Focused Passage

Genesis 4:1-8

Sin Spreads Through Worship, Jealousy, Violence, and the Preservation of a Worshiping Line

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.

2Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.

3So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,

4while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

5but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.

6“Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen?

7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”

8Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

And Adamוְהָ֣אָדָ֔םH120Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularhad relations withיָדַ֖עH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhis wifeאִשְׁתּ֑וֹH802Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularEveחַוָּ֣הH2332Noun - proper - feminine singularand she conceivedוַתַּ֙הַר֙H2029Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularand gave birth toוַתֵּ֣לֶדH3205Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerCainקַ֔יִןH7014Noun - proper - masculine singularWith the help ofאֶת־H854Prepositionthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularI have brought forthקָנִ֥יתִיH7069Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singulara manאִ֖ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularshe saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Cain sounds like the Hebrew for acquired or brought forth.
Verse 2

Original words

Laterוַתֹּ֣סֶףH3254Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularshe gave birthלָלֶ֔דֶתH3205Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerto [Cain’s] brotherאָחִ֖יוH251Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerAbelהָ֑בֶלH1893Noun - proper - masculine singularNowוַֽיְהִי־H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAbelהֶ֙בֶל֙H1893Noun - proper - masculine singularwasהָיָ֖הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singulara keeperרֹ֣עֵהH7462Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructof sheepצֹ֔אןH6629Noun - common singularwhile Cainוְקַ֕יִןH7014Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularwas a tillerעֹבֵ֥דH5647Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructof the soilאֲדָמָֽה׃H127Noun - feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

So in the courseמִקֵּ֣ץH7093Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof timeיָמִ֑יםH3117Noun - masculine plural-וַֽיְהִ֖יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularCainקַ֜יִןH7014Noun - proper - masculine singularbroughtוַיָּבֵ֨אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularsome of the fruitמִפְּרִ֧יH6529Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof the soilהָֽאֲדָמָ֛הH127Article | Noun - feminine singularas an offeringמִנְחָ֖הH4503Noun - feminine singularto the LORDלַֽיהוָֽה׃H3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 4

Original words

while Abelוְהֶ֨בֶלH1893Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .ה֛וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singular-גַם־H1571Conjunctionbroughtהֵבִ֥יאH935Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe best portionsוּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ןH2459Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine pluralof the firstbornמִבְּכֹר֥וֹתH1060Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural constructof his flockצֹאנ֖וֹH6629Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularAnd the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularlooked with favorוַיִּ֣שַׁעH8159Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularonאֶל־H413PrepositionAbelהֶ֖בֶלH1893Noun - proper - masculine singularandוְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionhis offeringמִנְחָתֽוֹ׃H4503Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

butוְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | PrepositionHe had noלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleregardשָׁעָ֑הH8159Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularforוְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | PrepositionCainקַ֥יִןH7014Noun - proper - masculine singularand his offeringמִנְחָת֖וֹH4503Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularSo Cainלְקַ֙יִן֙H7014Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularbecame veryמְאֹ֔דH3966Adverbangryוַיִּ֤חַרH2734Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand his countenanceפָּנָֽיו׃H6440Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singularfellוַֽיִּפְּל֖וּH5307Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

Whyלָ֚מָּהH4100Preposition-l | Interrogativeare you angryחָ֣רָהH2734Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionCainקָ֑יִןH7014Noun - proper - masculine singular-לָ֔ךְPreposition | second person feminine singularand whyוְלָ֖מָּהH4100Conjunctive waw | Interrogativehas your countenanceפָנֶֽיךָ׃H6440Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularfallenנָפְל֥וּH5307Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 7

Original words

Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionyou do what is rightתֵּיטִיב֙H3190Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular{will}הֲל֤וֹאH3808Adverb - Negative particleyou notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlebe acceptedשְׂאֵ֔תH7613Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructBut ifוְאִם֙H518Conjunctionyou refuse to do what is rightתֵיטִ֔יבH3190Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularsinחַטָּ֣אתH2403Noun - feminine singularis crouchingרֹבֵ֑ץH7257Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularat your doorלַפֶּ֖תַחH6607Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularit desiresתְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔וֹH8669Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularyouוְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙H413Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine singularbut youוְאַתָּ֖הH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularmust masterתִּמְשָׁל־H4910Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularitבּֽוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or it desires to control you
Verse 8

Original words

Then Cainקַ֖יִןH7014Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionhis brotherאָחִ֑יוH251Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularAbel, [“Let us go out to the field.”]הֶ֣בֶלH1893Noun - proper - masculine singularAndוַֽיְהִי֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwhile they wereבִּהְיוֹתָ֣םH1961Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralin the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֔הH7704Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularCainקַ֛יִןH7014Noun - proper - masculine singularrose upוַיָּ֥קָםH6965Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularagainstאֶל־H413Prepositionhis brotherאָחִ֖יוH251Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularAbelהֶ֥בֶלH1893Noun - proper - masculine singularand killed himוַיַּהַרְגֵֽהוּ׃H2026Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • SP, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew Then Cain spoke to his brother Abel.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.