Hittites
A Canaanite people group interacting with patriarchs and listed among Israel's foes.
AI-generated artistic depiction (no historical imagery exists)
The Hittites are a people group mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as inhabitants of Canaan. They are listed among the nations whose land God promised to the Israelites (Exodus 3:8, Exodus 3:17, Exodus 13:5). Individual Hittites appear in the patriarchal narratives, including Ephron the Hittite, from whom Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah for a burial site (Genesis 23:10, Genesis 25:9, Genesis 49:29-30, Genesis 50:13), and Elon the Hittite and Beeri the Hittite, whose daughters Esau married (Genesis 26:34, Genesis 36:2).
- Listed among Canaanite nations
- Exodus 3:8, Exodus 3:17, Exodus 13:5, Exodus 23:23, Exodus 23:28, Exodus 33:2, Exodus 34:11
- Ephron the Hittite sells burial cave
- Genesis 23:10, Genesis 25:9, Genesis 49:29-30, Genesis 50:13
- Esau marries Hittite women
- Genesis 26:34, Genesis 36:2
- Mentioned alongside Perizzites and Repha
- Genesis 15:20
Lore & Background
The Hittites appear in two distinct contexts in the passages. First, they are listed among the indigenous peoples of Canaan whom God promises to drive out before the Israelites (Exodus 3:8, Exodus 3:17, Exodus 13:5, Exodus 23:23, Exodus 23:28, Exodus 33:2, Exodus 34:11). This places them as one of several nations inhabiting the land, alongside Canaanites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Second, individual Hittites interact with the patriarchs. Ephron the Hittite, son of Zohar, dwells among the children of Heth and negotiates with Abraham for the field and cave of Machpelah as a burial place (Genesis 23:10, Genesis 25:9, Genesis 49:29-30, Genesis 50:13). This transaction establishes a family burial site for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Reader's Guide
The passages portray the Hittites as both a collective ethnic group and as individuals with whom the patriarchs had direct dealings. As a collective, they are consistently listed among the nations of Canaan that God will dispossess, indicating they were seen as part of the land's pre-Israelite population. The repeated lists (Exodus 3:8, 3:17, 13:5, 23:23, 23:28, 33:2, 34:11) emphasize their presence as an obstacle to Israel's inheritance. Individually, Hittites like Ephron are depicted as landowners and negotiators, capable of legal transactions with Abraham (Genesis 23:10). Esau's marriages to Hittite women (Genesis 26:34, 36:2) show intermarriage between the patriarchal family and Hittites. The passages do not describe Hittite religion, culture, or history beyond these interactions and listings.
Did You Know?
- Ephron the Hittite sold Abraham the cave of Machpelah for a burial place (Genesis 23:10, Genesis 25:9, Genesis 49:29-30, Genesis 50:13).
- Esau married two Hittite women: Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath daughter of Elon the Hittite (Genesis 26:34).
- The Hittites are listed alongside the Perizzites and Rephaims in Genesis 15:20.
- God promised to drive out the Hittites from before the Israelites (Exodus 23:28, Exodus 33:2, Exodus 34:11).
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