And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

GENESIS 23:13KJV
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Genesis 23:13 (KJV)

What does Genesis 23:13 mean?

Genesis 23:13 shows Abraham publicly telling Ephron, in front of the local people, that he wants to pay full price for the field to bury his dead, rather than accepting it as a gift. Abraham insists on a formal, fair transaction for the land, making his intentions clear to everyone present.

In this scene, Abraham is negotiating with Ephron the Hittite over a burial place for Sarah. Speaking before witnesses, Abraham respectfully declines Ephron’s offer to give him the field for free. Instead, Abraham asks Ephron to accept payment, emphasizing his desire for a legitimate purchase that would be recognized by the community.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 23:13

  • שָׁמַע (shama‘, "hear"): Abraham asks Ephron to "hear" him, which often means more than just listening—it can imply understanding and agreeing to what is being said, underscoring Abraham’s earnestness and respect.
  • כֶּסֶף (keseph, "money"): The word for "money" here refers specifically to silver, the standard currency of the time. This detail highlights that Abraham is offering real, valuable payment, not just a symbolic gesture.
  • לָקַח (laqach, "take"): Abraham urges Ephron to "take" the money from him, showing his insistence on a proper exchange rather than a favor or gift, which would have left the ownership unclear.

Why Genesis 23:13 matters

  • Genesis 23:13 clarifies that Abraham wanted a clear, legal claim to the burial site, not just a favor that could be questioned later.
  • The verse highlights Abraham’s integrity and respect for local customs by insisting on a public, witnessed transaction.
  • This moment sets up the rest of Genesis 23, where the purchase of the field is carefully recorded, emphasizing the importance of land ownership and legal agreements in Abraham’s story.

Where else these words appear

“Ephron” Hebrew H6085 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 23:8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
  • Genesis 23:16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
  • Genesis 49:30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.

“thee” Hebrew H3863 · used in 21 verses

  • Genesis 17:18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
  • Deuteronomy 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
  • Job 6:2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

“bury” Hebrew H6912 · used in 122 verses

  • Genesis 15:15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
  • Ruth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
  • 2 Kings 15:7 So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.