Genesis 23:7
New International Version
Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.

New Living Translation
Then Abraham bowed low before the Hittites

English Standard Version
Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.

King James Bible
And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

New King James Version
Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

New American Standard Bible
So Abraham stood up and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

NASB 1995
So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

NASB 1977
So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

Amplified Bible
So Abraham stood up and bowed to the people of the land, the Hittites.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Abraham rose and bowed down to the Hethites, the people of the land.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Abraham rose and bowed down to the Hittites, the people of the land.

American Standard Version
And Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

Contemporary English Version
Abraham bowed down

English Revised Version
And Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Abraham got up in front of the Hittites, the people of that region, and bowed with his face touching the ground.

Good News Translation
Then Abraham bowed before them

International Standard Version
Abraham rose and bowed before the Hittites, the people of the land,

Majority Standard Bible
Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.

NET Bible
Abraham got up and bowed down to the local people, the sons of Heth.

New Heart English Bible
Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, to the sons of Heth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, to the children of Heth.

World English Bible
Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, to the children of Heth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abraham rises and bows himself to the people of the land, to the sons of Heth,

Young's Literal Translation
And Abraham riseth and boweth himself to the people of the land, to the sons of Heth,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abraham will rise up and will bow himself to the earth before the sons of Heth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Abraham rose up, and bowed down to the people of the land, to wit the children of Heth:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Abraham arose, and he reverenced the people of the land, namely, the sons of Heth.

New American Bible
Abraham, however, proceeded to bow low before the people of the land, the Hittites,

New Revised Standard Version
Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, that is, to the Hittites.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abraham stood and he bowed to the people of the land to the sons of Khyth.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abraham rose up, and bowed down to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abraam rose up and did obeisance to the people of the land, to the sons of Chet.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death and Burial of Sarah
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. 8“If you are willing for me to bury my dead,” he said to them, “listen to me, and approach Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf…

Cross References
Genesis 18:2
And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

Genesis 33:3
But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

Genesis 42:6
Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.

Genesis 43:26
When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him.

Genesis 44:14
When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

Exodus 18:7
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.

Ruth 2:10
At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?”

1 Samuel 25:23
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.

2 Samuel 14:4
When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”

2 Samuel 24:20
When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king.

1 Kings 1:16
And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

2 Kings 2:15
When the sons of the prophets who were watching him from Jericho saw what had happened, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 8:2
Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Matthew 18:26
Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’


Treasury of Scripture

And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

Genesis 18:2
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

Genesis 19:1
And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Proverbs 18:24
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

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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.














Then Abraham rose
The phrase "Then Abraham rose" signifies a deliberate action taken by Abraham. In the Hebrew text, the word for "rose" is "וַיָּקָם" (vayakom), which implies not just a physical rising but also a readiness to engage in a significant task. This action follows the death of Sarah, indicating Abraham's resolve to secure a burial place for her. It reflects his leadership and responsibility as the patriarch of his family, demonstrating his respect for the deceased and his commitment to honoring her properly.

and bowed down
The act of bowing down, "וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ" (vayishtachu), is a gesture of respect and humility. In the ancient Near Eastern context, bowing was a common practice to show deference, especially in negotiations or when seeking favor. Abraham's bowing before the Hittites is significant as it shows his acknowledgment of their authority and his willingness to engage in peaceful and respectful negotiations for the land. It underscores the importance of humility and respect in interactions with others, even when one is in a position of need.

before the people of the land
This phrase highlights the communal aspect of the Hittite society. The "people of the land" refers to the inhabitants of the region where Abraham was residing as a foreigner. It indicates that the transaction for the burial site was not just a private matter but involved the broader community. This reflects the cultural and legal practices of the time, where land transactions were often witnessed and approved by the community, ensuring transparency and mutual agreement.

the Hittites
The Hittites were an ancient people who inhabited parts of Anatolia and the Levant. In the context of Genesis, they are depicted as the inhabitants of the land where Abraham sought to purchase a burial site for Sarah. Historically, the Hittites were known for their advanced legal systems and treaties, which aligns with the formal negotiation process described in this chapter. The mention of the Hittites emphasizes the historical and cultural setting of the narrative, providing insight into the interactions between different peoples in the ancient world. It also highlights the theme of Abraham as a sojourner, navigating relationships with the established inhabitants of the land.

Verse 7. - And Abraham stood up (the customary posture among Orientals in buying and selling being that of sitting), and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Hath - an act of respect quite accordant with modern Oriental manners (vide Thomson, 'Land and Book,' p. 579).

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

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

and bowed down
וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ (way·yiš·ta·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

before the people
לְעַם־ (lə·‘am-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

of the land,
הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

the Hittites.
לִבְנֵי־ (liḇ·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT Law: Genesis 23:7 Abraham rose up and bowed himself (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 23:6
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