Lexical Definition

‎עֶפְרוֹן‎ ʻEphrôwn (ef-rone') Ephron ^N:N-M-P
from the same as ‎עֵפֶר‎; fawn-like

Ephron, Ephrain (from the margin).

• § Ephron = "fawn-like"
• Ephron, the name of a Canaanite and of two places in Palestine

n pr m
1) a Hittite, son of Zohar and the one from whom Abraham bought the field and cave of Machpelah
n pr loc
2) a city on the borders of Benjamin
3) a mountain on the northern border of Judah

See Greek: Ἐφραίμ

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.23.8
• son of: Zohar (צֹחַר)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎עֶפְרוֺן‎ proper name Εφρων: —

1. masculine Hittite, Abraham's time, according to Gen 23:8; Gen 23:10 (twice in verse); Gen 23:13; Gen 23:16; Gen 23:17; Gen 49:29, ‎עֶפְרֹן‎ Gen 23:6; Gen 25:9; Gen 49:30; Gen 50:13 (all P).

2. location 2Chr 13:19 Kt (‎עֶפְיִן‎ Qr), compare ‎עָפְרָה‎ 1 a. 3. mont. ‎׳‎‎הַרעֿ‎, on northern border of Judah Josh 15:9.

‎עֶפְרַ֫יִן‎ 2Chr 13:19 Qr see ‎עֶפְרוֺן‎

2. above

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Son of Zohar • A Hittite who sold a burial site to Abraham.

Man living at the time of the Patriarchs

Ephron the Hittite sold the cave of Machpelah to Abraham as a burial site for Sarah (Gen.23).

• A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.23.8;
• only referred to as Ephron עֶפְרוֹן;
• a son of Zohar צֹחַר.

Ephron was a Hittite man who lived in the city of Hebron during the time of Abraham. He owned a field containing the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham sought to purchase as a burial place for his wife Sarah (Gen.23).

When Sarah died, Abraham approached the Hittites and requested to buy a burial site. Ephron was present at the meeting and offered to give the field and the cave to Abraham as a gift (Gen.23.8-11). However, Abraham insisted on paying the full price, and Ephron named a price of 400 shekels of silver (Gen.23.14-15).

Abraham agreed to the price and paid Ephron in the presence of witnesses, securing the field and the cave as a permanent possession for burial (Gen.23.16-20). The cave of Machpelah later became the burial place for Abraham himself, as well as Isaac, Rebekah, Israel (or 'Jacob'), and Leah (Gen.25.9; 49.29,30; 50.13).

Ephron's interaction with Abraham demonstrates the legal and social customs of property transactions in the ancient Near East. It also highlights Abraham's desire to establish a permanent burial place for his family in the land of Canaan, foreshadowing the future possession of the land by his descendants.

All entries for Ephron: עֶפְרוֹן

Related Profiles:

• Zohar (father)