complete verse (Genesis 23:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:20:

  • Kankanaey: “and that’s what Abraham had bought so-that that is where-he-would-bury his dead.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In this way Abraham took the field of the Hittites and the cave that was there as a place to bury his dead.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Therefore the field including the cave, which belonged to the Hithanon before, became now Abraham’s and he made it a burial-place.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So the field and the cave in it were officially sold to Abraham by the descendants of Heth, to be used as a burial ground.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 23:20

Verse 20 repeats the substance of verses 17 and 18 and adds nothing new. Made over to Abraham translates the same verb as used in verse 17, which Revised English Bible renders “became the legal possession of Abraham.” The sense is “was sold to,” “was transferred to.”

As a possession for a burying place: see Gen 23.9. In some translations burying place is expressed more fully as “a place for burying [dead] members of his family.”

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 .