 80:10). So also "a sleep of Jehovah" for a deep sleep (1Samuel 26:12).

In the choice of our sepulchres.--The interview between Abraham and the Hittites is marked by the utmost courtesy on both sides, but it is a mistake to suppose that this acceptance of the patriarch's proposal contained the idea that he might select a sepulchre without paying for it. The payment, in true Oriental fashion, is kept in the background, but is pre-supposed on both sides. After the acceptance of his proposal, it was Abraham's turn to name the burying-place he wished, and the owner next consents, but while treating the purchase-money as a matter of small importance, he nevertheless asks a very high price, to which Abraham at once consents. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Listen to us,
שְׁמָעֵ֣נוּ ׀ (šə·mā·‘ê·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

sir.
אֲדֹנִ֗י (’ă·ḏō·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

You
אַתָּה֙ (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are God’s
אֱלֹהִ֤ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

chosen one
נְשִׂ֨יא (nə·śî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5387: An exalted one, a king, sheik, a rising mist

among us.
בְּתוֹכֵ֔נוּ (bə·ṯō·w·ḵê·nū)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

Bury
קְבֹ֖ר (qə·ḇōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6912: To inter

your dead
מֵתֶ֑ךָ (mê·ṯe·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

in the finest
בְּמִבְחַ֣ר (bə·miḇ·ḥar)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4005: Choicest, best

of our tombs.
קְבָרֵ֔ינוּ (qə·ḇā·rê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 6913: A grave, sepulcher

None
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

of us
מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (mim·men·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

will withhold
יִכְלֶ֥ה (yiḵ·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3607: To shut up, restrain, withhold

his tomb
קִבְר֛וֹ (qiḇ·rōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6913: A grave, sepulcher

for burying
מִקְּבֹ֥ר (miq·qə·ḇōr)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6912: To inter

your dead.”
מֵתֶֽךָ׃ (mê·ṯe·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT Law: Genesis 23:6 Hear us my lord (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 23:5
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