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The Death and Burial of Sarah
…13and said to Ephron in their presence, “If you will please listen to me, I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.”14EphronansweredAbraham,15“Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”…

Treasury of Scripture

And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,

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AbrahamEphronAbrahamEphron1.The age and death of Sarah.
3.The purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah;
19.where Sarah is buried.

Ephron answered Abraham,
In the context ofGenesis 23, Abraham is negotiating the purchase of a burial site for his wife, Sarah, who has just passed away. Ephron the Hittite is the owner of the field and cave that Abraham desires. This interaction takes place in the region of Hebron, specifically in the land of Canaan, which is significant as it is part of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants by God (Genesis 12:7). The Hittites were a prominent group in the region, and their presence here indicates the diverse cultural and ethnic landscape of Canaan during this period.

Ephron's response to Abraham is part of a formal negotiation process typical of ancient Near Eastern customs. The dialogue reflects the cultural norms of hospitality and respect, as well as the legal practices of the time. In this era, property transactions were often conducted at the city gate in the presence of witnesses, ensuring the legitimacy and public acknowledgment of the agreement.

The interaction between Ephron and Abraham also highlights the theme of faith and promise. Although Abraham is a sojourner in the land, he acts with the assurance that God will fulfill His promise to give this land to his descendants. This purchase of a burial site is a tangible expression of Abraham's faith in God's covenant.

In a broader biblical context, this passage foreshadows the eventual possession of the land by the Israelites. It also connects to the theme of God's faithfulness in providing for His people, as seen throughout the Old Testament. Additionally, the purchase of the cave of Machpelah becomes a significant ancestral burial site, later used for Abraham himself, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah, underscoring the continuity of God's promises through generations.

From a typological perspective, Abraham's actions can be seen as a precursor to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus Christ. Just as Abraham secured a place in the promised land for his family, Christ secures an eternal inheritance for believers. The negotiation and purchase signify the certainty and permanence of God's covenant, which is fully realized in the New Testament through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.1.Ephron
A Hittite who owned the field and cave of Machpelah, which Abraham sought to purchase as a burial site for his wife, Sarah. Ephron's interaction with Abraham is a key part of the negotiation process.

2.Abraham
The patriarch of the Israelites, known for his faith and obedience to God. In this chapter, he is negotiating the purchase of a burial site for Sarah, demonstrating his respect and love for her.

3.Sarah
Abraham's wife, whose death prompts the events of this chapter. Her burial site becomes significant in the history of the patriarchs.

4.Hittites
A group of people living in Canaan during Abraham's time. They are the people from whom Abraham seeks to purchase the burial site.

5.Machpelah
The field and cave that Abraham wishes to buy from Ephron. It becomes the family burial site for the patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel.Respect for the Dead
Abraham's actions demonstrate the importance of honoring loved ones in death, reflecting a deep respect for family and tradition.

Integrity in Transactions
Abraham's negotiation with Ephron shows the value of conducting business with integrity and fairness, even when dealing with those outside one's faith community.

Faith in God's Promises
Abraham's purchase of land in Canaan, despite not yet possessing the promised land, is an act of faith in God's promises for the future.

Community Relations
The interaction between Abraham and the Hittites illustrates the importance of maintaining respectful and peaceful relationships with those of different backgrounds and beliefs.1.What is the meaning of Genesis 23:14?

2.How does Genesis 23:14 demonstrate the importance of fair transactions in life?

3.What can we learn from Abraham's negotiation approach in Genesis 23:14?

4.How does Genesis 23:14 connect to biblical teachings on honesty and integrity?

5.In what ways can we apply Abraham's patience in negotiations today?

6.How does Genesis 23:14 reflect God's provision in Abraham's life?

7.How does Genesis 23:14 reflect ancient Near Eastern customs in property transactions?

8.What does Genesis 23:14 reveal about Abraham's relationship with the Hittites?

9.Why is the negotiation in Genesis 23:14 significant for understanding biblical land ownership?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 23?

11.Is there any record outside the Bible proving Abraham's transaction with Ephron the Hittite mentioned in Genesis 23?

12.Why does the narrative in Genesis 23 seem to contradict other passages suggesting Abraham freely inherited Canaan?

13.How can we verify the historical accuracy of the Hittites' presence in Hebron as mentioned in Genesis 23:3-10?

14.What is the history of the Hittites?Ephron

Ephron is introduced here as a real, identifiable Hittite landowner whose field includes the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:9).

• His presence affirms that Abraham is negotiating with a legitimate, local authority, just as later biblical figures would deal with landowners (cf.1 Kings 21:2;Jeremiah 32:7).

• Genesis repeatedly names Ephron (23:15–17; 25:9), underlining the historical accuracy of the transaction and the permanence of Abraham’s legal claim to the burial site, later referenced when Jacob requests burial there (Genesis 49:31).

• The scene underscores God’s provision: the Lord had promised land to Abraham (Genesis 17:8), and here a piece of it becomes his first permanent holding.

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answered

“And Ephron answered…” signals the formal start of negotiations, typical of covenant-style exchanges in the ancient Near East.

• The public response takes place “in the hearing of the sons of Heth” (Genesis 23:10), ensuring witnesses—much like Boaz later secures witnesses at Bethlehem’s gate (Ruth 4:9–11).

• A respectful reply fitsProverbs 15:23, “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply,” and models the transparent, yes-means-yes communication Christ commends inMatthew 5:37.

• Ephron’s answer sets the tone for a courteous yet earnest bargaining process that will culminate in Abraham paying the full price, illustratingRomans 12:17, “Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”

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Abraham

The verse closes by naming Abraham, reminding readers whose faith journey is center stage.

• Earlier he declared himself “a foreigner and stranger among you” (Genesis 23:4), yet he behaves with honor, mirroring1 Peter 2:12’s call for godly conduct among the nations.

• His determination to secure a family burial site shows foresight;Hebrews 11:9–10 notes he lived as an heir of a promise still future, yet he acted in the present with responsible stewardship.

• The negotiation highlights Abraham’s integrity—he refuses a gift (Genesis 23:13) and insists on paying, a pattern echoed when David buys Araunah’s threshing floor (2 Samuel 24:24).

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summary

Genesis 23:14, a brief line—“And Ephron answered Abraham.”—opens a respectful, witnessed negotiation between a Hittite landowner and the patriarch. Ephron’s presence verifies the historical land purchase, his answer models transparent dialogue, and Abraham’s involvement displays faith-filled integrity. Together these elements show God quietly fulfilling His covenant promise by granting Abraham a tangible foothold in the promised land.

Verses 14, 15. -And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. The word "shekel," fromshakal, to weigh, here used for the first time, was not a stamped coin, but a piece of metal of definite weight, according toExodus 30:13, equal to twenty gerahs, or beans, fromgarar, to roll. Coined money was unknown to the Hebrews until after the captivity. In the time of the Maccabees (1 Macc. 15:6) silver coins were struck bearing the inscriptionשקל ישראל. According to Josephus (Ant., iii. 8, 2) the shekel in use in his day was equal to four Athenian drachmae; and if, as is believed, these were one-fifth larger than the old shekels coined by Simon Maccabeus, the weight of the latter would be equal to three and one-third drachms, or two hundred grains, reckoning sixty grains to a drachm. It is impossible to ascertain the weight of the shekel current with the merchant in the time of Abraham; but reckoning it at a little less than 2s. 6d. sterling, the price of Ephron's field must have been somewhat under £50; a very consider able sum of money, which the Hittite merchant begins to depreciate by representing as a trifle, saying,What is that betwixt me and thee? - words which are still heard in the East on similar occasions (vide ' Land and Book,' p. 578) -bury therefore thy dead.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Ephron
עֶפְר֛וֹן(‘ep̄·rō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6085:Ephron -- a Hittite, also a mountain and a place in Israel

answered
וַיַּ֧עַן(way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030:To answer, respond

Abraham,
אַבְרָהָ֖ם(’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85:Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation


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OT Law: Genesis 23:14 Ephron answered Abraham saying to him (Gen. Ge Gn)