Genesis 23:17 · Bible study
Genesis 23:17 Commentary: The Deed for Sarah's Burial Cave
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Genesis 23:17 records Abraham's legal purchase of the Machpelah cave.
Research Summary
- Meaning: This verse records the legal deed for Abraham’s purchase of the field and cave at Machpelah, witnessed by the Hittite community.
- Key words: Machpelah (proper place name, not “double cave”), field, cave, trees, borders, were deeded (וַיָּקָם, legally confirmed).
- Main debate: Whether Machpelah is a proper geographical name (Gill, Keil) or an appellative meaning “double cave” (Vulgate, LXX).
- Theological theme: God’s covenant faithfulness is demonstrated in a real, public transaction; Abraham’s faith acts through lawful and honest means.
- Best use: Preaching and teaching on the intersection of faith and practical obedience, God’s land promises, and the hope of resurrection.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So Ephron’s field at Machpelah near Mamre, the cave that was in it, and all the trees within the boundaries of the field were deeded over
WEB World English Bible 2000
So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded
KJV King James Version 1769
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
ASV American Standard Version 1901
So 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 border thereof round about, were made sure
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And established are the field of Ephron, which is in Machpelah, which is before Mamre, the field and the cave which is in it, and all the trees which are in the field, which are in all its border round about,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
So the field of Ephron, which was at Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all its borders round about,
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the field that before was Ephron's, wherein was the double cave, looking towards Mambre, both it and the cave, and all the trees thereof, in all its limits round about,
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y quedó la heredad de Ephrón que estaba en Macpela enfrente de Mamre, la heredad y la cueva que estaba en ella, y todos los árboles que había en la heredad, y en todo su término al derredor|strong="H1366, H5439",
E ficou a propriedade de Efrom que estava em Macpela em frente de Manre, a propriedade e a caverna que estava nela, e todas as árvores que havia na herança, e em todo o seu termo ao derredor,
Le champ d’ Éphron à Macpéla, vis-à-vis de Mamré, le champ et la caverne qui y est, et tous les arbres qui sont dans le champ et dans toutes ses limites alentour,
Also ward Ephrons Acker, darin die zwiefache Höhle ist, Mamre gegenüber, Abraham zum eigenen Gut bestätigt mit der Höhle darin und mit allen Bäumen auf dem Acker umher,
Alzo werd de akker van Efron, die in Machpela was, dat tegenover Mamre lag, de akker en de spelonk, die daarin was, en al het geboomte, dat op den akker stond, dat rondom in zijn ganse landpale was gevestigd,
Così il campo di Efron ch’era a Macpela dirimpetto a Mamre, il campo con la caverna che v’era, e tutti gli alberi ch’erano nel campo e in tutti i confini all’intorno,
I dostało się pole Efronowe ( które jest w Machpelu przeciwko Mamre, pole i jaskinia, która jest na niem, i wszystkie drzewa, które były na polu, które były na wszystkich granicach jego w około ) .
И стало поле Ефроново, которое при Махпеле, против Мамре, поле и пещера, которая на нем, и все деревья, которые на поле, во всех пределах его вокруг,
於是，麥比拉、幔利 前、以弗崙 的那塊田 和其 中 的洞，並田 間 四 圍的 樹木，
So Ephron's field at Machpelah near Mamre, with the hollow in the rock and all the trees in the field and round it,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Genesis 23:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Genesis 23:17 records a legally precise property deed. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes the “language of legal minuteness” and compares it to Babylonian sale contracts. Gill’s Exposition argues that Machpelah is a proper place name, not an adjective meaning “double”, since a field cannot lie inside a cave. Keil and Delitzsch describe the Hebrew verb וַיָּקָם ("and it was established") as conveying formal conveyance “in all due legal form.” Matthew Henry emphasizes the public nature of the transaction, done before the city gate witnesses. The consensus is that this verse documents Abraham’s first legally recognized property in Canaan, anchoring the covenant land promise in a concrete, historical purchase.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Abraham legally purchased the field and cave at Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite for Sarah's burial, witnessed publicly, and this became the family burial site for future patriarchs.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Machpelah as a name vs. description | Both views locate the site near Hebron as the burial cave of the patriarchs. | Gill and Keil insist Machpelah is a proper place name; the Vulgate and LXX translate it as “the double cave,” reflecting an understanding of its form. The Hebrew grammar permits either reading, but the phrase “field of Machpelah” supports a proper name (a field cannot be inside a cave). |
| The function of the legal language | All commentators agree the verse uses formal legal terminology to record a genuine purchase with witnesses. | Cambridge Bible and Keil see parallels to Hittite and Babylonian deeds; others (e.g., Matthew Henry) focus on the ethical lesson of transparent dealing. The degree of direct borrowing from ancient Near Eastern contract forms is debated among scholars. |
| Significance of the tree and boundary list | The details ensure no future disputes about the property’s extent. | Adam Clarke suggests the trees might have been itemized in an earlier written agreement. Some see it as a typical ancient boundary clause; others as emphasizing the completeness of Abraham’s possession. |
| Location of Mamre | Mamre is associated with Hebron (Genesis 13:18, 23:19). | Keil argues against the traditional site of Ramet el-Khalil (north of modern Hebron) and favors the Harem on the western slope. The Cambridge Bible notes “before Mamre” means “to the east of.” |
Historical & Cultural Context
The transaction takes place at the gate of Hebron, the civic and legal center of the Hittite community. In the ancient Near East, city gates functioned as courthouses and public record offices; witnesses gathered there to validate contracts (see Ruth 4:1, 12). The Hebrew verb translated “were deeded” or “made sure” is וַיָּקָם (Hiphil of קום), meaning “to cause to stand” or “to confirm legally.” It echoes the language of court-ratified deeds.
The description identifies the property by four coordinates: the field of Ephron, located at Machpelah, oriented “before Mamre” (east of Mamre, per the Cambridge Bible and Keil), and bounded by all its trees and borders. Such boundary clauses are common in ancient contracts; the mention of trees, even every tree, underscores the completeness of the transfer. Gill points out that Jarchi and Aben Ezra interpret the verb as “confirmed and stood,” ensuring that the land remained with Abraham.
Hebron (then called Kiriath-arba) was a prominent settlement. The cave of Machpelah would become the burial site for the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives (except Rachel). By securing this plot, Abraham was investing in the long-term promise: a burial place in the land that God swore to give his descendants. The purchase also reflects Hittite law, which recognized foreign ownership of land for burial, a point of courtesy that Abraham negotiated with humility and honor.
Keil and Delitzsch discuss the geographical debate: the traditional site (Ramet el-Khalil) versus the Harem in modern Hebron. Regardless of exact location, the narrative anchors the promise in a real, witnessed transfer of property.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew is well preserved. The main differences among English translations (KJV “made sure,” WEB “deeded,” YLT “established”) reflect different renderings of the same verb וַיָּקָם, not a textual issue.
Reception History
From ancient times, the cave of Machpelah has been venerated as the burial site of the patriarchs. The LXX translators rendered Machpelah as “the double cave,” reflecting a popular etymology that persisted through the Vulgate. Jewish exegetes such as Jarchi (Rashi) and Aben Ezra commented on the legal formula, emphasizing that the purchase was fully confirmed and stood firm. Reformation commentators like Matthew Henry used the passage to teach the importance of honest, public dealings and the connection between God’s promise and human action. In later centuries, the site was enclosed by the Haram al-Khalil, a structure revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The detailed deed has been seen as a historical anchor for the land promises, a testimony that God works through ordinary transactions to secure His covenant.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Faith pays the price. Abraham did not seize the cave by conquest or claim it by promise, he weighed out full, current silver. Faith works through lawful means.
- God’s promises pass through public, legal channels. The transaction was witnessed by the sons of Heth “before all who went in at the gate.” Divine promises often unfold through human legal systems.
- Burial in the land declares hope in the resurrection. Abraham buried Sarah in the land of promise, trusting that God would raise the dead and give the whole land to his seed.
Five-point outline
- The deed: every detail recorded (field, cave, trees, borders).
- The price: 400 shekels of silver, current with the merchant.
- The witnesses: the Hittite community at the gate.
- The purpose: a burial place for Sarah, and eventually for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives.
- The legacy: the only land Abraham ever owned in Canaan, a down payment on the covenant inheritance.
Illustration hooks
- A family visits the county recorder’s office to search the deed to their home. Every boundary, easement, and previous owner is on file. That level of detail matters because the home is an anchor for the family’s future.
- An immigrant family saves for years to buy a small plot of land in a new country. The title deed represents not just soil but belonging, a legal foothold in a promised home.
- A cemetery plot is purchased decades before one’s death. The act of buying the grave is an act of hope: someone will live on, and the body will rest in a place that matters.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Bible spend a whole chapter on a real estate deal? Doesn’t it seem boring or trivial?
- If God promised Abraham all of Canaan, why did he have to buy a tiny piece for Sarah’s burial? Doesn’t that mean the promise had failed?
- What does this ancient transaction have to do with my life today, especially with my finances, property, or future?
Leading a Discussion
This passage might feel like a dry legal document, but it reveals how faith operates in the messy, practical details of life. Abraham had been promised the whole land, but he still paid full price for a cave. He trusted God for tomorrow and dealt honestly today. Use these questions to explore the connection between divine promises and human responsibility.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What items are listed in the deed? Why do you think the writer included such specific details (field, cave, trees, borders)?
- Observation: Who witnessed the transaction? Why was public witnessing important in that culture?
- Interpretation: The Hebrew verb for “were deeded” (וַיָּקָם) means “to cause to stand” or “to confirm.” How does this word fit the idea of a legal transfer?
- Interpretation: Compare this purchase with God’s earlier promise in Genesis 13:14-17. How does buying a small burial plot relate to the promise of all the land?
- Interpretation: Abraham refused to accept the cave as a gift (vv. 8-13). Why do you think he insisted on paying the full price? What does that say about his character?
- Application: In what areas of life do we need to combine faith in God’s promises with practical, responsible action (e.g., finances, relationships, work)?
- Application: Abraham’s first legal possession in the Promised Land was a grave. What does that tell you about the Christian hope of resurrection and eternal life?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 23:20 | 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. |
| Genesis 25:9 | Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near Mamre, |
| Genesis 49:29 | He instructed them, and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, |
| Genesis 49:32 | the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth.” |
| Genesis 50:13 | for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, as a possession for a burial site, from Ephron the Hittite, near Mamre. |
| Ruth 4:7 | Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel. |
| Ruth 4:10 | Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.” |
| Psalms 112:5 | It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke suggests that the phrase referring to all the trees in the field may have originally named specific trees that were part of a formal agreement. He leaves this as a possibility rather than a certainty.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary highlights the legal precision of the purchase description, noting its close resemblance to Babylonian sales contracts of the same period. It draws attention to the specific, almost legalistic terms used: the field, the cave, every tree, the full border, and the witnesses from the city gate.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight the extraordinary detail of the transaction, noting that it specifies not just the field and cave but also the trees and all borders. This thoroughness underscores that the purchase was legally complete and irrevocable, leaving no room for future dispute. Abraham secured a permanent, undisputed burial site.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill insists that Machpelah is a place name, not a description meaning "double cave." He points out that a field cannot be inside a cave, so the cave must be inside the field. The Hebrew verb for "were made sure" means the property was legally confirmed and permanently established for Abraham.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch carefully traces the geography of Machpelah, noting the name originally meant "doubling" and came to refer to both cave and field. They reject the traditional site at Ramet el Khalil as inconsistent with the biblical description, finding greater evidence for the cave within the Harem in modern Hebron.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange observes that after Abraham's climactic act of faith, the story shifts to ordinary human affairs like death, burial, and family news rather than further miracles. He sees this as
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the deliberate openness and honesty of Abraham's transaction. Though all Canaan was promised to him, Abraham still paid fairly and publicly for what he needed, showing that God's promises do not justify dishonesty in daily business dealings. A clear conscience welcomes witnesses.