Genesis 23:15

15 My lord, hear thou me; the land which thou askest (for) is worth four hundred shekels of silver, that is the price betwixt me and thee; but (now) how much is this? bury thou thy dead body (so bury thou thy dead wife's body there).

Genesis 23:15 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 23:15

My lord, hearken unto me
Since it is your mind to buy the field, and not receive it as a gift, then hear what I have to say as to the value of it: the land [is worth] four hundred shekels of silver;
which, reckoning a shekel at two shillings and sixpence, comes to fifty pounds of our money; what [is] that betwixt thee and me?
between two persons so rich, the sum was trifling and inconsiderable, whether the one paid it, and the other received it, or not; or between two such friends it was not worth speaking of, it was no matter whether it was paid or not: or else the sense is, between us both it is honestly worth so much; it is a good bargain, and must be owned to be so, what is it? the sum is so small, and it is so clearly the worth of it, that there needs no more to be said about it: bury therefore thy dead:
in it, and give thyself no more trouble and concern about it.

Genesis 23:15 In-Context

13 and he spake to Ephron, while his people stood about, (and said,) I beseech, that thou hear me; I shall give money (to thee) for the field, receive thou it, and so I shall bury my dead body in the field (and then I shall bury my dead wife's body there in the field).

14 And Ephron answered

15 My lord, hear thou me; the land which thou askest (for) is worth four hundred shekels of silver, that is the price betwixt me and thee; but (now) how much is this? bury thou thy dead body (so bury thou thy dead wife's body there).

16 And when Abraham had heard this, he numbered (out) the money which Ephron asked (for), while the sons of Heth heard (And when Abraham had heard this, he counted out the money which Ephron had named, and which the other Hittites had also heard him say), (that is,) four hundred shekels of silver, and of proved common money.

17 And the field that was sometime of Ephron, in which field was a double den, beholding to Mamre, as well that field, as the den, and all the trees thereof, in all the terms thereof by compass, (And so the field that belonged to Ephron, which field was at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, that field, and the cave, and all the trees, within its boundaries all around,)