Genesis 23:4

With the Hebrew beneath

Genesis 23:4, word by word

am a resident alienגֵּרger

resident alien

Foreigner who lives in a land that is not his own, without the rights of those who belong to the place.

Where else “ger” appears

and a guestתוֹשָׁבtoshav

sojourner, settler

Sojourner, settler: someone who lives in a place without being from there or owning land.

Where else “toshav” appears

Giveתְּנוּtenu

give

To hand something over to someone: a gift, a payment, a charge or a land.

Where else “tenu” appears

a possessionאֲחֻזַּתachuzat

possession

Possession: land that someone holds as his own.

Where else “achuzat” appears

for a graveקֶבֶרkever

tomb

Tomb, grave.

Where else “kever” appears

so that I may buryאֶקְבְּרָהekbra

bury

Bury.

Where else “ekbra” appears

my deadמֵתִmeti

die

To cease living; also, one who has ceased living.

Where else “meti” appears

out of my sightפָנָfana

before

Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.

Where else “fana” appears

Translation note

Abraham calls himself “a resident alien and a guest” (ger vetoshav) and asks for “a possession for a grave”; the deal is closed before those who entered at the city gate (23:10, 18). It can be understood that a foreigner could not acquire land without the agreement of the inhabitants.

The context

To study Genesis 23 in a group

1. 1. What it says

   What did Abraham do when Sarah died, and how did he obtain a place to bury her (vv. 2-16)?

2. 2. What it means

   What does the conversation at the city gate show about how Abraham treats the sons of Heth and Ephron (vv. 7-16)?

3. 3. How I live it

   How can you walk with someone who is grieving this week?