Hebron, Palestine
Cave of the Patriarchs
Abraham's burial field, enclosed by Herod and never abandoned.
Biblical significance
The Machpelah cave was bought by Abraham as a grave for Sarah — the first land the patriarchs owned. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah and Leah are all said to lie beneath. Herod the Great walled the site in colossal masonry that still stands unbroken after two thousand years, making it the oldest continuously used place of prayer on earth, sacred to Jews and Muslims alike and divided between them since 1994.
Scripture
Loading the passage…
Open in YouVersion →Loading the passage…
Open in YouVersion →Loading the passage…
Open in YouVersion →Excerpts from the World English Bible. Full text opens in the YouVersion Bible app.
Best time to go
Spring or autumn; avoid major festival days when access changes.
Visitor notes
In central Hebron, reached from Jerusalem in about an hour. The building is split into synagogue and mosque sections with separate entrances and security checks; modest dress required.
Coordinates
31.5246, 35.1107
On the map
Open the world atlasPlan your pilgrimage
Getting to Cave of the Patriarchs
Everything you need to turn this holy place into a journey. We may earn a commission from these partner links, at no extra cost to you.
Share this page
Nearby in this category
5/5 SignificanceNasiriyah, Iraq
Ur of the Chaldees
The Sumerian city Abraham left when the call came.
4/5 SignificanceDoğubayazıt, Turkey
Mount Ararat
The snow-capped landing place named at the end of the flood.
4/5 SignificanceShiloh, Palestine
Shiloh
Israel's first sanctuary, where the tabernacle stood for centuries.