Bible Strands
Genesis 23:10
Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ephron addresses Abraham in direct response to his request to purchase a burial site. He speaks while seated among the sons of Heth at the city gate, where the entire local assembly has gathered.
The words — The text employs יֹשֵׁב (yo.Shev, "sitting") and וַיַּעַן (va.ya.'An, "he answered") to describe Ephron's posture and speech. These terms denote a formal, seated council response rather than a casual reply.
The thread — The city gate functions as the same public venue for civic transactions in Genesis 34:20 and Genesis 34:24. Genesis 23:18 later confirms the land transaction was finalized before this identical assembly of Hittites.
Why it lands — The text records a public legal declaration that secures Abraham's burial rights through witnessed civic procedure. It requires the reader to note how covenant inheritance is established through documented, community-acknowledged agreements rather than private claims.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
Cross-references
- Genesis 34:20 So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and addressed the men of their city:
- Genesis 34:24 All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male of the city was circumcised.
- Genesis 23:18 to Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city.
- Genesis 24:10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.
- Ruth 4:1 Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.
- Job 29:7 When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
- Isaiah 28:6 a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.
- Matthew 9:1 Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town.
- Luke 2:3 And everyone went to his own town to register.