Ephron עֶפְרוֹן
A Hittite who sold a burial site to Abraham.
Biography
Ephron was a Hittite man who lived in the city of Hebron during the time of Abraham. He owned a field containing the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham sought to purchase as a burial place for his wife Sarah (Gen.23).
When Sarah died, Abraham approached the Hittites and requested to buy a burial site. Ephron was present at the meeting and offered to give the field and the cave to Abraham as a gift (Gen.23.8-11). However, Abraham insisted on paying the full price, and Ephron named a price of 400 shekels of silver (Gen.23.14-15).
Abraham agreed to the price and paid Ephron in the presence of witnesses, securing the field and the cave as a permanent possession for burial (Gen.23.16-20). The cave of Machpelah later became the burial place for Abraham himself, as well as Isaac, Rebekah, Israel (or 'Jacob'), and Leah (Gen.25.9; 49.29,30; 50.13).
Ephron's interaction with Abraham demonstrates the legal and social customs of property transactions in the ancient Near East. It also highlights Abraham's desire to establish a permanent burial place for his family in the land of Canaan, foreshadowing the future possession of the land by his descendants.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentGenesis 5 verses Study available
- Genesis 23:8
"He talked with them, saying, “If you agree that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 23:10
"Now Ephron was sitting in the middle of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying,"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 23:13
"He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.”"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 23:14
"Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 23:16
"Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard."
Study Genesis →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עֶפְרוֹן | H6085G |
Ephron (2)
f, and Ephron with the towns thereof." Another reading is "Ephraim" (Revised Version, margin). This is thought by many to be identical with Ophrah (`ophrah, Jos 18:23) and perhaps with Ephraim (`ephrayim, 2Sa 13:23) which both have been localized at the lofty town of eT Taiyibeh.
(2) A city East of the Jordan between Carnion (Ashteroth-karnain) and Scythopolis (Beisan): "Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the country. .... Now when they came unto Ephron (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it either on the right hand or on the left, but they must needs pass through the midst of it" (1 Macc 5:45,46 the King James Version; Ant, XII, viii, 5; also 2 Macc 12:27). Buhl and Schumacher propose Kacr Wady el Ghafr, a ruined tower which completely commands the deep Wady el Ghafr, but the ruins appear to be scanty.
(3) Mt. Ephron: The border of Judah is described (Jos 15:9): "It went out to the cities of Mount Ephron." The position will depend on that of Nephtoah and of Kiriath-jearim.
E. W. G. Masterman
1. Social and Political Causes 2. Egoistic Hedonism 3. Back to Nature 4. Ataraxy 5. Pleasure Is the Absence of Pain 6. Social Contract 7. A