Genesis 23:10
8 “If you are willing for me to bury my dead,” he said to them, “listen to me, and approach Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf
9 to sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence for full price, so that I may have a burial site.”
Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham,
11 “No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”
12 Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham,
- KJV
- And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
- WEB
- Now Ephron was sitting in the middle of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying,
- ASV
- Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
- DARBY
- And Ephron was dwelling among the sons of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham, in the ears of the sons of Heth, [even] of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
- BLB
- And Ephron was sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the ears of the sons of Heth—of all those entering at the gate of his city—saying,
- ÅB
- Men Efron satt midt iblant Hets barn; og Efron, hetitten, svarte Abraham så Hets barn hørte på det, alle de som hørte hjemme i hans by, og sa:
- OTB
- Efron satt blant hetittene, og han svarte Abraham mens alle hetittene som hadde kommet til byporten hans hørte det, og sa,
- B1930
- Men Efron satt midt iblandt Hets barn; og Efron, hetitten, svarte Abraham så Hets barn hørte på det, alle de som hørte hjemme i hans by, og sa:
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 34:20
So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and addressed the men of their city:
Read in contextGenesis 34:24
All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male of the city was circumcised.
Read in contextGenesis 23:18
to Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city.
Read in contextMatthew 9:1
Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town.
Read in contextRuth 4:1–4
Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.
Read in contextLuke 2:3–4
And everyone went to his own town to register.
Read in contextJob 29:7
When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
Read in contextIsaiah 28:6
a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.
Read in context