Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “No, my lord,” he said. “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.” New Living Translation “No, my lord,” he said to Abraham, “please listen to me. I will give you the field and the cave. Here in the presence of my people, I give it to you. Go and bury your dead.” English Standard Version “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” Berean Standard Bible “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.” Berean Literal Bible “No, my lord, hear me: The field I give to you, and the cave that is in it I give it to you; before the eyes of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.” King James Bible Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead. New King James Version “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!” New American Standard Bible “No, my lord, listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.” NASB 1995 “No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.” NASB 1977 “No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.” Legacy Standard Bible “No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.” Amplified Bible “No, my lord, hear me; I give you the [entire] field, and I also give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the men of my people I give (sell) it to you; bury your dead [there].” Berean Annotated Bible “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. Christian Standard Bible “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 sight of my people. Bury your dead.” Holman Christian Standard Bible 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.” American Standard Version Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the children of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead. Contemporary English Version "Sir, the whole field, including the cave, is yours. With my own people as witnesses, I freely give it to you as a burial place for your dead." English Revised Version Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead. GOD'S WORD® Translation "No, sir, listen to me. I'm giving you the field together with the cave that is in it. My people are witnesses that I'm giving it to you. Bury your wife!" Good News Translation "Listen, sir; I will give you the whole field and the cave that is in it. Here in the presence of my own people, I will give it to you, so that you can bury your wife." International Standard Version "No, sir. Listen to me! I'll give you the field, and I'll give you the cave that's in it. I give it to you publicly, in the sight of my people. Bury your dead." NET Bible "No, my lord! Hear me out. I sell you both the field and the cave that is in it. In the presence of my people I sell it to you. Bury your dead." New Heart English Bible "No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead." Webster's Bible Translation Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I to thee, and the cave that is in it, I give it to thee; in the presence of the sons of my people I give it to thee: bury thy dead. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“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.” World English Bible “No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“No, my lord, hear me: the field I have given to you, and the cave that [is] in it, to you I have given it; before the eyes of the sons of my people I have given it to you—bury your dead.” Berean Literal Bible “No, my lord, hear me: The field I give to you, and the cave that is in it I give it to you; before the eyes of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.” Young's Literal Translation Nay, my lord, hear me: the field I have given to thee, and the cave that is in it, to thee I have given it; before the eyes of the sons of my people I have given it to thee -- bury thy dead.' Smith's Literal Translation Nay, lord, hear me; the field I gave thee, and the cave which is in it, to thee I gave it before the eyes of the sons of my people; I gave to thee: bury thy dead. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleLet it not be so, my lord, but do thou rather hearken to what I say: The field I deliver to thee, and the cave that is therein, in the presence of the children of my people, bury thy dead. Catholic Public Domain Version “Let it never be so, my lord, but you should pay greater heed to what I say. The field I will transfer to you, and the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people, bury your dead.” New American Bible “Please, sir, listen to me! I give you both the field and the cave in it; in the presence of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead!” New Revised Standard Version “No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it; in the presence of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleNo, my lord, listen to me; I will give you the field and the cave which is in it, I will give it to you; in the presence of my people I give it to you; bury your dead. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated “No, my Lord, hear me; I have given you the field and I have given the cave in it to you before my sons with me; I give it to you; bury your dead.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee; bury thy dead.' Brenton Septuagint Translation Attend to me, my lord, and hear me, I give to thee the field and the cave which is in it; I have given it thee before all my country men; bury thy dead. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Death and Burial of Sarah…10Now 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.” 12Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land… Cross References No, my lord. 1 Samuel 1:15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. 2 Kings 4:16 And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.” Listen to me. Job 21:2 “Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me. Job 13:6 Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. Genesis 49:29-32 Then Jacob instructed them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. / The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site. / There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried, and there I buried Leah. … Ruth 4:3-4 And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. / I thought I should inform you that you may buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do so. But if you will not redeem it, tell me so I may know, because there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” “I will redeem it,” he replied. Jeremiah 32:6-15 Jeremiah replied, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying: / Behold! Hanamel, the son of your uncle Shallum, is coming to you to say, ‘Buy for yourself my field in Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it.’ / Then, as the LORD had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and urged me, ‘Please buy my field in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for you own the right of inheritance and redemption. Buy it for yourself.’” Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. … I give it to you in the presence of my people. Ruth 4:9-11 At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. / Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.” / “We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem. Joshua 24:26-27 Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was near the sanctuary of the LORD. / And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God.” Bury your dead. Genesis 47:29-30 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, / but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.” 1 Kings 13:31-32 After he had buried him, the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, you must bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones, / for the message that he cried out by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel and against all the shrines on the high places in the cities of Samaria will surely come to pass.” Genesis 50:5-6 my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.” / Pharaoh replied, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.” 2 Samuel 24:24 “No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 1 Chronicles 21:24 “No,” replied King David, “I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the LORD what belongs to you, nor will I offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” Jeremiah 32:9-12 So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out seventeen shekels of silver. / I signed and sealed the deed, called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. / Then I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy with its terms and conditions, as well as the open copy— … Acts 7:16 Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver. Treasury of Scripture No, my lord, hear me: the field give I you, and the cave that is therein, I give it you; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it you: bury your dead. my lord. Genesis 23:6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. 2 Samuel 24:20-24 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground… 1 Chronicles 21:22-24 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people… in the. Genesis 23:18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. Numbers 35:30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. Deuteronomy 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. Jump to Previous Bury Cave Children Dead Eyes Field Hear Hollow Presence Resting-Place Rock ThereinJump to Next Bury Cave Children Dead Eyes Field Hear Hollow Presence Resting-Place Rock ThereinGenesis 23 1. The age and death of Sarah.3. The purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah; 19. where Sarah is buried. No, my lord. This phrase reflects the cultural norms of ancient Near Eastern societies, where showing respect and deference was crucial in negotiations. The term "lord" here is a title of respect, not necessarily indicating a feudal relationship. It highlights the courteous and formal nature of the interaction between Ephron the Hittite and Abraham. 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. Persons / Places / Events 1. Abraham- A patriarch of the Hebrew faith, known for his faithfulness and obedience to God. In this chapter, he seeks to purchase a burial site for his wife, Sarah. 2. Ephron the Hittite - A local Hittite landowner who offers to give Abraham the field and cave of Machpelah as a burial site for Sarah. 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. Machpelah - The field and cave that Abraham seeks to acquire for Sarah's burial. It is located near Hebron in the land of Canaan. 5. Hittites - The people among whom Abraham is living at this time. They are descendants of Heth and are part of the larger Canaanite population. Teaching Points Generosity and IntegrityEphron's offer to give the land to Abraham without cost demonstrates a spirit of generosity. As Christians, we are called to be generous and to act with integrity in our dealings with others. Respect for the Dead Abraham's desire to secure a proper burial site for Sarah shows the importance of honoring loved ones in death. This respect is a reflection of the value God places on human life. Faith in God's Promises Abraham's actions are rooted in his faith in God's promises regarding the land. We are encouraged to trust in God's promises, even when they are not immediately fulfilled. Cultural Sensitivity and Negotiation Abraham's respectful negotiation with the Hittites highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and respectful communication in our interactions with others. Legacy and Heritage The purchase of the burial site establishes a physical legacy for Abraham's descendants. We are reminded to consider the spiritual and moral legacy we leave for future generations. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 23:11?2. How does Genesis 23:11 demonstrate the importance of generosity in our lives? 3. What cultural practices in Genesis 23:11 can we apply to modern Christian hospitality? 4. How does Ephron's offer in Genesis 23:11 reflect Christ's teachings on giving? 5. In what ways can we emulate Ephron's selflessness in our daily interactions? 6. How does Genesis 23:11 encourage us to prioritize relationships over material possessions? 7. Why does Ephron offer the field for free in Genesis 23:11? 8. What cultural practices are reflected in Genesis 23:11? 9. How does Genesis 23:11 illustrate ancient Near Eastern negotiation customs? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 23? 11. Should one choose burial or cremation? 12. How can we verify the historical accuracy of the Hittites' presence in Hebron as mentioned in Genesis 23:3-10? 13. Where is the archaeological evidence for the field and cave Abraham purchased in Genesis 23:17-20? 14. What defines Biblical Literalism? What Does Genesis 23:11 Mean No, my lord• Ephron’s courteous reply shows Near-Eastern respect for a visiting patriarch: “No, my lord.” • He publicly honors Abraham, recognizing God’s blessing on him (Genesis 23:6). • Respectful address underlines the reality that God’s people should “Show proper respect to everyone” (1 Peter 2:17). Listen to me • The phrase signals a formal negotiation. Ephron takes the floor to make an offer that he wants the whole assembly to hear (Genesis 23:10). • Scripture often pairs “listen” with covenant matters—see Proverbs 4:1 and Genesis 23:15—underscoring that words have binding force. I give you the field • Ephron proposes a gift that includes more than the narrow burial spot Abraham requested; he mentions the entire field, hinting at generosity yet also setting up the cultural bargaining that follows (Genesis 23:13). • Similar arrangements appear later when David insists on paying Araunah for a threshing floor (1 Chronicles 21:24), establishing a principle of owning outright what is dedicated to the Lord. • For Abraham, legal ownership in Canaan affirms God’s literal promise of the land (Genesis 17:8). and I give you the cave that is in it • The cave of Machpelah becomes the patriarchal tomb: Sarah now, later Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (Genesis 49:29-32). • Provision of a permanent family tomb anchors Abraham’s lineage in Canaan, a tangible down payment on the promised inheritance (Hebrews 11:9-10). I give it to you in the presence of my people • Public witnesses make the transfer incontestable, echoing Deuteronomy 19:15’s requirement for testimony. • Similar public validation appears when Boaz redeems Ruth: “You are witnesses today” (Ruth 4:9-11). • God often records such transactions to preserve His people’s legal standing and display His faithfulness to future generations. Bury your dead • Final permission allows Abraham to honor Sarah promptly (Genesis 23:19). • Burial in the land expresses hope beyond death; Abraham looked “forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). • Stephen later cites this event as part of God’s unfolding plan (Acts 7:16), affirming its historical reliability. summary Genesis 23:11 portrays Ephron’s respectful, public offer of the field and cave to Abraham, highlighting cultural negotiation, legal formality, and God’s unfolding promise of land and legacy. The verse sets the stage for Abraham’s purchase, securing a permanent foothold in Canaan and testifying that God’s covenant promises are literal, reliable, and securely witnessed. (11) The field give I thee.--Only the cave had! been mentioned, but for its quiet possession the land around was necessary. In the thrice repeated "give I it thee," there is the same courtly idea as in Genesis 23:6, that they were not buying and selling, but making mutual presents.Verse 11. - Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee - an Oriental mode of expressing willingness to sell. Ephron would make a present of cave and field to the patriarch, - "and just so have I had a hundred houses, and fields, and horses given to me" ('Land and Book,' p. 578), - the design being either to obtain a valuable compensation in return, or to preclude any abatement in the price (Keil), though possibly the offer to sell the entire field when he might have secured a good price for the cave alone was an indication of Ephron's good intention (Lange). At least it seems questionable to conclude that Ephron's generous phrases, which have now become formal and hollow courtesies indeed, meant no more in that simpler age when the ceremonies of intercourse were newer, and more truly reflected its spirit (Dykes, 'Abraham, the Friend of God,' p. 287). In the presence of the ions of my people give I it thee (literally, have I given, the transaction being viewed as finished): bury thy dead.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “No,לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no my lord. אֲדֹנִ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller Listen to me. שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי (šə·mā·‘ê·nî) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently I give נָתַ֣תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set you the field, הַשָּׂדֶה֙ (haś·śā·ḏeh) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7704: Field, land and I give נְתַתִּ֑יהָ (nə·ṯat·tî·hā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set you the cave וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה (wə·ham·mə·‘ā·rāh) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4631: A cavern that is in it. אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that I give it נְתַתִּ֥יהָ (nə·ṯat·tî·hā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set to you לְךָ֣ (lə·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew in the presence לְעֵינֵ֧י (lə·‘ê·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - cdc Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain of my people. בְנֵי־ (ḇə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son Bury קְבֹ֥ר (qə·ḇōr) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 6912: To inter your dead.” מֵתֶֽךָ׃ (mê·ṯe·ḵā) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 4191: To die, to kill Links Genesis 23:11 NIVGenesis 23:11 NLT Genesis 23:11 ESV Genesis 23:11 NASB Genesis 23:11 KJV Genesis 23:11 BibleApps.com Genesis 23:11 Biblia Paralela Genesis 23:11 Chinese Bible Genesis 23:11 French Bible Genesis 23:11 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 23:11 No my lord hear me (Gen. 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