Genesis 23:12

Gen 23:12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.

Ver. 12. Abraham bowed down himself.] Civil courtesy is a Christian duty. Religion teacheth not a severe austerity of carriage, or rusticity; but humanity and a genuine affection.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

23:12-13 Abraham didn’t want the whole field, but he was willing to take it to get the cave.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

To show that he had them in good estimation and reverence.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(12) Abraham bowed down.—This obeisance on the patriarch’s part is the Oriental method of returning thanks for the granting of a request; and so in Gen_23:7. The next step is to fix the price.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. bowed himself] See note on Gen_23:7. He had been sitting, while Ephron was speaking.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. Showing hereby great respect, and giving much honour both to them and Ephron; and signifying that he had something to say, and desired audience of them, and humbly submitted to them what he should say.

And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. Showing hereby great respect, and giving much honour both to them and Ephron; and signifying that he had something to say, and desired audience of them, and humbly submitted to them what he should say.

Genesis 23:13

gen 23:13

gen 23:13

gen 23:13And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land,.... He addressed himself to Ephron who spoke last, with an audible voice, so that all could hear him:

saying, but if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me; the words are very concise, and in the original text are only "if thou", and differently supplied; by some, "if thou art he" (c), Ephron, whom it is supposed Abraham knew not by face, or that he was present; which is not likely, since Abraham had lived in those parts now so as to be well known himself, and must know his neighbours; and had lived formerly here, and could not but know so great a prince as Ephron, whose city he dwelt in. The Targum of Jonathan is,"if thou art willing to do me a kindness, hear me;''it will be taken as a favour to admit me to speak once more, and to grant what shall be desired. Others read the words thus,"if thou wilt hear me, or I pray thee hear me, or if thou, if (I say) thou wilt hear me (d):''then follows his proposal:

I will give thee the money for the field; Abraham did not choose to receive it as a free gift, but to make a purchase of it, that it might be sure to him and his posterity; for though Ephron was now in this generous mood, he might change his mind, or hereafter upbraid Abraham with it, should he fall out with him, or his posterity might claim it again, and dispute his right to it:

take it of me: the purchase money, the full worth of the field:

and I will bury my dead there, or "then will I bury", &c. (e); and not before.

(c) "si tu is es", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Ainsworth. (d) "Auscultares", so Tigurine version; "si tu", Schmidt. (e) "et tum sepeliam", Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "tunc", Schmidt.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

12. Bowed — Thus again (comp. Gen_23:3; Gen_23:7) he courteously acknowledges the friendly spirit and generosity of these Hittites.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vers. 12, 13. And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. To express his sense of their kindness, and appreciation of Ephron"s offer in particular; aider which he courteously but firmly urged forward the contemplated purchase. And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me. Literally, if thou, I would that thou wouldst hear me, the two particles and Wl being conjoined to express the intensity of the speaker"s desire. I will give thee money for the field. Literally, money of the field, i.e. the value of the field in money. This seems to indicate that Abraham at least imagined Ephron"s offer of the field and cave as a gift to be not wholly formal. Had he regarded Ephron as all the while desirous of a sale, he would not have employed the language of entreaty. Take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

bowed himself down

This means to bend over or kneel down very low to humbly express respect and honor toward someone. (See: Symbolic Language)

people of the land

"people who lived in that area"

in the hearing of the people of the land

The abstract noun "the hearing" can be stated as "hear" or "listening" AT: "so that the people who lived in the area could hear" or "while the people who lived in the area were listening" (See: Abstract Nouns)

But if you are willing

The word "but" shows a contrast. Ephron wanted to give the field to Abraham; Abraham wanted to pay for it. AT: "No, but if you are willing" or "No, but if you agree with this"

I will pay for the field

"I will give you money for the field"

my dead

The nominal adjective "dead" can be stated as a verb or simply as "wife." AT: "my wife who has died" or "my wife" (See: Nominal Adjectives)

translationWords

Abraham

bow

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

Avraham bowed. He bowed to them to acknowledge that it was in their honor that Ephron consented.

Sforno on the Tanakh — English translation: “Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

וישתחו, Avraham bowed to Efron in everybody’s presence.

Radak on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash” (CC BY 4.0); “Rabbi Mike Feuer, Jerusalem Anthology” (CC BY 4.0); and “R. David Kimhi on the first book of Psalms, Translated by R.G. Finch, London, 1919” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.