Devine Scripture

Genesis 23:20

What does Genesis 23:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 23:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 23:20 means

This concluding verse reiterates the complete and secure transfer of the field and the cave to Abraham as a permanent burial place, affirmed by the children of Heth. The repetition emphasizes the legal finality and indisputable nature of the transaction. This first acquisition of land in Canaan, even for a grave, serves as a significant down payment on God's greater promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the entire land.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

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.

ASV

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the field was made sure to Abraham, and the cave that was in it, for a possession to bury in, by the children of Heth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the field and the cave that was in it were assured to Abraham for a possession of a sepulchre by the sons of Heth.

Context

This final verse serves as a conclusive summary, reinforcing the complete and legally recognized transfer of the field and cave to Abraham. It acts as a bookend to the entire narrative of the chapter, definitively stating the outcome of Abraham's negotiation and purchase. This confirmation solidifies the chapter's main point: Abraham's first owned possession in the Promised Land.

v.19And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan.

v.20This passage

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 49:31

    There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah—

  • 2 Kings 21:18

    And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

  • Genesis 25:9

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

  • Genesis 50:24

    And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

  • Jeremiah 32:10

    And I subscribed the deed, and sealed it, and called witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.

  • 2 Samuel 24:24

    And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will verily buy it of thee at a price; neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah my God which cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

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