Genesis 23:20

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

So the field and the cave that was in it were officially deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיָּ֨קָם הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֛וֹ לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָ֑בֶר מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת׃

Transliteration

And wə-yāqām the haśśāḏeh and the wəhamməʿārāh which-ʾăšer-in it to ʾAḇrāhām for laʾăḥuzzaṯ-qāḇer from mēʾēṯ bənê-Ḥēṯ.

Grammar Details

• *wə-yāqām*: conjunction + qal imperfect consecutive 3rd masculine singular - and it was established
• *haśśāḏeh*: definite article + masculine singular noun - the field
• *wəhamməʿārāh*: conjunction + definite article + feminine singular noun - and the cave
• *ʾăšer*: relative pronoun - which
• *ʾAḇrāhām*: proper noun, masculine singular - Abraham
• *laʾăḥuzzaṯ*: preposition + feminine singular construct - for possession of
• *qāḇer*: masculine singular noun - burial/grave
• *mēʾēṯ*: preposition + preposition - from
• *bənê*: masculine plural construct - sons of
• *Ḥēṯ*: proper noun - Heth

Word Meanings

• *wə-yāqām*: and it was established/confirmed/deeded
• *laʾăḥuzzaṯ-qāḇer*: for possession of burial/burial property
• *mēʾēṯ*: from/from with

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as a possession for a burial place.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the field,{H7704} and the cave{H4631} that is therein, were made sure{H6965} unto Abraham{H85} for a possession{H272} of a burying-place{H6913} by the children{H1121} of Heth.{H2845}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the field{H7704}, and the cave{H4631} that is therein, were made sure{H6965}{(H8799)} unto Abraham{H85} for a possession{H272} of a buryingplace{H6913} by the sons{H1121} of Heth{H2845}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And so both the felde ad the caue that is therein was made vnto Abraham a sure possession to bury in of the sonnes of Heth.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  So the felde and the caue therin was made sure of the Hethites vnto Abraham, for a possession to bury in.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Thus the fielde and the caue, that is therein, was made sure vnto Abraham for a possession of buriall by the Hittites.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And so both the fielde & the caue that is therein, was made vnto Abraham a sure possession to bury in, by the sonnes of Heth.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And the field, and the cave that [is] therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  The field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the children of Heth.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and established are the field, and the cave which `is' in it, to Abraham for a possession of a burying-place, from the sons of Heth.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the children of Heth.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the children of Heth.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And the field and the hollow rock were handed over to Abraham as his property by the children of Heth.

• World English Bible (2000)

  The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the children of Heth.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So Abraham secured the field and the cave that was in it as a burial site from the sons of Heth.

Referenced Verses

• Ruth 4:7-9 : 7 Now in earlier times in Israel, to finalize a transaction concerning redemption or transfer of property, one party would take off their sandal and give it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel. 8 So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, 'Buy it yourself,' and he removed his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, 'Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.' 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, as my wife in order to maintain the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the gate of his hometown. You are witnesses today.
• 2 Sam 24:24 : 24 But the king said to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
• 2 Kgs 21:18 : 18 Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza. His son Amon reigned in his place.
• Jer 32:10-14 : 10 I signed and sealed the deed, called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on a scale. 11 I took the deed of purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy. 12 Then I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch, son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, the witnesses who signed the deed, and all the Jews who were sitting in the courtyard of the guard. 13 In their presence, I gave Baruch the following instructions: 14 This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Take these deeds—both the sealed copy of the purchase deed and the open copy—and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time.
• Gen 25:9 : 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near Mamre.
• Gen 49:31-32 : 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the sons of Heth.
• Gen 50:5 : 5 'My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die. Bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now, please let me go and bury my father, and I will return.'
• Gen 50:13 : 13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite.
• Gen 50:24-25 : 24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, 'God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.'