Genesis 23 in the early church

24 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 23, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 16 · 17 · 19

Genesis 23:1

Now Sarah lived to be 127 years old.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:1Commentary on Romans 4.6 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Gen 23:1–20Genesis, lines 750–774 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Gen 23:1–20City of God 16.15 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidence413–426
Gen 23:1City of God 16.32 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence413–426

Genesis 23:2

She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:2Letters 13.4 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 394–413
Gen 23:2Instructions 2.5 · Eucherius of Lyonallusion, medium confidenceca. 428-434

Genesis 23:3

Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and said to the Hittites,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:3–20City of God 16.32 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence413–426

Genesis 23:4

“I am a foreigner and an outsider among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:4Miscellanies 4.26.165 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Gen 23:4On the Resurrection of the Flesh 18 · Tertullianquotation, high confidenceca. 208–212

Genesis 23:6

“Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:6Miscellanies 2.19.100 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Gen 23:6Homilies on Exodus 9.4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Gen 23:6Question 108, section 2 · Ambrosiasterallusion, low confidenceca. 370–384
Gen 23:6Explanation of Twelve Psalms 47.7.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397

Genesis 23:8

“If you are willing for me to bury my dead,” he said to them, “listen to me, and approach Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:8Fragments on Genesis, column 121 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 220-254

Genesis 23:9

to sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence for full price, so that I may have a burial site.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:9Homilies on Joshua 18.3 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Genesis 23:10

Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:10To Autolycus 2.31 · Theophilus of Antiochallusion, medium confidenceca. 180–185

Genesis 23:16

Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:16Against Heresies 5.32.2 · Irenaeus of Lyonsallusion, high confidenceca. 180–190
Gen 23:16Homilies on the Psalms 14.1 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 360-378
Gen 23:16–20Letter 57.10 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419

Genesis 23:17

So Ephron’s field at Machpelah near Mamre, the cave that was in it, and all the trees within the boundaries of the field were deeded over

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:17Letters 13.4 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 394–413

Genesis 23:19

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 23:19On First Principles 4.3.4 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220–230 (Rufinus's translation 398)
Gen 23:19Apology for Origen 6.1 · Pamphilus of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 308–310 (Rufinus's Latin about 397)
Gen 23:19On the Destruction of Jerusalem 4.23 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 370
Gen 23:19Letter 66.11 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419