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Genesis 23 ESV Audio Bible
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Read Genesis 23 in modern English — World English Bible (20 verses)
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1 Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. This was the length of Sarah’s life.
2 Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
3 Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the children of Heth, saying,
4 “I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
5 The children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,
6 “Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb. Bury your dead.”
7 Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
8 He talked with them, saying, “If you agree that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me among you for a possession of a burying-place.”
10 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,
11 “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.”
12 Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.
13 He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.”
14 Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,
15 “My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.”
16 Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard.
17 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
18 to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan.
20 The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the children of Heth.
Study tools for Genesis 23
Cross-references, Hebrew word study, and what the Early Church wrote about Genesis 23. Tap any section to expand — or right-click any verse for the full interactive study panel.
Genesis 23 study resources: word-by-word Hebrew interlinear with Strong's numbers, 30 cross-references.
Cross-references in Genesis 23 (30)
- v.6 Genesis 24:35
- v.2 Genesis 23:19
- v.4 Hebrews 11:9
- v.4 1 Chronicles 29:15
- v.17 Genesis 25:9
- v.17 Genesis 50:13
- v.2 Genesis 13:18
- v.4 Genesis 17:8
- v.10 Genesis 34:24
- v.10 Genesis 34:20
- v.15 Ezekiel 45:12
- v.16 Jeremiah 32:9
- v.16 Zechariah 11:12
- v.2 1 Chronicles 6:57
- v.4 Psalms 119:19
- v.6 Genesis 14:14
- v.11 Luke 19:24
- v.17 Genesis 23:20
- v.2 Judges 1:10
- v.3 Genesis 10:15
- v.4 Acts 7:5
- v.4 Leviticus 25:23
- v.4 Hebrews 11:13-16
- v.4 Genesis 49:30
- v.4 Psalms 39:12
- v.7 Hebrews 12:14
- v.10 Genesis 23:18
- v.11 Isaiah 32:8
- v.13 Romans 13:8
- v.17 Genesis 49:29-32
Hebrew interlinear — Genesis 23:1–20 (275 words)
1
- וַ/יִּהְיוּ֙va/i.yih.Yuand/ they wereH1961
- חַיֵּ֣יchai.YeiH2416
- שָׂרָ֔הsa.RahSarahH8283
- מֵאָ֥הme.'Ahone hundredH3967
- שָׁנָ֛הsha.Nahyear[s]H8141
- וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥יםve./'es.Rimand/ twentyH6242
- שָׁנָ֖הsha.Nahyear[s]H8141
- וְ/שֶׁ֣בַעve./She.va'and/ sevenH7651
- שָׁנִ֑יםsha.NimyearsH8141
- שְׁנֵ֖יshe.NeiH8141
- חַיֵּ֥יchai.YeiH2416
- שָׂרָֽה\׃sa.RahSarahH8283
2
- וַ/תָּ֣מָתva./Ta.motand/ she diedH4191
- שָׂרָ֗הsa.RahSarahH8283
- בְּ/קִרְיַ֥תbe./kir.Yatat/ KiriathH7153
- אַרְבַּ֛ע'ar.Ba'ArbaH7153
- הִ֥ואhi'thatH1931
- חֶבְר֖וֹןchev.RonH2275
- בְּ/אֶ֣רֶץbe./'E.retzin/ [the] land ofH776
- כְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anCanaanH3667
- וַ/יָּבֹא֙va/i.ya.Vo'and/ he wentH935
- אַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamAbrahamH85
- לִ/סְפֹּ֥דli/s.Podto/ mournH5594
- לְ/שָׂרָ֖הle./sa.Rahfor/ SarahH8283
- וְ/לִ/בְכֹּתָֽ/הּ\׃ve./li/v.ko.Ta/hand/ to/ weep for/ herH1058
4
- גֵּר\־ger-H1616
- וְ/תוֹשָׁ֥בve./to.Shavand/ a resident alienH8453
- אָנֹכִ֖י'a.no.KhiIH595
- עִמָּ/כֶ֑ם'i.ma./Khemwith/ youH5973
- תְּנ֨וּte.NugiveH5414
- לִ֤/יl/ito <the>/ meH9030
- אֲחֻזַּת\־'a.chu.zat-a possession ofH272
- קֶ֙בֶר֙ke.vera burial siteH6913
- עִמָּ/כֶ֔ם'i.ma./Khemwith/ youH5973
- וְ/אֶקְבְּרָ֥הve./'ek.be.Rahso/ let me buryH6912
- מֵתִ֖/יme.T/idead/ myH4191
- מִ/לְּ/פָנָֽ/י\׃mi./le./fa.Na/ifrom/ to/ before/ meH6440
6
- שְׁמָעֵ֣/נוּ\׀she.ma.'E./nulisten to/ usH8085
- אֲדֹנִ֗/י'a.do.N/iO lord/ myH113
- נְשִׂ֨יאne.Si'H5387
- אֱלֹהִ֤ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
- אַתָּה֙'a.TahyouH859
- בְּ/תוֹכֵ֔/נוּbe./to.Khe./nuin/ midst of/ usH8432
- בְּ/מִבְחַ֣רbe./miv.Charin/ [the] choicest ofH4005
- קְבָרֵ֔י/נוּke.va.Rei./nuburial sites/ ourH6913
- קְבֹ֖רke.VorburyH6912
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- מֵתֶ֑/ךָme.Te./khadead/ yourH4191
- אִ֣ישׁ'ishanyoneH376
- מִמֶּ֔/נּוּmi.Me./nuof/ usH4480
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- קִבְר֛/וֹkiv.R/oburial site/ hisH6913
- לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
- יִכְלֶ֥הyikh.Lehhe will withholdH3607
- מִמְּ/ךָ֖mi.me./Khafrom/ youH4480
- מִ/קְּבֹ֥רmi./ke.Vorfrom/ buryingH6912
- מֵתֶֽ/ךָ\׃me.Te./khadead/ yourH4191
8
- וַ/יְדַבֵּ֥רva/y.da.Berand/ he spokeH1696
- אִתָּ֖/ם'i.Ta/mwith/ themH854
- לֵ/אמֹ֑רle./Mor<to>/ sayingH559
- אִם\־'im-ifH518
- יֵ֣שׁyeshthereH3426
- אֶֽת\־'et-withH854
- נַפְשְׁ/כֶ֗םnaf.she./Khemdesire/ yourH5315
- לִ/קְבֹּ֤רli/k.Borto/ buryH6912
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- מֵתִ/י֙me.T/idead/ myH4191
- מִ/לְּ/פָנַ֔/יmi./le./fa.Na/ifrom/ to/ before/ meH6440
- שְׁמָע֕וּ/נִיshe.ma.'U./nilisten to/ meH8085
- וּ/פִגְעוּ\־u./fig.'u-and/ entreatH6293
- לִ֖/יl/ifor <the>/ meH9030
- בְּ/עֶפְר֥וֹןbe./'ef.Ron<in>/ EphronH6085
- בֶּן\־ben-H1121
- צֹֽחַר\׃Tzo.charZoharH6714
9
- וְ/יִתֶּן\־ve./yi.ten-so/ may he giveH5414
- לִ֗/יL/ito <the>/ meH9030
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- מְעָרַ֤תme.'a.RatH4631
- הַ/מַּכְפֵּלָה֙ha./makh.pe.Lah<the>/ MachpelahH4375
- אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
- ל֔/וֹl/oH9033
- אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherwhichH834
- בִּ/קְצֵ֣הbi/k.TzehH7097
- שָׂדֵ֑/הוּsa.De./hufield/ hisH7704
- בְּ/כֶ֨סֶףbe./Khe.seffor/ silverH3701
- מָלֵ֜אma.Le'fullH4392
- יִתְּנֶ֥/נָּהyi.te.Ne./nahlet him give/ itH5414
- לִ֛/יl/ito <the>/ meH9030
- בְּ/תוֹכְ/כֶ֖םbe./tokh./Khemin/ midst of/ youH8432
- לַ/אֲחֻזַּת\־la./'a.chu.zat-to/ a possession ofH272
- קָֽבֶר\׃Ka.vera burial siteH6913
10
- וְ/עֶפְר֥וֹןve./'ef.Ronand/ EphronH6085
- יֹשֵׁ֖בyo.ShevH3427
- בְּ/ת֣וֹךְbe./Tokhin/ amongH8432
- בְּנֵי\־be.nei-H1121
- חֵ֑תChetHethH2845
- וַ/יַּעַן֩va/i.ya.'Anand/ he answeredH6030
- עֶפְר֨וֹןef.RonEphronH6085
- הַ/חִתִּ֤יha./chi.Tithe/ HethiteH2850
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- אַבְרָהָם֙'av.ra.HamAbrahamH85
- בְּ/אָזְנֵ֣יbe./'a.ze.Neiin/ [the] ears ofH241
- בְנֵי\־ve.nei-H1121
- חֵ֔תChetHethH2845
- לְ/כֹ֛לle./Kholto/ allH3605
- בָּאֵ֥יba.'EiH935
- שַֽׁעַר\־sha.'ar-<of> [the] gate ofH8179
- עִיר֖/וֹi.R/ocity/ hisH5892
- לֵ/אמֹֽר\׃le./Mor<to>/ sayingH559
11
- לֹֽא\־lo'-noH3808
- אֲדֹנִ֣/י'a.do.N/iO lord/ myH113
- שְׁמָעֵ֔/נִיshe.ma.'E./nilisten to/ meH8085
- הַ/שָּׂדֶה֙ha./sa.Dehthe/ fieldH7704
- נָתַ֣תִּיna.Ta.tiI giveH5414
- לָ֔/ךְLa/khto <the>/ youH9032
- וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֥הve./ha./me.'a.Rahand/ the/ caveH4631
- אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
- בּ֖/וֹb/oH9033
- לְ/ךָ֣le./Khato <the>/ youH9031
- נְתַתִּ֑י/הָne.ta.Ti./haI give/ itH5414
- לְ/עֵינֵ֧יle./'ei.Neito/ [the] eyes ofH5869
- בְנֵי\־ve.nei-H1121
- עַמִּ֛/י'a.M/ipeople/ myH5971
- נְתַתִּ֥י/הָne.ta.Ti./haI give/ itH5414
- לָּ֖/ךְla/khto <the>/ youH9032
- קְבֹ֥רke.VorburyH6912
- מֵתֶֽ/ךָ\׃me.Te./khadead/ yourH4191
13
- וַ/יְדַבֵּ֨רva/y.da.Berand/ he spokeH1696
- אֶל\־'el-toH413
- עֶפְר֜וֹןef.RonEphronH6085
- בְּ/אָזְנֵ֤יbe./'a.ze.Neiin/ [the] ears ofH241
- עַם\־'am-H5971
- הָ/אָ֙רֶץ֙ha./'A.retzthe/ landH776
- לֵ/אמֹ֔רle./Mor<to>/ sayingH559
- אַ֛ךְ'akhneverthelessH389
- אִם\־'im-ifH518
- אַתָּ֥ה'a.TahyouH859
- ל֖וּluifH3863
- שְׁמָעֵ֑/נִיshe.ma.'E./nilisten to/ meH8085
- נָתַ֜תִּיna.Ta.tiI giveH5414
- כֶּ֤סֶףKe.sefH3701
- הַ/שָּׂדֶה֙ha./sa.Dehthe/ fieldH7704
- קַ֣חkachtake [it]H3947
- מִמֶּ֔/נִּיmi.Me./nifrom/ meH4480
- וְ/אֶקְבְּרָ֥הve./'ek.be.Rahso/ let me buryH6912
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- מֵתִ֖/יme.T/idead/ myH4191
- שָֽׁמָּ/ה\׃Sha.ma/hthere/ <towards>H8033
15
- אֲדֹנִ֣/י'a.do.N/iO lord/ myH113
- שְׁמָעֵ֔/נִיshe.ma.'E./nilisten to/ meH8085
- אֶרֶץ֩'e.Retzland ofH776
- אַרְבַּ֨ע'ar.Ba'fourH702
- מֵאֹ֧תme.'Othundred<s>H3967
- שֶֽׁקֶל\־she.kel-shekel[s] ofH8255
- כֶּ֛סֶףKe.sefsilverH3701
- בֵּינִ֥/יbei./Nibetween/ meH996
- וּ/בֵֽינְ/ךָ֖u./vei.ne./Khaand/ between/ youH996
- מַה\־mah-what?H4100
- הִ֑ואhi'H1931
- וְ/אֶת\־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>H853
- מֵתְ/ךָ֖me.te./Khadead/ yourH4191
- קְבֹֽר\׃ke.VorburyH6912
16
- וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֣עva/i.yish.Ma'and/ he listenedH8085
- אַבְרָהָם֮'av.ra.HamAbrahamH85
- אֶל\־'el-toH413
- עֶפְרוֹן֒'ef.rOnEphronH6085
- וַ/יִּשְׁקֹ֤לva/i.yish.Koland/ he weighed outH8254
- אַבְרָהָם֙'av.ra.HamAbrahamH85
- לְ/עֶפְרֹ֔ןle./'ef.Ronfor/ EphronH6085
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- הַ/כֶּ֕סֶףha./Ke.sefthe/ moneyH3701
- אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhichH834
- דִּבֶּ֖רdi.Berhe had spokenH1696
- בְּ/אָזְנֵ֣יbe./'a.ze.Neiin/ [the] ears ofH241
- בְנֵי\־ve.nei-H1121
- חֵ֑תChetHethH2845
- אַרְבַּ֤ע'ar.Ba'fourH702
- מֵאוֹת֙me.'othundred<s>H3967
- שֶׁ֣קֶלShe.kelshekel[s] ofH8255
- כֶּ֔סֶףKe.sefsilverH3701
- עֹבֵ֖ר'o.Verpassing alongH5674
- לַ/סֹּחֵֽר\׃la./so.Cherto the/ traderH5503
17
- וַ/יָּ֣קָם\׀va/i.Ya.komand/ it was confirmedH6965
- שְׂדֵ֣הse.DehH7704
- עֶפְר֗וֹןef.RonEphronH6085
- אֲשֶׁר֙'a.SherwhichH834
- בַּ/מַּכְפֵּלָ֔הba./makh.pe.LahH4375
- אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherwhichH834
- לִ/פְנֵ֣יli/f.NeiH6440
- מַמְרֵ֑אmam.Re'MamreH4471
- הַ/שָּׂדֶה֙ha./sa.Dehthe/ fieldH7704
- וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֣הve./ha./me.'a.Rahand/ the/ caveH4631
- אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
- בּ֔/וֹb/oH9033
- וְ/כָל\־ve./kholand/ everyH3605
- הָ/עֵץ֙ha./'Etz<the>/ treeH6086
- אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherwhichH834
- בַּ/שָּׂדֶ֔הba./sa.DehH7704
- אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhichH834
- בְּ/כָל\־be./kholH3605
- גְּבֻל֖/וֹge.vu.L/oborder/ itsH1366
- סָבִֽיב\׃sa.Vivround aboutH5439
19
- וְ/אַחֲרֵי\־ve./'a.cha.rei-and/ afterH310
- כֵן֩khenthusH3651
- קָבַ֨רka.Varhe buriedH6912
- אַבְרָהָ֜ם'av.ra.HamAbrahamH85
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- שָׂרָ֣הsa.RahSarahH8283
- אִשְׁתּ֗/וֹ'ish.T/owife/ hisH802
- אֶל\־'el-intoH413
- מְעָרַ֞תme.'a.RatH4631
- שְׂדֵ֧הse.DehH7704
- הַ/מַּכְפֵּלָ֛הha./makh.pe.Lah<the>/ MachpelahH4375
- עַל\־'al-onH5921
- פְּנֵ֥יpe.NeiH6440
- מַמְרֵ֖אmam.Re'MamreH4471
- הִ֣ואhi'thatH1931
- חֶבְר֑וֹןchev.RonH2275
- בְּ/אֶ֖רֶץbe./'E.retzin/ [the] land ofH776
- כְּנָֽעַן\׃ke.Na.'anCanaanH3667
20
- וַ/יָּ֨קָםva/i.Ya.komand/ it was confirmedH6965
- הַ/שָּׂדֶ֜הha./sa.Dehthe/ fieldH7704
- וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֧הve./ha./me.'a.Rahand/ the/ caveH4631
- אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
- בּ֛/וֹb/oH9033
- לְ/אַבְרָהָ֖םle./'av.ra.Hamto/ AbrahamH85
- לַ/אֲחֻזַּת\־la./'a.chu.zat-to/ a possession ofH272
- קָ֑בֶרKa.vera burial siteH6913
- מֵ/אֵ֖תme./'Etfrom/ withH854
- בְּנֵי\־be.nei-H1121
- חֵֽת\׃\ \סChetHethH2845
Strong's words in Genesis 23 (6)
- Strong's H85 — אַבְרָהָ֔ם ('av.ra.Ham)
- Abraham. Appears 12 times in Genesis 23.
- Strong's H1121 — בְּנֵי\־ (be.nei-)
- [the] people of. Appears 10 times in Genesis 23.
- Strong's H4191 — וַ/תָּ֣מָת (va./Ta.mot)
- and/ she died. Appears 9 times in Genesis 23.
- Strong's H2845 — חֵ֖ת (chet)
- Heth. Appears 8 times in Genesis 23.
- Strong's H6085 — בְּ/עֶפְר֥וֹן (be./'ef.Ron)
- <in>/ Ephron. Appears 8 times in Genesis 23.
- Strong's H6912 — וְ/אֶקְבְּרָ֥ה (ve./'ek.be.Rah)
- so/ let me bury. Appears 8 times in Genesis 23.