Genesis 23:15-16
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Ephron offers the land and cave for a substantial sum, but then immediately dismisses the price as insignificant between them. This subtle shift reveals his strategy: first, he publicly establishes a value for the property, making the transaction appear legitimate and non-exploitative, before downplaying the monetary aspect to appear generous.
“My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Sarah's death, Abraham publicly requests a burial place from the local Hittite people, emphasizing his status as a sojourner in their land. Though they graciously offer him choice burial spots, Abraham specifically seeks Ephron's cave of Machpelah, insisting on paying its full value to secure it as his own possession. Ephron then proposes a price, which Abraham readily agrees to pay, leading to the formal purchase and confirmation of the land for Abraham's family.
Abraham needed a place to bury Sarah, but this wasn't just about dirt and a cave. It was a pivotal moment that spoke volumes about his faith and future.
In Genesis 23, Abraham is a 'stranger and sojourner' in the land God promised him. When Sarah dies, he needs a burial place. He could have accepted a gift, but he insisted on buying land, paying the full price.
Why Buy, Not Accept?
Ephron names a price, but then says, 'what is that between you and me?' Was he being generous, or was there more to this interaction?
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The interaction between Ephron the Hittite and Abraham is fascinating. Ephron initially offers the land and cave freely (Genesis 23:11). However, Abraham, as a man of integrity and faith, insists on paying. Ephron then names a price: 'four hundred shekels of silver.'
The Ambiguity of the Offer
Abraham's response – weighing out the exact amount – shows he understood the value of the land as an inheritance and the importance of a legitimate purchase, even while acknowledging the gracious offer.
Understand the original words
keseph · Hebrew Noun
The medium of exchange in antiquity, often weighed in units, symbolizing value and facilitating commerce, legal agreements, and the transfer of land ownership.
sheqel · Hebrew Noun
A standard unit of weight (approx. 11-12 grams) used for precious metals; in the Old Testament, it serves as the common currency for significant transactions, such as the purchase of property.
Avraham · Hebrew Proper Noun
A reference to the patriarch of the Jewish people and the father of all who believe. He is the central figure in the early chapters of Genesis, defined by his faith in God’s promises and his role as the recipient of the Abrahamic Covenant.
kesef · Hebrew Noun
A precious metal often used as currency in the ancient Near East. In a biblical context, it frequently represents value, redemption, or the material wealth used in trade and temple construction.
sheqel · Hebrew Noun
A unit of weight or currency used in the ancient Near East. It was standard for trade and legal transactions, representing a specific value of precious metal.
Hitti · Hebrew Proper Noun/Adjective
A member of the people group inhabiting the land of Canaan during the time of the patriarchs. They are presented as a settled society with established legal, economic, and social customs.
The transaction for Sarah's burial site highlights Abraham's status as a foreigner and his commitment to acquiring land in Canaan, foreshadowing his descendants' future inheritance.
c. 2000-1800 BC
Abraham's Journey to Canaan
Abraham arrives in Canaan, a land inhabited by various peoples including the Hittites, and begins his journey of faith, living as a sojourner without a permanent land of his own.
c. 1800 BC— this verse
Sarah's Death and Burial
Sarah dies at 127 years old in Hebron. Abraham, as a foreigner, must negotiate with the local Hittite people to purchase a burial site, the cave of Machpelah.
c. 1800 BC
Purchase of Machpelah
Abraham successfully purchases the cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite for 400 shekels of silver, establishing the first ancestral burial ground for his family in the land of Canaan.
This passage recounts Abraham's purchase of the burial site, highlighting his status as a sojourner and emphasizing that this was the first piece of land he possessed in the land of Canaan, directly connecting to the significance of the purchase in Genesis 23.
Jeremiah 10:24While this verse is a prayer for correction, it echoes the sentiment of Abraham's plea for guidance and the recognition of human frailty, mirroring the humility Abraham displayed when dealing with the Hittites and the weight of his loss.
Romans 4:13This verse speaks to the promise given to Abraham and his offspring to inherit the world, which is rooted in faith and not the law. The purchase of the burial cave, a significant act of faith and long-term planning, foreshadows this larger inheritance promised to Abraham's descendants.
2 Samuel 24:24This passage describes David purchasing the threshing floor from Araunah the Jebusite for a burial site, mirroring the transaction in Genesis 23. Both accounts show a patriarch acquiring land for burial, with a similar emphasis on the price and the respect shown between buyer and seller.
cambridgeGenesis 23:15: "My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead."
15 . worth four hundred shekels of silver ] About £ 55. See note on Genesis 20:16 . On the Hebrew value of a shekel , cf. Exodus 30:13 , Ezekiel 45:12 . In 2 Samuel 24:24 David buys the threshing-floor and the oxen of Araunah for 50 shekels of silver. In the Code of Hammurabi a hireling would not receive more than I shekel a month as wages (S. A…
calvinGenesis 23:1-20: "And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah."
Et mortua Sarah in Cirjath -- arbah: ipsa est Hebron in terra Chenaan. Et venit Abraham ad plangendum super Sarah, et ad lugendam eam.
And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,
Deinde surrexit Abraham a facie mortui sui, et loquutus est ad filios Heth, dicendo,
I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possessio…
Ephron offers the land and cave for a substantial sum, but then immediately dismisses the price as insignificant between them. This subtle shift reveals his strategy: first, he publicly establishes a value for the property, making the transaction appear legitimate and non-exploitative, before downplaying the monetary aspect to appear generous.
After Sarah's death, Abraham publicly requests a burial place from the local Hittite people, emphasizing his status as a sojourner in their land. Though they graciously offer him choice burial spots, Abraham specifically seeks Ephron's cave of Machpelah, insisting on paying its full value to secure it as his own possession. Ephron then proposes a price, which Abraham readily agrees to pay, leading to the formal purchase and confirmation of the land for Abraham's family.
After Sarah's death, Abraham publicly requests a burial place from the local Hittite people, emphasizing his status as a sojourner in their land. Though they graciously offer him choice burial spots, Abraham specifically seeks Ephron's cave of Machpelah, insisting on paying its full value to secure it as his own possession. Ephron then proposes a price, which Abraham readily agrees to pay, leading to the formal purchase and confirmation of the land for Abraham's family.
"“My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of t…" — Ephron offers the land and cave for a substantial sum, but then immediately dismisses the price as insignificant between them. This subtle shift reveals his strategy: first, he publicly establishes a…
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Last reviewed October 2026
