Genesis 23:6 kjv
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.
Genesis 23:6 nkjv
"Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead."
Genesis 23:6 niv
"Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead."
Genesis 23:6 esv
"Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead."
Genesis 23:6 nlt
"Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way."
Genesis 23 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2 | And I will make of thee a great nation... and thou shalt be a blessing: | God's promise to bless Abraham and make him great. |
| Gen 13:15 | For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. | God promises the entire land to Abraham and his seed. |
| Gen 17:6 | And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. | God reiterates making Abraham fruitful and a father of nations/kings. |
| Gen 21:22 | And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest: | Philistine king recognizes God's favor on Abraham. |
| Gen 24:35 | And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great... | Abraham's servant testifies to his master's greatness and wealth. |
| Gen 25:9 | And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah... | Abraham's burial in the purchased land, confirming its ownership. |
| Gen 26:28 | And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us... | Abimelech recognizes God's presence with Isaac. |
| Gen 39:3 | And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. | Potiphar recognizes God's favor on Joseph. |
| Ex 11:3 | And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. | Israelites receive favor from Egyptians. |
| Josh 14:14 | Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb... because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. | Hebron, where Machpelah is located, later becomes an inheritance. |
| Ruth 4:4 | And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants... | Legal process of purchasing land in the presence of witnesses. |
| Jer 32:7 | Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy my field... | Example of legal land purchase in the Old Testament. |
| Matt 8:5-10 | ...There came unto him a centurion, beseeching him... I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. | A gentile recognizing extraordinary spiritual authority. |
| Acts 7:5 | And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession... | Abraham possessed no land as a sojourner despite God's promise. |
| Acts 7:16 | And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor... | Reaffirmation of Abraham's purchase of a burial plot. |
| Acts 13:21-22 | And afterwards they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul... and when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king... | God chooses and establishes leaders among His people. |
| Rom 9:4 | Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law... | The blessings and covenants belong to Israel. |
| Heb 11:9-10 | By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tents... for he looked for a city... | Abraham lived as a temporary resident, looking for a heavenly city. |
| Heb 11:13 | These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off... | Patriarchs died not fully possessing the promised blessings. |
| Heb 13:14 | For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. | Believers' transient status on earth, seeking a heavenly city. |
Genesis 23 verses
Genesis 23 6 Meaning
Genesis 23:6 captures the Sons of Heth, the Hittite inhabitants of Canaan, addressing Abraham after his request for a burial plot. They acknowledge Abraham's distinguished status, describing him as "a mighty prince among us," a direct recognition of his prominence and the favor of God upon him. Out of respect and reverence, they express their willingness for Abraham to choose any of their burial sites for Sarah, assuring him that no one among them would refuse him.
Genesis 23 6 Context
Genesis chapter 23 opens with the death of Sarah, Abraham's wife, at the age of 127 in Kirjath-arba (Hebron). Abraham, as a foreigner dwelling in the land God promised him, needed a permanent burial site for his beloved wife, representing a deep emotional need and also a symbolic anchor in the promised land. He approaches the local inhabitants, the Sons of Heth (Hittites), in a formal request. Verse 6 is their immediate, deferential response to Abraham, recognizing his immense stature even though he owned no land and was a sojourner. This cultural interaction reveals the Hethites' high regard for Abraham and sets the stage for the specific land transaction for the Cave of Machpelah, which becomes the first parcel of the Promised Land actually acquired by Abraham as property.
Genesis 23 6 Word analysis
- Hear us: Hebrew "Shema'unu" (שְׁמָעֵנוּ). An earnest plea or polite request, signaling respect and attention to Abraham's words. It underscores the Hethites' willingness to engage in dialogue and meet his need.
- my lord: Hebrew "Adoni" (אֲדֹנִי). A respectful address used for superiors or individuals of high standing, confirming their recognition of Abraham's authority and status.
- thou art a mighty prince among us: Hebrew "Nesi Elohim" (נְשִׂיא אֱלֹהִים) which literally translates to "a prince of God." This is a profound recognition, indicating that the Hethites perceived Abraham's greatness not just as worldly influence but as something endowed by the divine. It suggests an awareness of God's blessing on Abraham, making him exceptionally revered and distinct from common foreigners. "Mighty" or "of God" speaks to an unassailable dignity and power.
- among us: This phrase emphasizes that even though Abraham is a foreigner, his status as "a prince of God" is acknowledged and esteemed within their community. He is not just a passing stranger but holds a unique position.
- in the choicest of our sepulchres: Hebrew "mibchar qevureinu" (מִבְחַר קְבֻרֵינוּ). "Choicest" (mibchar) means the very best, the most preferred, or the finest selection. The Hethites are not merely offering any place, but their most esteemed burial grounds, indicating a high degree of honor and deference.
- sepulchres: Hebrew "qevareim" (קְבָרִים). Burial places, often caves or constructed tombs. This highlights the practical need Abraham expressed and the generous response.
- bury thy dead: A direct instruction and invitation to perform the necessary funerary rites for Sarah.
- none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre: Hebrew "ish mimmennu lo yikhleh mimmeka qivro" (אִישׁ מִמֶּנּוּ לֹא יִכְלֶה מִמְּךָ קִבְרוֹ). "Withhold" (kala) means to restrain, hold back, or refuse. This is a strong assurance that Abraham's request will not be denied by anyone among them, underscoring their collective and unanimous desire to accommodate him.
- but that thou mayest bury thy dead: A reiteration of the primary purpose and an affirmation of their absolute permission, ensuring Abraham that he had free access to choose a burial place for Sarah without any opposition.
Genesis 23 6 Bonus section
The Hethites' offer of the "choicest of our sepulchres" before Abraham states a desire to purchase specifically for a "possession of a burying place" (Gen 23:4) reveals an important cultural dynamic. In ancient Near Eastern transactions, particularly regarding land, it was customary for the seller to initially offer the land as a "gift" to avoid the perceived dishonor of commercial exchange. This allowed the buyer to show due reverence and then insist on payment, thereby establishing a legal and binding agreement. Abraham's subsequent insistence on purchasing the Cave of Machpelah was therefore a culturally appropriate response that transformed the Hethites' respectful but vague offer into a definitive legal ownership, sealing Abraham's first physical acquisition of the Promised Land. This exchange also highlights that while Abraham had God's promise of the whole land, his immediate, tangible possession came through a legal, respectful purchase, not outright conquest or divine donation at this stage.
Genesis 23 6 Commentary
Genesis 23:6 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating the deep respect and deference that the indigenous Hethite community had for Abraham. Their declaration, "thou art a mighty prince among us," or more accurately, "a prince of God," reveals a significant understanding. They perceived Abraham's status not merely through his visible wealth or influence, but attributed it to a divine source, indicating that God's blessings on Abraham were evident even to pagan nations. This honor afforded to a sojourner highlights God's overarching purpose to bless those who bless Abraham, and makes visible Abraham's covenantal favor. Despite their willingness to gift a plot, Abraham insists on purchasing it, demonstrating his desire for legitimate ownership in the Promised Land and affirming the tangible, legal reality of God's promises in his lifetime. It sets the precedent for future land acquisition by the Israelites.