Devine Scripture

Genesis 23:4

What does Genesis 23:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 23:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 23:4 means

Abraham identifies himself to the children of Heth as a "stranger and a sojourner," highlighting his status as a non-landowner in the region despite God's promise that this land would be his descendants'. He humbly requests to purchase a burial place, not to own land generally, but specifically to inter Sarah. This request is driven by both his grief and his cultural responsibility to bury his dead properly, showing his respect and faithfulness even without a permanent homeland.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

I am living among you as one from a strange country: give me some land here as my property, so that I may put my dead to rest.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`A sojourner and a settler I <FI>am<Fi> with you; give to me a possession of a burying-place with you, and I bury my dead from before me.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

I am a stranger and sojourner among you: give me the right of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

I am a stranger and a sojourner with you; give me a possession of a sepulchre with you, that I may bury my dead from before me.

Context

Following Abraham's initiation of dialogue with the Hittites in verse 3, this verse articulates his core request: a burial place. His self-identification as a "stranger and a sojourner" is key to understanding his position and sets up the subsequent negotiations, where his lack of ancestral land ownership influences the terms. It clarifies the need for the significant transaction that unfolds.

v.3And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spake unto the children of Heth, saying,

v.4This passage

v.5And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,

Cross references

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

  • Genesis 17:8

    And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

  • Psalms 119:19

    I am a sojourner in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me.

  • Hebrews 11:9

    By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

  • Hebrews 11:13

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

  • Genesis 49:30

    in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying-place.

  • 1 Peter 2:11

    Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

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