Bible Strands
Genesis 25:9
His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the burial of Abraham immediately following his death and peaceful passing in Genesis 25:8. The account addresses the lineage and land inheritance concerns central to the patriarchal narrative.
The words — יִקְבְּרוּ [yikbe.ru] translates literally as "they buried," marking the completion of a physical duty. מַכְפֵּלָה [makhpe.lah] means "double" or "double cave," specifying the exact burial location.
The thread — This burial site appears again in Genesis 50:13 when Joseph is interred there, and in Genesis 35:29 when Isaac is laid to rest. The field was originally purchased from Ephron the Hittite in Genesis 23 to secure a permanent foothold in Canaan.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that covenant promises are fulfilled through concrete historical actions and land transactions. It requires the reader to acknowledge that the rival lineages of Isaac and Ishmael are united in honoring their father while inheriting different promises.
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 his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
Cross-references
- Genesis 50:13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
- Genesis 35:29 Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
- Genesis 21:9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son,
- Genesis 49:29 Then Jacob instructed them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.
- Genesis 23:9 to sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence for full price, so that I may have a burial site.”