Genesis 23:15 - “My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.”
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What does "Genesis 23:15" mean?
This verse is part of the story in Genesis 23 where Abraham is negotiating with the Hittites for a burial plot for his wife Sarah. Let's break it down:
"My lord, listen to me.": This is a polite and respectful way for Ephron (the Hittite landowner) to address Abraham.
"What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you?": This is the core of the verse. Ephron is stating the price he wants for the field and the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham wants to buy. He phrases it as if the amount is almost insignificant between friends or equals. It sounds like he's trying to downplay the importance of the money and act as if it's not a big deal.
"Therefore bury your dead.": This is the key takeaway. Despite mentioning the price, Ephron ends the verse by essentially granting Abraham permission to bury Sarah in the land. He is saying, "Even though I mentioned the price, go ahead and bury your dead. I'm allowing you to use the land."
In essence, the meaning is:
Ephron is trying to present himself as generous and accommodating. He names a high price (400 shekels of silver was a substantial sum), but then makes it sound like the price is unimportant in the context of their relationship. He allows Abraham to proceed with the burial, which makes it seem like he's doing him a favor, even though he clearly intends to be paid.
Key Interpretations:
Negotiating tactic: It's a classic negotiating tactic. Ephron wants to be seen as benevolent while still extracting maximum value from Abraham.
Social custom: It also reflects a social custom where landowners were expected to be hospitable and grant burial rights. Ephron is playing into this expectation while subtly setting a high price.
Abraham's perspective: For Abraham, this interaction underscores the importance of owning land for his family and legacy in the Promised Land. He is willing to pay the high price to secure a permanent burial place for Sarah.
In summary, the verse reveals a complex interaction between two individuals with different cultural backgrounds and negotiating styles. It highlights the importance of land ownership, social expectations, and the nuances of negotiation in the ancient world.
Genesis 23:15 - “My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.”
What does "Genesis 23:15" mean?
This verse is part of the story in Genesis 23 where Abraham is negotiating with the Hittites for a burial plot for his wife Sarah. Let's break it down:
"My lord, listen to me.": This is a polite and respectful way for Ephron (the Hittite landowner) to address Abraham.
"What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you?": This is the core of the verse. Ephron is stating the price he wants for the field and the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham wants to buy. He phrases it as if the amount is almost insignificant between friends or equals. It sounds like he's trying to downplay the importance of the money and act as if it's not a big deal.
"Therefore bury your dead.": This is the key takeaway. Despite mentioning the price, Ephron ends the verse by essentially granting Abraham permission to bury Sarah in the land. He is saying, "Even though I mentioned the price, go ahead and bury your dead. I'm allowing you to use the land."
In essence, the meaning is:
Ephron is trying to present himself as generous and accommodating. He names a high price (400 shekels of silver was a substantial sum), but then makes it sound like the price is unimportant in the context of their relationship. He allows Abraham to proceed with the burial, which makes it seem like he's doing him a favor, even though he clearly intends to be paid.
Key Interpretations:
Negotiating tactic: It's a classic negotiating tactic. Ephron wants to be seen as benevolent while still extracting maximum value from Abraham.
Social custom: It also reflects a social custom where landowners were expected to be hospitable and grant burial rights. Ephron is playing into this expectation while subtly setting a high price.
Abraham's perspective: For Abraham, this interaction underscores the importance of owning land for his family and legacy in the Promised Land. He is willing to pay the high price to secure a permanent burial place for Sarah.
In summary, the verse reveals a complex interaction between two individuals with different cultural backgrounds and negotiating styles. It highlights the importance of land ownership, social expectations, and the nuances of negotiation in the ancient world.