Genesis 23:3
◄  Genesis 23:3  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said,

New Living Translation (©2007)
Then, leaving her body, he said to the Hittite elders,

English Standard Version (©2001)
And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then Abraham rose from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites:"

International Standard Version (©2012)
Then Abraham stood up from beside his dead wife and addressed the Hittites. He said,

NET Bible (©2006)
Then Abraham got up from mourning his dead wife and said to the sons of Heth,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Then Abraham left the side of his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites,

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke unto the sons of Heth, saying,

American King James Version
And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

American Standard Version
And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spake unto the children of Heth, saying,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And after he rose up from the funeral obsequies, he spoke to the children of Heth, saying:

Darby Bible Translation
And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

English Revised Version
And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spake unto the children of Heth, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

World English Bible
Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the children of Heth, saying,

Young's Literal Translation
And Abraham riseth up from the presence of his dead, and speaketh unto the sons of Heth, saying,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:1-13 The longest life must shortly come to a close. Blessed be God that there is a world where sin, death, vanity, and vexation cannot enter. Blessed be his name, that even death cannot part believers from union with Christ. Those whom we most love, yea, even our own bodies, which we so care for, must soon become loathsome lumps of clays, and be buried out of sight. How loose then should we be to all earthly attachments and adornments! Let us seek rather that our souls be adorned with heavenly graces. Abraham rendered honour and respect to the princes of Heth, although of the ungodly Canaanites. The religion of the Bible enjoins to pay due respect to all in authority, without flattering their persons, or countenancing their crimes if they are unworthy characters. And the noble generosity of these Canaanites shames and condemns the closeness, selfishness, and ill-humour of many that call themselves Israelites. It was not in pride that Abraham refused the gift, because he scorned to be beholden to Ephron; but in justice and in prudence. Abraham was able to pay for the field, and therefore would not take advantage of Ephron's generosity. Honesty, as well as honour, forbids us to take advantage of our neighbour's liberality, and to impose, upon those who give freely.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - And Abraham stood up - during the days of mourning he had been sitting on the ground; and now, his grief having moderated (Calvin), he goes out to the city gate - from before (literally, from over the face of) his dead, - "Sarah, though dead, was still his" (Wordsworth) - and spake unto the sons of Heth. - the Hittites were descendants of Heth, the son of Canaan (vide Genesis 10:15). Cf. "daughters of Heth" (Genesis 27:46) and "daughters of Canaan" (Genesis 28:1) - saying.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Abraham stood up from before his dead,.... The corpse of Sarah, by which he sat pensive and mourning, perhaps upon the ground, as was the custom of mourners, Job 1:13; where having sat awhile, he rose up and went out of the tent, to provide for the funeral of his wife as became him:

and spake unto the sons of Heth; the descendants of Heth the son of Canaan, see Genesis 10:15; who were at this time the inhabitants and proprietors of that part of the land where Abraham now was: saying; as follows:

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Ge 23:3-20. Purchase of a Burying-Place.

3. Abraham stood up, &c.—Eastern people are always provided with family burying-places; but Abraham's life of faith—his pilgrim state—had prevented him acquiring even so small a possession (Ac 7:5).

spake unto the sons of Heth—He bespoke their kind offices to aid him in obtaining possession of a cave that belonged to Ephron—a wealthy neighbor.

Genesis 23:3 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Death and Burial of Sarah
1And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 3And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, …

Genesis 10:15 Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,
Genesis 15:20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
Genesis 25:10 the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah.
Genesis 49:30 the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite.
1 Samuel 26:6 David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?" "I'll go with you," said Abishai.