Ephron
malePatriarchalMeaning: “Fawn-like; dust”
The Hittite from whom Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah as a burial place for Sarah — the patriarchs’ family tomb.
Biography
Ephron the Hittite, son of Zohar, owned the field and cave of Machpelah near Hebron. When Sarah died, Abraham approached the Hittites to buy a burial place. In the courteous, formal bargaining at the city gate, Ephron offered the field as a gift, but Abraham insisted on paying full price — four hundred shekels of silver (Genesis 23:8–16).
The patriarchs' tomb
The purchase gave Abraham the first piece of the Promised Land actually owned by his family. The cave of Machpelah became the burial place not only of Sarah but of Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (Genesis 49:29–31; 50:13) — a tangible pledge of the inheritance God had promised.
Life Timeline
Sells the cave of Machpelah to Abraham for 400 shekels
On the Bible timeline
Ephron belongs to the The Patriarchs era (c. 2100 – 1800 BC).
- c. 2091 BCThe Call of Abraham
- c. 1898 BCJoseph Sold into Egypt
Themes & lessons from Ephron
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Ephron appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
10 verses in 1 bookGenesis10 verses
Genesis 23:8
And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
Genesis 23:10
And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, audience: Heb. ears
Genesis 23:13
And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.
Genesis 23:14
And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
Genesis 23:16
And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
Genesis 23:17
And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
Genesis 25:9
And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
Genesis 49:29
And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
Genesis 49:30
In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.
Genesis 50:13
For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
Frequently asked about Ephron
Who was Ephron in the Bible?
The Hittite from whom Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah as a burial place for Sarah — the patriarchs’ family tomb.
What does the name Ephron mean?
The name Ephron means “Fawn-like; dust”.
Where does Ephron appear in the Bible?
Ephron is mentioned 10 times across 1 book: Genesis.
What can we learn from Ephron?
The story of Ephron touches on themes of ephron, abraham, cave, land — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Ephron's life.
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