הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־קָנָ֥ה אַבְרָהָ֖ם מֵאֵ֣ת בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת שָׁ֛מָּה קֻבַּ֥ר אַבְרָהָ֖ם וְשָׂרָ֥ה אִשְׁתֹּֽו׃
The field which Avraham purchased from the sons of Ḥet; there Avraham and Sara his wife were buried.
Morphology
- הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה (hasadeh) – Root: שדה (s-d-h); Form: Noun, ms definite; Translation: “the field”; Notes: Refers to the specific field of Makhpelah. This verse reiterates the significance of the field of Makhpelah as a family burial site.
- אֲשֶׁר־קָנָ֥ה (asher-qanah) – Root: קנה (q-n-h); Form: Relative pronoun אֲשֶׁר with verb qal perfect 3ms; Translation: “which [he] purchased”; Notes: Describes the act of acquiring the field by Avraham.
- אַבְרָהָ֖ם (Avraham) – Root: אברהם (ʾ-v-r-h-m); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Avraham”; Notes: Subject of the verb קנה.
- מֵאֵ֣ת (meʾet) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Preposition מִן with אֵת (direct object marker); Translation: “from”; Notes: Indicates the source of the purchase.
- בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת (bene-Ḥet) – Root: בן (b-n) and חת (ḥ-t); Form: Noun, mp construct (sons) with proper noun (Ḥet); Translation: “the sons of Ḥet”; Notes: Refers to the Hittite tribe from whom the field was bought.
- שָׁ֛מָּה (shamah) – Root: שם (sh-m); Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Indicates the burial location.
- קֻבַּ֥ר (qubbar) – Root: קבר (q-b-r); Form: Verb, pual perfect 3ms; Translation: “was buried”; Notes: Passive voice indicating Avraham’s interment. The use of the pual form “קֻבַּ֥ר” emphasizes the passive action of being interred.
- אַבְרָהָ֖ם (Avraham) – Root: אברהם (ʾ-v-r-h-m); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Avraham”; Notes: Subject of the passive verb קֻבַּ֥ר.
- וְשָׂרָ֥ה (veSarah) – Root: שרה (s-r-h); Form: Proper noun, fs with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and Sarah”; Notes: Adds Sarah to the list of those buried there. The inclusion of Sarah reinforces the connection between the patriarchal and matriarchal lineage in this sacred location.
- אִשְׁתֹּֽו (ishto) – Root: אשה (ʾ-sh-h); Form: Noun, fs construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “his wife”; Notes: Indicates Sarah’s relationship to Avraham.
Morphological Analysis
הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה (haś-śāḏeh)
- Root: שדה (śdh)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the field”
אֲשֶׁר־קָנָ֥ה (ʾăšer-qānāh)
- Root: קנה (qnh)
- Form: Relative pronoun with Qal Perfect 3ms
- Translation: “that [he] purchased”
אַבְרָהָ֖ם (ʾaḇrāhām)
- Root: אברהם (ʾbrhm)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Abraham”
מֵאֵ֣ת (mēʾēṯ)
- Root: את (ʾt)
- Form: Preposition
- Translation: “from”
בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת (bə-nê-ḥēṯ)
- Root: בן (bn), חת (ḥt)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with proper noun
- Translation: “the sons of Heth”
שָׁ֛מָּה (šāmmāh)
- Root: שם (šm)
- Form: Adverb
- Translation: “there”
קֻבַּ֥ר (qubbar)
- Root: קבר (qbr)
- Form: Pual Perfect 3ms
- Translation: “was buried”
אַבְרָהָ֖ם (ʾaḇrāhām)
- Root: אברהם (ʾbrhm)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Abraham”
וְשָׂרָ֥ה (wəśārāh)
- Root: שרה (śrh)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “and Sarah”
אִשְׁתֹּֽו (ʾištô)
- Root: אשה (ʾšh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his wife”
Syntax Analysis
The verse starts with the definite noun phrase הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה (“the field”), followed by the relative clause אֲשֶׁר־קָנָ֥ה אַבְרָהָ֖ם (“that Abraham purchased”), describing the field’s background. The phrase מֵאֵ֣ת בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת (“from the sons of Heth”) indicates the source of the transaction. The adverb שָׁ֛מָּה (“there”) emphasizes the location where קֻבַּ֥ר אַבְרָהָ֖ם (“Abraham was buried”) along with וְשָׂרָ֥ה אִשְׁתֹּֽו (“and Sarah his wife”).
Grammatical Analysis
The Pual verb קֻבַּ֥ר (“was buried”) indicates a passive action, emphasizing that Abraham’s burial was performed by others. The use of the adverb שָׁ֛מָּה (“there”) highlights the importance of the burial site.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- קנה (qnh): Means “to purchase” or “acquire,” often used in the context of formal transactions.
- קבר (qbr): Refers to the act of burial, signifying interment in a place of familial or ancestral importance.
Textual Criticism
There are no significant textual variations noted in the major sources such as the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan Targum, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, or the Old Latin versions. The consistency across these texts attests to the stability and faithful transmission of this verse in the biblical record.