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Genesis 23:12

ESV Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.
NIV Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land
NASB And Abraham bowed before the people of the land.
CSB Abraham bowed down to the people of the land
NLT Abraham again bowed low before the citizens of the land,
KJV And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
NKJV Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land;

What does Genesis 23:12 mean?

For the second time in this negotiation with the Hittites, Abraham bows before the people. In both cases, he does so just before he is to resist an offer and insist on his own position. Again, this respectful approach may have been customary of Middle Eastern bargaining of the time. An interesting aspect of this negotiation is that Abraham is bargaining to buy land that God has promised to give Abraham's descendants. Greater fulfillment of that oath won't occur until Israel begins to settle in Canaan after the Exodus from Egypt.
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