Genesis 25 9

Genesis 25:9 kjv

And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

Genesis 25:9 nkjv

And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite,

Genesis 25:9 niv

His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite,

Genesis 25:9 esv

Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre,

Genesis 25:9 nlt

His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite.

Genesis 25 verses

Genesis 25 9 meaning

Genesis 25:9 records the joint burial of Abraham by his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, in the previously acquired family tomb. This event signifies a temporary moment of reconciliation or shared filial duty between the estranged half-brothers, reflecting common respect for their departed father. It meticulously reiterates the specific location of the burial—the cave of Machpelah within the field purchased from Ephron the Hittite, situated near Mamre. This detailed identification not only confirms the legality and authenticity of Abraham's ownership of his first property in the Promised Land but also establishes this site as a crucial, tangible marker of God's land covenant with Abraham and his descendants.

Genesis 25 9 Context

Genesis chapter 25 opens with Abraham marrying Keturah and having more children, distributing his wealth, and sending away his concubines' sons with gifts to the east. It then recounts Abraham's death at a prosperous old age (v.8) before describing his burial in verse 9. This verse signifies the closing of a major patriarchal narrative and marks a transitional moment, leading into the lineage of Isaac, the son of promise. Historically and culturally, burial in a designated family tomb was paramount, ensuring connection to one's ancestors and, for Abraham, signifying a claim to the Promised Land. The meticulous details reinforce the historical reality of Abraham's presence and land acquisition in Canaan.

Genesis 25 9 Word analysis

• And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him:

  • וַיִּקְבְּרוּ (vayyiqberu): "and they buried him." This is a Hebrew imperfect verb with a Vav-consecutive, indicating a sequential action. The plural form highlights that multiple individuals participated.
  • יִצְחָק (Yitskhak): Isaac, meaning "he laughs." He is the son of promise and the primary heir.
  • וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל (v'Yishma'el): And Ishmael, meaning "God hears." Abraham's firstborn son through Hagar.
  • בָּנָיו (banav): "his sons." Despite their past conflict and separate destinies (Gen 21:9-21), both Isaac and Ishmael are united here by filial duty, recognizing their shared paternity to Abraham. This moment of unity underscores their enduring family connection even in death.

• in the cave of Machpelah:

  • אֶל־מְעָרַת (el-me'arat): "into the cave of." Denotes direction into a specific subterranean chamber.
  • הַמַּכְפֵּלָה (haMakhpelah): "the Machpelah." The definite article 'ha-' specifies it as the known cave. Its name may mean "the double cave" or "the portion." It was lawfully purchased by Abraham from Ephron (Gen 23), making it his first permanent land possession in the Promised Land. This grave became the familial resting place for Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah (Gen 49:30-31), anchoring the patriarchs to the land.

• in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite:

  • אֶל־שְׂדֵה (el-sedeh): "in the field of." Indicates the broader land plot containing the cave.
  • עֶפְרוֹן בֶּן־צֹחַר הַחִתִּי ('Efron ben-Tsohar haChitti): "Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite." This precise re-identification of the seller and his ethnicity, detailed in Gen 23, reinforces the legality and incontestability of Abraham's purchase of this specific parcel of land. It underscores the legitimacy of his possession, affirming the physical presence of the patriarchs in the Promised Land through honest acquisition, not conquest.

• which is before Mamre:

  • אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי מַמְרֵא (asher 'al-pney Mamre): "which is before the face of Mamre" or "which faces Mamre."
  • מַמְרֵא (Mamre): A well-known locality near Hebron where Abraham frequently sojourned and where he had significant divine encounters (Gen 13:18; 18:1). This geographic anchor further authenticates the historical setting and location of the sacred tomb within a highly significant biblical area.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him": This phrase underscores the importance of kinship and duty even amidst family discord. Despite their prior separation and the diverging paths of their descendants, at the end of their father's life, the two brothers put aside differences to honor him. It reflects a moment of shared filial piety, echoing God's previous promises of blessing upon Ishmael.
  • "in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite": The repeated and highly specific description of the burial site highlights its covenantal significance. By detailing the previous owner (Ephron the Hittite) and confirming its exact location and name, the text validates Abraham's secure and lawful ownership of this parcel. It serves as Abraham's only physical possession in the Promised Land, acting as a crucial "down payment" on God's enduring land promise to his descendants.
  • "which is before Mamre": This concluding geographical detail firmly places the sacred burial site within a well-known Abrahamic hub. Mamre was a familiar place for Abraham, a setting for significant divine revelations, thus linking Abraham's final resting place inextricably to his life of faith and God's interaction with him in the Promised Land.

Genesis 25 9 Bonus section

The scene of Isaac and Ishmael burying Abraham carries prophetic echoes of future familial realignments or shared duties in the midst of divergence. While their nations (Israel and various Arab peoples) would often be at odds, this initial moment depicts a shared lineage and responsibility, emphasizing common human and familial bonds that transcend specific covenant lines. The Machpelah cave’s repeated mention (Gen 23, 25, 49, 50) establishes it as one of the most sacred and significant sites in the Abrahamic narrative, not just a burial place but a physical anchor of the promise, embodying the patriarchs' faith that their descendants would indeed inherit the land they died in. Their burials in this very specific land underscore their dying faith in God's promises that had not yet been fully realized during their lifetimes (Heb 11:13).

Genesis 25 9 Commentary

Genesis 25:9 offers a concise yet profoundly significant account of Abraham's burial. The collaboration of Isaac and Ishmael, traditionally seen as rivals, performing their filial duty together, marks a rare, poignant moment of unity and reverence, showing that shared lineage could momentarily bridge deep-seated divisions. This act also subtly fulfills the prophecy of Ishmael's ongoing inclusion in Abraham's family legacy, albeit not in the primary covenant line. Furthermore, the meticulous recounting of the burial place—the Machpelah cave, within Ephron's field, near Mamre—is central to the Genesis narrative. This precise detail is not superfluous; it reaffirms the legal, undisputed possession of Abraham's only landholding in Canaan, symbolizing the divine promise of the entire land to his descendants. This physical claim, a tomb for the patriarchs, served as a tangible and permanent stake in the Promised Land, underscoring the enduring nature of God's covenant even after Abraham's death.