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)
What's easy to miss is that Abraham "weighed" the silver, not counted it. This highlights that coins weren't yet standardized, so precious metals were exchanged by weight, demonstrating a practical aspect of ancient commerce. The phrase "current money with the merchant" emphasizes that the silver's value was determined by its quality and weight as accepted by traders, showing a trust-based system in commerce.
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)
Abraham agrees to Ephron's price for the field and cave, meticulously weighing out the four hundred shekels of silver. This transaction, conducted publicly before the Hittite community, marks the formal completion of the purchase, establishing it as a legitimate possession before witnesses and ensuring Abraham has a place to bury his beloved Sarah. The narrative emphasizes the practice of payment by weight in this era and the importance of public affirmation for the transfer of property.
Why didn't Abraham just hand over some coins? Discover the ancient way of commerce and what it reveals about Abraham's character.
Money Without Minting
In Abraham's day, coinage as we know it wasn't common. Money wasn't stamped with a face value; it was precious metal – like silver – that had to be measured. The word 'shekel' itself means 'weight.' So, when Abraham 'weighed out' the silver, he was using scales to ensure the exact amount and purity of the metal was given to Ephron.
More Than Just Payment
This act of weighing wasn't just about practicalities. It was a sign of integrity. Abraham wasn't trying to cheat or shortchange Ephron. He was openly and meticulously fulfilling his agreement in front of witnesses. This meticulousness highlights his commitment to doing business honorably, even in a significant transaction like purchasing a burial site.
Why were the Hittites present for Abraham's purchase? Learn how public transactions built trust and secured legitimacy.
The 'Hearing of the Hittites'
The phrase 'in the hearing of the Hittites' isn't just incidental detail. In a time before formal contracts and legal documents were standardized, public witness was crucial. Having the transaction occur 'in the audience of the sons of Heth' – the local people – meant that the deal was seen, heard, and acknowledged by the community.
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Securing the Possession
This public acknowledgment served as a form of legal validation. It ensured that Ephron couldn't later deny the sale or the price, and that Abraham's claim to the land would be recognized by the local inhabitants. The text later confirms this, stating the field and cave 'were made sure unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth.' This highlights the importance of community oversight in solidifying agreements.
Understand the original words
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 highlights that Abraham, despite being a 'stranger and sojourner,' was a person of immense wealth and status, able to conduct significant business with established local powers using the standard commercial practices of the time.
c. 2091 BC
Abraham called out of Ur
God calls Abraham from his homeland to a land He promises to give him and his descendants. This marks the beginning of Abraham's journey of faith and his life as a sojourner.
c. 1800 BC
Code of Hammurabi
This Babylonian legal code, though later than Abraham, provides context for the established legal and commercial practices of the ancient Near East, including the use of weighed silver for transactions.
c. 1800 BC - 1500 BC
Hittite civilization flourishes
The Hittites were a prominent people in Anatolia and the Levant during this period. Abraham interacts with 'the sons of Heth,' indicating their presence and influence in Canaan.
c. 2000-1800 BC— this verse
Sarah dies at Hebron
Sarah, Abraham's wife, dies at the age of 127 in Hebron (Kirjath-Arba). This event prompts Abraham to seek a permanent burial place.
c. 2000-1800 BC
Abraham purchases the Cave of Machpelah
Abraham negotiates with Ephron the Hittite and pays four hundred shekels of silver, weighed by merchants' standards, for the cave of Machpelah and the surrounding field, establishing his first land ownership in Canaan.
This passage shows a similar practice of weighing silver for a land purchase, highlighting that Abraham's transaction wasn't unique but part of a long-standing custom of verifying payment by weight.
Matthew 13:22Jesus uses the parable of the sower to describe how the 'cares of the world' can choke out the word, paralleling the concern for earthly possessions and transactions, like Abraham's purchase, that can distract from spiritual realities.
Acts 7:16Stephen's speech directly recounts this event, emphasizing that Abraham purchased the burial place from the sons of Heth, corroborating the historical details and its significance in the narrative.
2 Corinthians 9:7This verse speaks of giving generously and cheerfully, reflecting Abraham's willingness to pay the full, stated price for the land, demonstrating integrity in his dealings.
cambridgeGenesis 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."
16 . weighed ] The scales were ready. “Weighed” is the appropriate word for the payment of money in days when money was not coined. Coined money seems not to have been in use among the Israelites before the Exile. The price of an article was reckoned by the weight of metal—silver or…
ellicottGenesis 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."
(16) Abraham weighed . . . current money with the merchant. —Shekel literally means weight, and money was not coined until long afterwards. In the last clause, by inserting money our version antedates facts. According to the Hebrew, it was the silver that was current with the merchan…
What's easy to miss is that Abraham "weighed" the silver, not counted it. This highlights that coins weren't yet standardized, so precious metals were exchanged by weight, demonstrating a practical aspect of ancient commerce. The phrase "current money with the merchant" emphasizes that the silver's value was determined by its quality and weight as accepted by traders, showing a trust-based system in commerce.
Abraham agrees to Ephron's price for the field and cave, meticulously weighing out the four hundred shekels of silver. This transaction, conducted publicly before the Hittite community, marks the formal completion of the purchase, establishing it as a legitimate possession before witnesses and ensuring Abraham has a place to bury his beloved Sarah. The narrative emphasizes the practice of payment by weight in this era and the importance of public affirmation for the transfer of property.
Abraham agrees to Ephron's price for the field and cave, meticulously weighing out the four hundred shekels of silver. This transaction, conducted publicly before the Hittite community, marks the formal completion of the purchase, establishing it as a legitimate possession before witnesses and ensuring Abraham has a place to bury his beloved Sarah. The narrative emphasizes the practice of payment by weight in this era and the importance of public affirmation for the transfer of property.
"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." — What's easy to miss is that Abraham "weighed" the silver, not counted it. This highlights that coins weren't yet standardized, so precious metals were exchanged by weight, demonstrating a practical a…
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Last reviewed October 2026