Genesis 23:6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 23:3-15

Here is, I. The humble request which Abraham made to his neighbours, the Hittites, for a burying-place among them, Gen. 23:3, 4. It was strange he had this to do now; but we are to impute it rather to God's providence than to his improvidence, as appears Acts 7:5; where it is said, God gave him no inheritance in Canaan. It were well if all those who take care to provide burying-places for their bodies after death were as careful to provide a resting-place for their souls. Observe here, 1. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:6

Hear us, my lord ,.... One of them spake in the name of the rest, who calls Abraham not "our lord", but "my lord"; addressing him very honourably, and desires he would hear what he had to say on the behalf of others with himself; "hear us", representing not the body of the common people, but the princes among them, the heads of their families: thou art a mighty prince amongst us ; though he was pleased to call himself a stranger and a sojourner, yet they had an high opinion of him, as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:6

Thou art a mighty prince - אלהים נשיא nesi Elohim , a prince of God - a person whom we know to be Divinely favored, and whom, in consequence, we deeply respect and reverence. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:6

Verse 6 6.Thou art a mighty prince among us (453) The Hittites gratuitously offer a burying-place to Abraham wherever he might please to choose one. They testify that they do this, as a tribute to his virtues. We have before seen, that the Hebrews give a divine title to anything which excels. Therefore we are to understand by the expression, ‘a prince of God,’ a person of great and singular excellency. And they properly signalize him whom they reverence for his virtues, with this eulogium;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 23:1-20

The death and burial of Sarah. I. THE DEATH OF SARAH . 1. The mournful event . The death of— 2. The attendant circumstances . Sarah died— II. THE BURIAL OF SARAH . 1. The days of mourning . "Abraham came to mourn and to weep for Sarah." The sorrow of the patriarch was— 2. The purchase of a grave . Here may be noted— 3. The last rites of sepulture . " After this Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah;"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 23:5-6

And the children of Heth answered. Abraham, saying unto him, Hear us, my lord. My lord (Adoni) = sir, monsieur , or mein herr . One acts as the spokesman of all; the number changing from plural to singular. The LXX ; reading לֹא instead of לוֹ , after the Samaritan Codex, render μὴ κύριε, Not so, my lord; but hear us. Thou art a mighty prince among us . Literally, a prince of Elohim ; not of Jehovah, since the speakers were heathen whose ideas of Deity did not transcend... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 23:1-20

- The Death of Sarah2. ארבע קרית qı̂ryat-'arba‛, “Qirjath-arba‘, city of Arba.” ארבע 'arba‛, “Arba‘, four.”8. עפרון ‛eprôn, “‘Ephron, of the dust, or resembling a calf.” צחר tshochar, “Tsochar, whiteness.”9. מכפלה makpêlâh, “Makpelah, doubled.”The death and burial of Sarah are here recorded. This occasions the purchase of the field of Makpelah, in the cave of which is her sepulchre.Genesis 23:1-2Sarah is the only woman whose age is recorded in Scripture. She meets with this distinction as... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 23:6

Genesis 23:6. Thou art a prince of God So it is in the original, not only great, but good. He called himself a stranger and a sojourner, they call him a great prince; and well they might, considering his wealth, prosperity, and retinue, and the simple manners of those times. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:1-20

Further expressions of faith (22:20-23:20)While Abraham was establishing his family in Canaan, the family of his brother Nahor in Mesopotamia was growing. The writer records this growth to introduce Rebekah, the future wife of Isaac (20-24).Back in Canaan, Abraham moved from Beersheba to Hebron, and there Sarah died (23:1-2). Though God had promised the whole of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants, Abraham still owned no land there. The death of Sarah gave him an opportunity to buy a piece of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 23:6

mighty prince. Hebrew. prince of El. Genitive of relation ( App-17 ), for Adjective. Compare Psalms 36:7 ; Psalms 80:10 . read more