Genesis 23:12
New International Version
Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land

New Living Translation
Abraham again bowed low before the citizens of the land,

English Standard Version
Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.

Berean Standard Bible
Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land

King James Bible
And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.

New King James Version
Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land;

New American Standard Bible
And Abraham bowed before the people of the land.

NASB 1995
And Abraham bowed before the people of the land.

NASB 1977
And Abraham bowed before the people of the land.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Abraham bowed before the people of the land.

Amplified Bible
Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.

Christian Standard Bible
Abraham bowed down to the people of the land

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abraham bowed down to the people of the land

American Standard Version
And Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.

Contemporary English Version
Once again, Abraham bowed down

English Revised Version
And Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Abraham bowed down again in front of the people of that region.

Good News Translation
But Abraham bowed before the Hittites

International Standard Version
Abraham bowed before the people of the land

Majority Standard Bible
Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land

NET Bible
Abraham bowed before the local people

New Heart English Bible
Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abraham bowed himself before the people of the land.

World English Bible
Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abraham bows himself before the people of the land,

Young's Literal Translation
And Abraham boweth himself before the people of the land,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abraham will bow himself down before the face of the people of the land.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Abraham bowed down before the people of the land,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Abraham reverenced in the sight of the people of the land.

New American Bible
But Abraham, after bowing low before the people of the land,

New Revised Standard Version
Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abraham bowed before the people of the land.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abraam did obeisance before the people of the land.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death and Burial of Sarah
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 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.”…

Cross References
Genesis 18:2
And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

Genesis 33:3
But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

Genesis 44:14
When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

Genesis 50:18
His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”

Exodus 18:7
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.

Ruth 2:10
At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?”

1 Samuel 24:8
After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence

1 Samuel 25:23
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.

2 Samuel 14:4
When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”

2 Samuel 24:20
When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king.

1 Kings 1:16
And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

2 Kings 4:37
She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 8:2
Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Matthew 18:26
Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’


Treasury of Scripture

And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.

See

Genesis 23:7
And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

Genesis 18:2
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

Genesis 19:1
And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

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Genesis 23
1. The age and death of Sarah.
3. The purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah;
19. where Sarah is buried.














Again
The use of "again" indicates a repeated action, emphasizing Abraham's persistence and humility. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ" (vayishtachu), which means to bow down or prostrate oneself. This repetition underscores the importance of respect and reverence in Abraham's interactions, reflecting a cultural norm of showing honor to others, especially in negotiations or important discussions.

Abraham
Abraham, originally named Abram, is a central figure in the Bible, known as the father of faith. His name, meaning "father of many nations," signifies his role in God's covenant. Abraham's life is a testament to faith and obedience, and his actions in this verse demonstrate his character as a man of humility and respect, even when dealing with the Hittites, who were not part of his covenant community.

bowed down
The act of bowing down, or prostration, is a physical demonstration of respect and submission. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this gesture was common in diplomatic and social interactions. It signifies Abraham's acknowledgment of the Hittites' authority over the land and his willingness to engage with them honorably. This act of humility is a powerful reminder of the importance of respect and deference in our interactions with others.

before the people of the land
This phrase highlights the communal aspect of the negotiation. "The people of the land" refers to the Hittites, the inhabitants of Canaan at the time. Abraham's interaction with them is significant because it shows his recognition of their rights and his desire to live peaceably among them. The Hittites were a prominent group in the region, and their acknowledgment of Abraham's request for a burial site for Sarah is a testament to his reputation and the respect he commanded.

(12) Abraham bowed down.--This obeisance on the patriarch's part is the Oriental method of returning thanks for the granting of a request; and so in Genesis 23:7. The next step is to fix the price.

Verses 12, 13. - And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. To express his sense of their kindness, and appreciation of Ephron's offer in particular; aider which he courteously but firmly urged forward the contemplated purchase. And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me. Literally, if thou, I would that thou wouldst hear me, the two particles אִם and לוּ being conjoined to express the intensity of the speaker's desire. I will give thee money for the field. Literally, money of the field, i.e. the value of the field in money. This seems to indicate that Abraham at least imagined Ephron's offer of the field and cave as a gift to be not wholly formal. Had he regarded Ephron as all the while desirous of a sale, he would not have employed the language of entreaty. Take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

bowed down
וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ (way·yiš·ta·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

before
לִפְנֵ֖י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the people
עַ֥ם (‘am)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

of the land
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Law: Genesis 23:12 Abraham bowed himself down before the people (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 23:11
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