Genesis 23:19 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 23:19 kjv
And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 23:19 nkjv
And 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.
Genesis 23:19 niv
Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 23:19 esv
After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 23:19 nlt
Then Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, there in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre (also called Hebron).
Genesis 23 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land."... | God's land promise to Abraham's descendants. |
| Gen 13:15 | For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. | Divine promise of land as an eternal inheritance. |
| Gen 17:8 | The whole land of Canaan... I will give... as an everlasting possession. | The perpetual nature of the land covenant. |
| Gen 23:2 | And Sarah died in Kirjath-Arba (that is, Hebron)... | Location of Sarah's death, identical to Gen 23:19. |
| Gen 23:4 | "I am a foreigner and a resident among you; give me a burying place..." | Abraham's status and immediate need for burial land. |
| Gen 23:16 | And Abraham weighed out for Ephron... 400 shekels of silver... | The payment confirming the land purchase. |
| Gen 25:8-10 | ...Abraham breathed his last and died... His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah... | Abraham's burial in the same cave. |
| Gen 49:29-31 | "I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave... of Machpelah." | Jacob's instruction for burial at Machpelah. |
| Gen 50:13 | For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah... | Joseph fulfilling Jacob's burial request. |
| Josh 14:15 | Hebron formerly was called Kirjath-Arba... Caleb dispossessed the three sons of Anak. | Hebron's original name and its capture by Caleb. |
| Judg 1:10 | And Judah went against the Canaanites... Hebron (now called Kirjath-Arba) they smote... | Early Israelite conquest mentioning Hebron. |
| 2 Sam 2:1 | David went up... to Hebron. | Hebron's later significance as David's capital. |
| Ps 105:11-12 | "...To you I will give the land of Canaan as your allotted inheritance"... when they were few in number... | Reiterates the land promise and Abraham's status. |
| Acts 7:5 | God gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of land, but promised to give it to him... | Abraham's land ownership limited to a burial site in his lifetime. |
| Heb 11:8-9 | By faith Abraham obeyed... he went out... By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land... | Abraham as a sojourner, trusting in God's promise. |
| Heb 11:13 | These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them... | Patriarchs' death before full fulfillment of land promise. |
| Gen 35:29 | And Isaac breathed his last and died... And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. | Isaac also buried in Machpelah (implied by Gen 49:31). |
| Num 13:22 | They went up through the Negeb and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai... were. | Hebron as a place with Anakim during the spy mission. |
| Jn 11:43-44 | Lazarus, come out... The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen... | Concept of resurrection overcoming physical death and burial. |
| Gen 24:7 | The LORD, the God of heaven... swore to me, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' | Confirmation of God's sworn promise regarding the land. |
Genesis 23 verses
Genesis 23 19 meaning
Genesis 23:19 describes the immediate action taken by Abraham after acquiring the cave of Machpelah: the burial of his wife, Sarah. This verse signifies the completion of the first real estate transaction for Abraham in the Promised Land, marking his initial physical possession within the land God had sworn to give to his descendants. It underscores the importance of proper burial according to the customs of the time, provides precise geographical details, and solidifies Machpelah's future role as the family burial ground for Abraham's lineage.
Genesis 23 19 Context
Genesis chapter 23 begins with the death of Sarah, Abraham's beloved wife, at the advanced age of 127 in Kirjath-Arba (Hebron). Her death necessitates Abraham seeking a burial place for her. As a sojourner in the land of Canaan, he owned no personal land. He approaches the Hittites, the local inhabitants, for a burial plot, specifically requesting a "burying place as a possession." The Hittites, showing respect, offer him their choicest burial places, acknowledging him as "a prince of God." Abraham, however, insists on purchasing a specific piece of property: the cave of Machpelah, which belonged to Ephron the Hittite. A lengthy negotiation ensues, showcasing ancient Near Eastern land transaction customs. Abraham secures the cave and the field it is in for 400 shekels of silver, legally witnessing the transaction. Verse 19 records the final act following this detailed and significant purchase: the actual burial of Sarah. This purchase, while small, marked Abraham's first actual territorial acquisition in the land promised to his descendants, serving as an initial step towards the fulfillment of the larger Abrahamic Covenant regarding the land of Canaan.
Genesis 23 19 Word analysis
- And after this: (Heb. wa'acharêy-ḵên) - A temporal connective, indicating the immediate sequence of events after the purchase agreement in the preceding verses. It marks the direct execution of the land's purpose for which it was acquired.
- Abraham: (Heb. 'Avraham) - The patriarch, whose name means "father of a multitude." This act solidifies his claim, through purchase, to a physical piece of the Promised Land, even as a sojourner.
- buried: (Heb. vayyiqbor, from the root קבר - qavar) - Implies a reverent and careful interment. Burial was crucial in ancient cultures, signifying respect for the deceased and maintaining ancestral ties to the land. This act underscores the finality of Sarah's earthly life and Abraham's deep sorrow.
- Sarah his wife: (Heb. Sarâh 'ish'tô) - Emphasizes the personal nature of the loss and the immediate cause for the land transaction. Sarah, whose name means "princess," holds a pivotal role in the covenant as the mother of the promised seed. Her burial legitimizes the land's possession by the family line.
- in the cave: (Heb. bim‘arath) - The specific structure intended for burial. Caves often served as natural burial chambers in ancient Israel, providing protection and a sense of permanence. This detail highlights the secure nature of the acquired burial site.
- of the field: (Heb. hassadeh) - Signifies the land parcel surrounding the cave, legally acquired along with the cave itself. This ensures no dispute over access or ownership of the immediate environs of the burial site, emphasizing a complete land acquisition.
- of Machpelah: (Heb. hamMakhpelâh) - The specific name of the location, possibly meaning "the double cave" or referring to a 'doubled' or 'twofold' plot of land. It became the ancestral burial site for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives, a crucial nexus for the family line in the Promised Land.
- before Mamre: (Heb. *lip̄nêy Mamre') - A geographical reference point to situate the location more precisely for the original audience. Mamre was where Abraham had pitched his tents (Gen 13:18) and encountered the Lord (Gen 18:1).
- the same is Hebron: (Heb. hi' Chevrôn) - Clarifies the identity of Mamre for later generations or different groups of people, ensuring that the reader correctly identifies the historically significant location. Hebron (meaning "association" or "confederacy") was an ancient and important city.
- in the land of Canaan: (Heb. b'erets K'na'an) - Reaffirms the setting within the divinely promised territory. Despite being a small plot, its ownership in Canaan is a profound symbolic act: a down payment and concrete evidence of God's covenant promise to Abraham regarding the entire land.
Genesis 23 19 Bonus section
The Cave of Machpelah (also known as the Cave of the Patriarchs/Matriarchs) in Hebron holds immense historical and religious significance. According to tradition, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah are buried there (Gen 25:9, 49:31, 50:13). This makes the site uniquely important for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, highlighting the enduring impact of this one burial recorded in Gen 23:19. The naming of Hebron (meaning "alliance" or "confederacy") reinforces the community aspect, perhaps subtly connecting to the covenant promises made to Abraham. Although Abraham himself owned only this plot for burial, it foreshadows the Israelites' later complete possession of Canaan, making the humble burial ground a powerful testament to the unwavering nature of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants.
Genesis 23 19 Commentary
Genesis 23:19 marks a poignant moment in Abraham's life and a significant step in the unfolding of God's covenant promises. The burial of Sarah in Machpelah represents not just the deep grief of Abraham, but also his tangible step of faith in securing a permanent foothold in the land God promised his descendants. This was the only part of the Promised Land that Abraham legally possessed during his lifetime, yet its acquisition by purchase, witnessed publicly, affirmed his commitment to God's word and established an undeniable right for his lineage to the territory. The cave became a sacred family vault, embodying the ancestral connection to the land and a symbolic guarantee of the future inheritance. It highlights that God's promises, though often gradual in fulfillment, are certain and begin with concrete steps, even small ones like a burial plot, in the present reality of faith.