Zohar צֹ֫חַר
Father of Ephron the Hittite
Who is Zohar in the Bible?
Zohar was a Hittite man who lived in Hebron during the time of Abraham and is remembered as the father of Ephron the Hittite (Genesis 23:8, 25:9). When Abraham sought to purchase a burial site for his wife Sarah, he negotiated with Ephron, son of Zohar, to buy the cave of Machpelah and its surrounding field. Though the Hittites initially offered the land as a gift, Abraham insisted on paying the full price of 400 shekels of silver for the property. This transaction was historically significant because it represented the first piece of land in Canaan owned by the Israelites, and the cave became the burial place for Sarah, Abraham, and later the Hebrew patriarchs and matriarchs. Zohar's brief appearance in Scripture underscores the importance of this foundational land acquisition in Israel's covenant history.
Biography
Zohar was a Hittite man who lived in the region of Hebron during the time of Abraham. He was the father of Ephron, a prominent Hittite who owned the cave of Machpelah and the surrounding field. When Abraham's wife Sarah died, he sought to purchase a burial site for her. Abraham approached the Hittites and requested to buy the cave of Machpelah from Ephron, son of Zohar. The Hittites offered to give the land to Abraham for free, but he insisted on paying the full price. Ephron agreed to sell the cave and the field for 400 shekels of silver. Abraham's purchase of this property, which became the burial site for Sarah, Abraham himself, and later the patriarchs and matriarchs, is significant as it represents the first piece of land owned by the Israelites in Canaan. Zohar's mention in this narrative highlights his role as the father of Ephron and a witness to this important transaction.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentGenesis 2 verses
- 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"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 25:9
"His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite."
Study Genesis →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | צֹ֫חַר |