Genesis 23:5 kjv

And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,

Genesis 23:5 nkjv

And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,

Genesis 23:5 niv

The Hittites replied to Abraham,

Genesis 23:5 esv

The Hittites answered Abraham,

Genesis 23:5 nlt

The Hittites replied to Abraham,

Genesis 23 verses

Genesis 23 5 Meaning

Genesis 23:5 records the respectful and formal response of the children of Heth to Abraham. It sets the scene for their official engagement concerning Abraham's request for a burial place, highlighting their acknowledgment of him and willingness to consider his proposition within their communal laws and customs.

Genesis 23 5 Context

Genesis chapter 23 recounts the death of Sarah and Abraham's subsequent quest to secure a proper burial place for her. Abraham, though promised the entire land of Canaan by God, did not yet possess any land. He lived as a "sojourner" among the inhabitants, the children of Heth. The preceding verses establish Abraham's deep grief for Sarah and his need to bury her. Verse 4 details Abraham's specific request to the Hittites: "I am a foreigner and a sojourner among you; give me a burying place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight." This sets the stage for the public, formal negotiation that unfolds in the chapter, demonstrating Abraham's respect for the local authorities and their legal customs for land acquisition. The immediate context of verse 5, therefore, is the formal acknowledgment and beginning of their verbal transaction.

Genesis 23 5 Word analysis

• And: (Waw-consecutive w): Connects this action directly to Abraham's address in the preceding verse. It introduces the subsequent response, implying immediate cause and effect in the narrative flow.
• the children of Heth: (bᵊnê Ḥēt, בְנֵי־חֵת): Literally "sons of Heth." Heth was the son of Canaan, son of Ham (Gen 10:15). These are the indigenous people inhabiting the land around Hebron (Kiriath-arba). They represent the local authority and established population with whom Abraham, a sojourner, must interact to gain any permanent claim. Their collective identity as "children of Heth" emphasizes their communal decision-making. They held formal power over land transactions in their territory.
• answered: (wayya‘anû, וַיַּעֲנוּ): A waw-consecutive imperfect form of the verb ‘ānāh (עָנָה), meaning "to answer," "to respond," "to reply." This verb often indicates a formal or solemn reply, especially in judicial or significant interactions. It signifies that their communication is a direct and thoughtful reply to Abraham's plea, not merely an casual remark.
• Abraham: (’eṯ-’aḇrāhām, אֶת־אַבְרָהָם): The direct object of the verb "answered." The name "Abraham" carries the weight of God's covenant, though at this moment, he is acting as a man seeking a basic human need for his family. The Hethites will later acknowledge his status as a "prince of God."
• saying unto him, (lē’mōr lô, לֵאמֹר לוֹ): This common Hebrew idiom introduces direct speech. lē’mōr is the infinitive construct of ’āmar (אָמַר), "to say," functioning adverbially as "to say." lô (לֹו) means "to him." The phrase indicates that what follows is the exact formal verbal response from the children of Heth directly addressed to Abraham, emphasizing the beginning of their official negotiation. It highlights the importance of the exact words used in such a public legal transaction.

Genesis 23 5 Bonus section

The negotiation for the cave of Machpelah is one of the most detailed and earliest recorded real estate transactions in the Bible. The precise legal phrasing in Hebrew, and the mention of "all who went in at the gate of his city" (Gen 23:10, 18), underscore the highly public and legally binding nature of this exchange. The city gate served as the ancient near eastern court of law and commerce. Abraham's careful adherence to these protocols demonstrates not only his integrity but also his profound faith; he chose to invest in a burial plot in the very land God had promised, a tangible step of trust even when living as a stranger. This purchase, initiated by the Hethites' formal answer, became a central family tomb for the patriarchs—Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob—making it a sacred place and a foundational stake in the covenant land, foreshadowing Israel's eventual possession of the whole.

Genesis 23 5 Commentary

Genesis 23:5, though short, is pivotal in Abraham's narrative. It signifies the initiation of a crucial, formal dialogue between Abraham and the indigenous people of Canaan concerning land. Despite God's unconditional promise of the entire land to Abraham and his descendants, Abraham, by faith and practical necessity, approaches the current inhabitants to purchase a piece of it. This action, and the Hethites' formal "answer," highlights several profound themes. Firstly, it underscores Abraham's role as a humble sojourner, respecting the existing social and legal structures, even while trusting in a divine promise. He doesn't assert ownership based on the promise alone but engages in a culturally appropriate transaction. Secondly, the formal response of the "children of Heth" reflects their communal recognition of Abraham, leading into their subsequent acknowledgment of him as a "prince of God." This shows their willingness to engage honorably. This verse marks the beginning of Abraham's legal acquisition of a foothold in the promised land—the first physical piece of land he owned in Canaan, a burial ground. This acquisition is significant not only for Sarah's burial but as a foundational, legal, and publicly witnessed act that established a permanent, albeit small, family claim in the land God had vowed to give. It symbolizes the intertwining of divine promise with human responsibility and lawful interaction.