Genesis 23:19
ESV
After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
NIV
Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
NASB
After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan.
CSB
After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
NLT
Then Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, there in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre (also called Hebron).
KJV
And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
NKJV
And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
What does Genesis 23:19 mean?
With the official period for mourning for his wife completed (Genesis 23:1–2) and a permanent burial place secured (Genesis 23:13–16), Abraham finally buries Sarah in the "cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre." More importantly, Abraham buried Sarah in the "land of Canaan."In a sense, this choice to bury Sarah in Canaan was a final renouncement of his former homeland. Until Sarah died and was buried in the land of promise, it was always potentially possible for Abraham to give up on God's promises and "go home." He never did, and his decisive action to buy a burial place for Sarah and himself and their descendants in Canaan showed that he had fully cut his ties to his old life. Canaan, the land of promise, was home for now and for his people forever.
