Genesis 23 (MSG)

20 verses · The Message · Contemporary paraphrase

The Message by Eugene Peterson presents the Bible in the rhythms and idioms of contemporary American English. More than a translation, it is a paraphrase designed to help readers experience Scripture's impact as if hearing it for the first time.

Genesis Chapter 23 contains 20 verses and is presented here in the The Message (MSG), which uses a contemporary paraphrase approach. Read the full text below, compare with other translations, or navigate to any of the 50 chapters in Genesis.

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1Sarah lived 127 years.

2Sarah died in Kiriath Arba, present-day Hebron, in the land of Canaan. Abraham mourned for Sarah and wept.

3Then Abraham got up from mourning his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites:

4"I know I'm only an outsider here among you, but sell me a burial plot so that I can bury my dead decently."

5The Hittites responded,

6"Why, you're no mere outsider here with us, you're a prince of God! Bury your dead wife in the best of our burial sites. None of us will refuse you a place for burial."

7Then Abraham got up, bowed respectfully to the people of the land, the Hittites,

8and said, "If you're serious about helping me give my wife a proper burial, intercede for me with Ephron son of Zohar.

9Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah that he owns, the one at the end of his land. Ask him to sell it to me at its full price for a burial plot, with you as witnesses."

10Ephron was part of the local Hittite community. Then Ephron the Hittite spoke up, answering Abraham with all the Hittites who were part of the town council listening:

11"Oh no, my master! I couldn't do that. The field is yours—a gift. I'll give it and the cave to you. With my people as witnesses, I give it to you. Bury your deceased wife."

12Abraham bowed respectfully before the assembled council

13and answered Ephron: "Please allow me—I want to pay the price of the land; take my money so that I can go ahead and bury my wife."

14Then Ephron answered Abraham,

15"If you insist, master. What's four hundred silver shekels between us? Now go ahead and bury your wife."

16Abraham accepted Ephron's offer and paid out the sum that Ephron had named before the town council of Hittites—four hundred silver shekels at the current exchange rate.

17That's how Ephron's field next to Mamre—the field, its cave, and all the trees within its borders—

18became Abraham's property. The town council of Hittites witnessed the transaction.

19Abraham then proceeded to bury his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah that is next to Mamre, present-day Hebron, in the land of Canaan.

20The field and its cave went from the Hittites into Abraham's possession as a burial plot.

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About This Translation

What is Genesis 23 in the MSG?

Genesis 23 in the The Message (MSG) contains 20 verses. The MSG uses a contemporary paraphrase approach, first published in 2002.

How does the MSG translate Genesis 23 differently?

The The Message uses contemporary paraphrase, rendering the text as a modern paraphrase in contemporary idioms. Compare this with the NIV (dynamic equivalence) version of Genesis 23 for a different perspective.

How many verses are in Genesis 23 (MSG)?

Genesis Chapter 23 contains 20 verses in the The Message. The book of Genesis has 50 chapters total.

Genesis (MSG) — All 50 Chapters

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