Genesis 23:14

Genesis 23:14, in plain English

Ephron now responds to Abraham's insistence on paying. What comes next will be his final offer.

Why it's here

Ephron heard Abraham's polite but firm refusal of the gift. Now Ephron will state his price. The fact that he's responding again shows a willingness to negotiate, even after his generous initial offer.

Who's speaking

The narrator indicates that Ephron is about to respond.

Where it sits in the story

The transaction is moving toward its conclusion. Abraham's integrity has set the tone—this will be a fair business deal, witnessed and recorded.

The scholarly reading

Ephron responds to Abraham's insistence on payment, preparing to name his asking price.

Language and setting

The brief narrative formula 'Ephron answered Abraham' (va-ya'an Ephron et-Avraham) creates a pause wherein the transaction moves from rhetorical courtesy to explicit commercial negotiation. Ephron's shift from magnanimous gift-giver to seller occurs at precisely the moment Abraham insists upon payment—suggesting Ephron had anticipated this response and calibrated his initial offer accordingly. The narrative's structural precision here reflects sophisticated ancient Near Eastern negotiation protocol.

Voice

The narrative voice, marking the transition to commercial specificity.

Significance

Ephron's willingness to negotiate price—despite his initial generosity—demonstrates the universal principle that property rights require explicit legal transaction, a principle that structures Israel's entire relationship with the Promised Land.

12Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land

13and said to Ephron in their presence, “If you will please listen to me, I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.”

14Ephron answered Abraham,

15“Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”

16Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.

Read all of Genesis 23 — Abraham buries his wife and insists on paying full price for the land. It's his first piece of the promise — a grave in Canaan.