What Does Genesis 23:17 Mean in the King James?
And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
“Were made sure” pictures the property standing firm as a whole, with its cave, trees, and full boundary included.
THE MEANING
The field, its cave, every tree, and all its surrounding boundaries stand together as one secured transfer. What is made sure is a physical place with clearly named contents and limits.
THE ROOT
וַיָּקָם
wayyaqom
GROWS FROM
קום
q-w-m
Rise, stand, or be established.
“made sure” in this verse is wayyaqom. The Hebrew verb carries the image of something coming to stand firm. Here that standing includes the cave, trees, and enclosing boundary, so the security reaches the whole property described.
ALSO GROWS
heqim: Establish, set up, raise.
הֵקִים
This same root makes establishment a kind of bringing something into standing, clarifying the force of “made sure.”
maqom: Place, site.
מָקוֹם
This noun comes from the same root; the thing established here is a particular place, with its contents and boundaries.
THE PATTERN
A matter comes to stand securely when it is established or publicly confirmed.
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.THE THREAD
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.The same root, קום (qum, “stand” or “be established”), appears in both verses. Here it describes a field, cave, trees, and boundaries standing secured; there it describes a covenant established across generations.
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