Genesis 23: Sarah's Burial

Sarah died at Hebron at 127 years old, and Abraham mourned and wept for her. Abraham, a sojourner in the land, asked the Hittites for a burial place. He respectfully bought the field of Ephron with the cave of Machpelah for four hundred shekels of silver and buried Sarah there. This was the first piece of the promised land Abraham owned.

Go to worksheets ↓

Bible:

Read Genesis 23

World English Bible · 20 verses

¹ Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. This was the length of Sarah’s life.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Abraham rose up from before his dead and spoke to the children of Heth, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ “I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ The children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ “Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb. Bury your dead.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, to the children of Heth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ He talked with them, saying, “If you agree that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ that he may sell me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him sell it to me among you as a possession for a burial place.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Now Ephron was sitting in the middle of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ “No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ “My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deededThis verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial place.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

1Pick a grade below
2Look over the worksheet
3Tap Print worksheet. Print the answer key separately.

Pick a grade:

Answer key (print separately)More print options ↓

Open Preschool on its own page

Genesis 23 · Preschool

Abraham Loved Sarah

Name Date

Color the heart, Abraham and Sarah, and the trees. Abraham loved Sarah very much.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.”

Genesis 23:2 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: When Sarah died, Abraham was sad and cried. God cares when we are sad. Be gentle; let your child share any questions about sadness or loss.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Genesis 23 · Grade 4

Grief and Hope

Name Date

Read and Think

Genesis 23 is a quiet, tender chapter. Sarah, the mother of the promised son, died at 127. Abraham mourned and wept for her. The Bible does not tell us to hide our sadness when someone dies. Grieving is a way of showing love.

Abraham then did something practical and full of faith. Though God had promised him the whole land, he still owned none of it. He negotiated respectfully with the Hittites and paid a fair price for the cave of Machpelah, refusing to take it as a gift.

Buying a grave in Canaan was an act of hope. Abraham was showing that he trusted this land would really belong to his family, just as God promised. Later Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah and Jacob were also buried there. In the New Testament, Paul says Christians grieve with hope, because Jesus rose (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

Show What You Know

How did Abraham respond to Sarah's death?
How much of the promised land did Abraham own before this?
Why did Abraham insist on paying for the field?
How was buying the grave an act of hope?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

loveSarahcaveGod

, the mother of the promised son, died at 127.
Grieving is a way of showing .
Though had promised him the whole land, he still owned none of it.
He negotiated respectfully with the Hittites and paid a fair price for the of Machpelah, refusing to take it as a gift.

Think About It

Why is it okay for Christians to feel sad when someone dies? What hope do we have?
Abraham was respectful and fair in his business. How can you be fair and honest in your dealings with others?

Memory Verse

“Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.”

Genesis 23:2 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you bring your sadness to God?
How can you show respect when you deal with neighbors?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Genesis 23 · Grade 5

A Sojourner's Hope

Name Date

Read and Think

Genesis 23 records the death of Sarah at 127 years old, the only woman in the Bible whose age at death is given. Abraham came to mourn and weep. The father of faith was not ashamed of his tears. Grief is a fitting response to death, which entered the world through sin.

Abraham described himself to the Hittites as a stranger and a foreigner living with you. After decades in Canaan, and despite God's promise, he owned no land. The negotiation is carefully recorded: the Hittites honored him as a prince of God; Ephron publicly offered the field; Abraham insisted on paying the full price of four hundred shekels of silver before witnesses. The deal was made legally certain.

Why does Genesis give so much detail about a burial plot? Because it is the first piece of Canaan legally owned by Abraham's family, a down payment on God's promise. Hebrews 11:13-16 says the patriarchs died in faith, not having received the promises, but seeing them from afar and desiring a better, heavenly country. Abraham buried Sarah in the land God promised. In the New Testament, Paul speaks of the hope of the resurrection through Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

Show What You Know

What unusual detail does Genesis give about Sarah?
What did Abraham call himself, and why is that significant?
How did Abraham make sure the purchase was certain?
Why is the burial plot called a down payment on God's promise?
According to Hebrews 11:13-16, what were the patriarchs looking for?

Think About It

Hebrews says God's people are like foreigners on earth. What does it mean to live as a citizen of heaven?
How does the resurrection of Jesus change the way Christians face death?

Memory Verse

“I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”

Genesis 23:4 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you bring your sadness to God?
How can you show respect when you deal with neighbors?
How can God's promises give you hope when you lose someone?

More print options

Student sheets have no answers on them. The answer key is a separate document for teachers and parents.

This gradeOnly the Preschool sheet

Whole chapterEvery verse of the chapter, in the translation you pickOpen & print Download PDF

All student sheetsEvery grade, preschool to grade 5Open & print

Answer keyAll grades in one, each grade labeledOpen & print

‹ All Genesis chapters · All books

Genesis 23: Sarah's Burial

Read Genesis 23

Worksheets

Abraham Loved Sarah

Prayer

Take It Home

God Cares

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

A Place for Sarah

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Abraham Says Goodbye

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Cave of Machpelah

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Story Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Grief and Hope

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

A Sojourner's Hope

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options