Genesis 23:17

Verse

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

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

Bible in Basic English

So Ephron's field at Machpelah near Mamre, with the hollow in the rock and all the trees in the field and round it,

Douay-Rheims 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,

Free Bible Version

So the property was legally transferred. It comprised Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre, both the field and the cave there, as well as all the trees in the field, and all the area up to the existing boundaries.

Geneva Bible 1599

So the fielde of Ephron which was in Machpelah, and ouer against Mamre, euen the field and the caue that was therein, and all the trees that were in the fielde, which were in all the borders round about, was made sure

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ 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

One Unity Resource Bible

So the field of Ephron [Fawn-like], which was in Machpelah [Double], which was before Mamre [Bitter, Fatness], 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

Translation for Translators

So Ephron’s field in the Machpelah area, near Mamre, and the cave in the field, and all the trees that were in the field inside the boundaries of the land, became Abraham’s possession.

Unlocked Literal Bible

So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was next to Mamre, that is, the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field and all around its border, passed

Noah Webster Bible

And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure

World English Bible

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

Young's Literal Translation

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,

Context

The Death and Burial of Sarah

¹⁶Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.¹⁷So 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 over¹⁸to Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city.

Sermons

(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5

Chuck Smith

1.8K

Summary

In this verse, we see the conclusion of the account of Abraham purchasing a burial plot for his wife Sarah. The field and cave mentioned here were located in Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan. This act of securing a burial place signified Abraham's faith in God's promise of the land to his descendants and his respect for Sarah. It also foreshadows the Israelites' possession of the land in the future, as God's covenant with Abraham unfolds through generations.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

All the trees that were in the field - It is possible that all these were specified in the agreement.

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

"Thus arose (ויּקם) the field...to Abraham for a possession;" i.e., it was conveyed to him in all due legal form. The expression "the field of Ephron which is at Machpelah" may be explained, according to Gen 23:9, from the fact that the cave of Machpelah was at the end of the field, the field, therefore, belonged to it. In Gen 23:19 the shorter form, "cave of Machpelah," occurs; and in Gen 23:20 the field is distinguished from the cave. The name Machpelah is translated by the lxx as a common noun, τὸ σπήλαιον τὸ διπλοῦν, from מכפּלה doubling; but it had evidently grown into a proper name, since it is sued not only of the cave, but of the adjoining field also (Gen 49:30; Gen 50:13), though it undoubtedly originated in the form of the cave. The cave was before, i.e., probably to the east of, the grove of Mamre, which was in the district of Hebron. This description cannot be reconciled with the tradition, which identifies Mamre and the cave with Ramet el Khalil, where the strong foundation-walls of an ancient heathen temple (according to Rosenmller's conjecture, an Idumaean one) are still pointed out as Abraham's house, and where a very old terebinth stood in the early Christian times; for this is an hour's journey to the north of modern Hebron, and even the ancient Hebron cannot have stretched so far over the mountains which separate the modern city from Rameh, but must also, according to Gen 37:14, have been situated in the valley (see Robinson's later Biblical Researches, pp. 365ff.). There is far greater probability in the Mohammedan tradition, that the Harem, built of colossal blocks with grooved edges, which stands on the western slope of the Beabireh mountain, in the north-western portion of the present town, contains hidden within it the cave of Machpelah with the tomb of the patriarchs (cf. Robinson, Pal. ii. 435ff.); and Rosen. is induced to look for Mamre on the eastern slope of the Rumeidi hill, near to the remarkable well Ain el Jedid.

Genesis 23:17

The Death and Burial of Sarah

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version (1901)

Bible in Basic English

So Ephron's field at Machpelah near Mamre, with the hollow in the rock and all the trees in the field and round it,

Douay-Rheims 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,

Free Bible Version

Geneva Bible 1599

King James (Authorized) Version

One Unity Resource Bible

Translation for Translators

So Ephron’s field in the Machpelah area, near Mamre, and the cave in the field, and all the trees that were in the field inside the boundaries of the land, became Abraham’s possession.

Unlocked Literal Bible

So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was next to Mamre, that is, the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field and all around its border, passed

Noah Webster Bible

World English Bible

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

Young's Literal Translation

Adam Clarke
Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

All the trees that were in the field - It is possible that all these were specified in the agreement.

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Genesis 23:17

Verse

Context

The Death and Burial of Sarah

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Genesis 23:17

The Death and Burial of Sarah

(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary