That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.

GENESIS 23:9KJV
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Genesis 23:9 (KJV)

What does Genesis 23:9 mean?

Genesis 23:9 records Abraham asking for the cave of Machpelah, located at the edge of a field, to be given to him for its full price so he can have a burial place among the people living there. Abraham wants to buy the property outright, making it a permanent possession for his family’s burial needs.

In this scene, Abraham is speaking to the sons of Heth, the local inhabitants, as he negotiates for a specific burial site for his wife Sarah. He names the cave (Machpelah) and its location (the end of a field), and insists on paying the full value, not accepting it as a gift. This careful approach shows his desire for a legal, recognized claim to the land, which is important for his family’s future in the area.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 23:9

  • "give" (נָתַן, natan, H5414): This word is often used for granting or transferring ownership, emphasizing Abraham’s request for a formal transaction rather than a favor.
  • "cave" (מְעָרָה, me‘arah, H4631): The specific mention of a cave highlights the type of burial place Abraham seeks, which was common for family tombs in that time.
  • "Machpelah" (מַכְפֵּלָה, Makhpelah, H4375): This is the name of the cave, meaning "double" or "folded," possibly referring to its structure, and it becomes a significant family burial site later in Genesis.
  • "possession" (אֲחֻזָּה, ’achuzzah, H272): This word means a permanent holding or inheritance, showing Abraham’s intent to secure lasting rights to the land, not just temporary use.

Why Genesis 23:9 matters

  • Genesis 23:9 clarifies that Abraham wants a legal, permanent right to the land, not just a temporary or honorary burial spot, which sets a precedent for property ownership in the Bible.
  • The verse highlights Abraham’s respect for local customs and laws, showing he seeks peaceful coexistence and fairness with the people of the land.
  • This request becomes the first recorded land purchase by Abraham in Canaan, marking a key moment in the unfolding story of his descendants’ connection to the land.

Where else these words appear

“Machpelah” Hebrew H4375 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 23:17 And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
  • 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 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.

“cave” Hebrew H4631 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 19:30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
  • Joshua 10:17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
  • 2 Samuel 23:13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

“possession” Hebrew H272 · used in 58 verses

  • Genesis 17:8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
  • Leviticus 25:45 Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.
  • Joshua 22:4 And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.

“buryingplace” Hebrew H6913 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 23:4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
  • 1 Kings 14:13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.
  • Job 17:1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.