Bible Strands
Genesis 23:12
Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Abraham addresses the Hittite landowners in Machpelah immediately after Ephron publicly offers him the field and cave for free. He physically acknowledges the local witnesses before formally offering to pay the full price for the property.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּשְׁתּ֙חוּ֙ (va-yish-ta-chu) literally means "he bowed down" or "he prostrated himself," while לִ/פְנֵ֖י עַ֥ם הָ/אָֽרֶץ (lifnei am ha-aretz) translates to "before the people of the land." The phrasing records a deliberate physical posture of deference directed at the local community.
The thread — The text notes this same bowing action in Genesis 23:7 during Abraham's initial interaction with the Hittites. The earlier cross-reference to Genesis 18:2 records Abraham bowing before three visitors, while Genesis 19:1 describes Lot bowing before angels, not Abraham.
Why it lands — The verse documents a concrete act of cultural respect preceding a legal transaction. It requires the reader to observe how Abraham navigates foreign land ownership through formal acknowledgment rather than unilateral claim.
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 Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
Cross-references
- Genesis 18:2 And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
- Genesis 19:1 Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown,
- Genesis 23:7 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.