Genesis 23:3
New International Version
Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said,

New Living Translation
Then, leaving her body, he said to the Hittite elders,

English Standard Version
And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites,

Berean Standard Bible
Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and said to the Hittites,

King James Bible
And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,

New King James Version
Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

New American Standard Bible
Then Abraham arose from mourning before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

NASB 1995
Then Abraham rose from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

NASB 1977
Then Abraham rose from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Abraham rose from before his dead and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

Amplified Bible
Then Abraham stood up before his dead [wife’s body], and spoke to the sons of Heth (Hittites), saying,

Christian Standard Bible
When Abraham got up from beside his dead wife, he spoke to the Hethites:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites:”

American Standard Version
And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spake unto the children of Heth, saying,

Contemporary English Version
he went to the Hittites and said,

English Revised Version
And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spake unto the children of Heth, saying,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Abraham left the side of his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites,

Good News Translation
He left the place where his wife's body was lying, went to the Hittites, and said,

International Standard Version
Then Abraham stood up from beside his dead wife and addressed the Hittites. He said,

Majority Standard Bible
Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and said to the Hittites,

NET Bible
Then Abraham got up from mourning his dead wife and said to the sons of Heth,

New Heart English Bible
Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

World English Bible
Abraham rose up from before his dead and spoke to the children of Heth, saying,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abraham rises up from the presence of his dead, and speaks to the sons of Heth, saying,

Young's Literal Translation
And Abraham riseth up from the presence of his dead, and speaketh unto the sons of Heth, saying,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abraham will rise up from the face of his dead, and speak to the sons of Heth, saying,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And after he rose up from the funeral obsequies, he spoke to the children of Heth, saying:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when he had risen up from the funeral duties, he spoke to the sons of Heth, saying:

New American Bible
Then he left the side of his deceased wife and addressed the Hittites:

New Revised Standard Version
Abraham rose up from beside his dead, and said to the Hittites,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abraham rose up from before the bier of his dead and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abraham stood up before his dead and he spoke with the sons of Khyth and said to them,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke unto the children of Heth, saying:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abraam stood up from before his dead; and Abraam spoke to the sons of Chet, saying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death and Burial of Sarah
2She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her. 3Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and said to the Hittites, 4“I am a foreigner and an outsider among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead.”…

Cross References
Genesis 49:29-32
Then Jacob instructed them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. / The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site. / There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried, and there I buried Leah. ...

Genesis 50:13
They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.

Acts 7:16
Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

Hebrews 11:9-10
By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:13-16
All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. / Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. / If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ...

1 Chronicles 29:15
For we are foreigners and strangers in Your presence, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

Psalm 39:12
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.

Psalm 105:11
“I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”

Psalm 119:19
I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.

Leviticus 25:23
The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and residents with Me.

1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8
Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. / For we walk by faith, not by sight. / We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 13:14
For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

1 Kings 2:10
Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.


Treasury of Scripture

And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

Heth.

Genesis 23:5,7
And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, …

Genesis 10:15
And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,

Genesis 25:10
The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

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Abraham Children Dead Heth Hittites Presence Riseth Rose Speaketh Stood Wife
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Abraham Children Dead Heth Hittites Presence Riseth Rose Speaketh Stood Wife
Genesis 23
1. The age and death of Sarah.
3. The purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah;
19. where Sarah is buried.














Then Abraham
The name "Abraham" is derived from the Hebrew "Avraham," meaning "father of many." This name was given by God as a covenant promise that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5). In this context, Abraham's actions are significant as they reflect his role as a patriarch and a man of faith, navigating the complexities of life and death with dignity and purpose.

got up
The phrase "got up" signifies a transition from mourning to action. In Hebrew, the verb "qum" is often used to denote rising or standing up, symbolizing a shift in focus or a readiness to engage with the world. Abraham's rising from beside his deceased wife indicates his acceptance of her death and his resolve to fulfill his responsibilities, even in grief.

from beside his dead wife
This phrase highlights the personal loss Abraham experienced. Sarah, his wife, was not only his partner but also a key figure in God's covenant promises. Her death marks the end of an era in Abraham's life. The Hebrew word for "dead" is "met," which is a stark reminder of mortality. Yet, in the biblical narrative, death is not the end but a transition, and Abraham's faith in God's promises remains steadfast.

and spoke
The act of speaking here is significant. In Hebrew culture, words hold power and authority. The verb "dabar" implies not just casual conversation but a deliberate and purposeful communication. Abraham's dialogue with the Hittites is a formal negotiation, reflecting his wisdom and leadership in securing a burial place for Sarah.

to the Hittites
The Hittites were a significant group in the ancient Near East, known for their advanced culture and influence. In the biblical context, they represent the inhabitants of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants. Abraham's interaction with them is a testament to his integrity and respect for others, even those outside his covenant community. This encounter foreshadows the eventual possession of the land by his descendants, as promised by God.

(3) Abraham stood up from before his dead.--His first care on arriving at Hebron had been to prostrate himself in Sarah's tent, and give utterance to his grief. Only after this he rises to prepare for her burial.

The sons of Heth.--Up to this time we have read only of Amorites, Mamre and his toothers, at Hebron. It now appears that it was the property of the Hittites, a race who, while the Israelites sojourned in Egypt, became so powerful as to contend for empire with the Egyptians themselves. Their capital was Emesa in Northern Syria, and their history is now being made known to us not only by means of Egyptian records, but also of inscriptions in their own language (See Note on Genesis 10:15).

Verse 3. - And Abraham stood up - during the days of mourning he had been sitting on the ground; and now, his grief having moderated (Calvin), he goes out to the city gate - from before (literally, from over the face of) his dead, - "Sarah, though dead, was still his" (Wordsworth) - and spake unto the sons of Heth. - the Hittites were descendants of Heth, the son of Canaan (vide Genesis 10:15). Cf. "daughters of Heth" (Genesis 27:46) and "daughters of Canaan" (Genesis 28:1) - saying.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Abraham
אַבְרָהָ֔ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

got up
וַיָּ֙קָם֙ (way·yā·qām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

from
מֵעַ֖ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

beside
פְּנֵ֣י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

his dead wife
מֵת֑וֹ (mê·ṯōw)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

and said
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the Hittites,
בְּנֵי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT Law: Genesis 23:3 Abraham rose up from before his dead (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 23:2
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