Some adjustments may be required in the clause order of this verse so that the information at the end of the verse does not overload the verse in an awkward manner. Notice how Good News Translation has moved forward “all who went in at the gate of the city” to relate to the Hittites.

Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites: Now translates the Hebrew connective waw as a transitional word. We may also say, for example, “While Abraham was speaking, Ephron was sitting….” A translation that follows the Good News Translation model and restructures sitting among … is “They were all sitting at the gate of the town … to talk about this business, and Ephron too was there with them.” In another translation this is shortened to “Ephron was there at that meeting.”

And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham: this clause may be more logically understood as a consequence of Ephron’s presence, since he has heard the discussions. Accordingly we may translate “So Ephron spoke up,” “Therefore Ephron replied to Abraham.” In many languages it will not be necessary to repeat the name of Ephron, but simply to say “… so he replied to Abraham.”

In the hearing of the Hittites is literally “in the ears of the Hittites.” We may also say, for example, “with the other Hittites listening,” “where the other Hittites were,” or “in the presence of the rest of the Hittites.”

Of all who went in at the gate of his city: the possessive pronoun his used with city in this context seems to emphasize that Ephron belonged to that place and was responsible to the people there. For discussion of gate of his city, see 19.1. Translators may find it clearer to shift this information forward, as in Good News Translation, and to place in the hearing of the Hittites at the end of the sentence. Therefore we may translate, for example, “All this time Ephron was sitting with the other Hittites. So he spoke up before all those who met at the city gate. While they listened he replied to Abraham.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .