Genesis 23:16

16 Avraham listened to `Efron. Avraham weighed to `Efron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Het, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants' standard.

Genesis 23:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 23:16

And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron
He agreed at once to give him the sum proposed, judging it to be a moderate price between man and man, and he was satisfied with it, and well content to pay him the money: and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver:
for in those times money had no mark or stamp upon it to show its value, and therefore was not told by pieces, but weighed, by which its full worth was known; and that Ephron might have his whole and just demand, the silver was weighed to him: which he had named, in the audience of the sons of Heth;
who were witnesses of the bargain, of the price set by Ephron, and of the payment of it by Abraham: four hundred shekels of silver:
the sum before mentioned, ( Genesis 23:15 ) : current [money] with the merchant;
such as was used by merchants in buying and selling; such as they would receive, who knew the value of it, and were careful not to take any that was bad; wherefore such as would pass, with them would go anywhere, was current money; how all this is consistent with what Stephen says; (See Gill on Acts 7:16).

Genesis 23:16 In-Context

14 `Efron answered Avraham, saying to him
15 "My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead."
16 Avraham listened to `Efron. Avraham weighed to `Efron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Het, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants' standard.
17 So the field of `Efron, which was in Makhpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the border of it round about, were made sure
18 to Avraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Het, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.