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

1 And 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.

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

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

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

5 but 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?

7 If 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.”

8 Then 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 Adam וְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם H120 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular had relations with יָדַ֖ע H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker his wife אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ H802 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Eve חַוָּ֣ה H2332 Noun - proper - feminine singular and she conceived וַתַּ֙הַר֙ H2029 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and gave birth to וַתֵּ֣לֶד H3205 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Cain קַ֔יִן H7014 Noun - proper - masculine singular With the help of אֶת־ H854 Preposition the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular I have brought forth קָנִ֥יתִי H7069 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular a man אִ֖ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular she said וַתֹּ֕אמֶר H559 Conjunctive 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

Later וַתֹּ֣סֶף H3254 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular she gave birth לָלֶ֔דֶת H3205 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker to [Cain’s] brother אָחִ֖יו H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Abel הָ֑בֶל H1893 Noun - proper - masculine singular Now וַֽיְהִי־ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Abel הֶ֙בֶל֙ H1893 Noun - proper - masculine singular was הָיָ֖ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular a keeper רֹ֣עֵה H7462 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct of sheep צֹ֔אן H6629 Noun - common singular while Cain וְקַ֕יִן H7014 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular was a tiller עֹבֵ֥ד H5647 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct of the soil אֲדָמָֽה׃ H127 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

So in the course מִקֵּ֣ץ H7093 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of time יָמִ֑ים H3117 Noun - masculine plural - וַֽיְהִ֖י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Cain קַ֜יִן H7014 Noun - proper - masculine singular brought וַיָּבֵ֨א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular some of the fruit מִפְּרִ֧י H6529 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of the soil הָֽאֲדָמָ֛ה H127 Article | Noun - feminine singular as an offering מִנְחָ֖ה H4503 Noun - feminine singular to the LORD לַֽיהוָֽה׃ H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 4

Original words

while Abel וְהֶ֨בֶל H1893 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . ה֛וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular - גַם־ H1571 Conjunction brought הֵבִ֥יא H935 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular the best portions וּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ן H2459 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine plural of the firstborn מִבְּכֹר֥וֹת H1060 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct of his flock צֹאנ֖וֹ H6629 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular And the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular looked with favor וַיִּ֣שַׁע H8159 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular on אֶל־ H413 Preposition Abel הֶ֖בֶל H1893 Noun - proper - masculine singular and וְאֶל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition his offering מִנְחָתֽוֹ׃ H4503 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

but וְאֶל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition He had no לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle regard שָׁעָ֑ה H8159 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular for וְאֶל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition Cain קַ֥יִן H7014 Noun - proper - masculine singular and his offering מִנְחָת֖וֹ H4503 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular So Cain לְקַ֙יִן֙ H7014 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular became very מְאֹ֔ד H3966 Adverb angry וַיִּ֤חַר H2734 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and his countenance פָּנָֽיו׃ H6440 Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular fell וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ H5307 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

Why לָ֚מָּה H4100 Preposition-l | Interrogative are you angry חָ֣רָה H2734 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular said וַיֹּ֥אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Cain קָ֑יִן H7014 Noun - proper - masculine singular - לָ֔ךְ Preposition | second person feminine singular and why וְלָ֖מָּה H4100 Conjunctive waw | Interrogative has your countenance פָנֶֽיךָ׃ H6440 Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular fallen נָפְל֥וּ H5307 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 7

Original words

If אִם־ H518 Conjunction you do what is right תֵּיטִיב֙ H3190 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular {will} הֲל֤וֹא H3808 Adverb - Negative particle you not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be accepted שְׂאֵ֔ת H7613 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct But if וְאִם֙ H518 Conjunction you refuse to do what is right תֵיטִ֔יב H3190 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular sin חַטָּ֣את H2403 Noun - feminine singular is crouching רֹבֵ֑ץ H7257 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular at your door לַפֶּ֖תַח H6607 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular it desires תְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔וֹ H8669 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular you וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine singular but you וְאַתָּ֖ה H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular must master תִּמְשָׁל־ H4910 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular it בּֽוֹ׃ Preposition | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or it desires to control you
Verse 8

Original words

Then Cain קַ֖יִן H7014 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֥אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition his brother אָחִ֑יו H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Abel, [“Let us go out to the field.”] הֶ֣בֶל H1893 Noun - proper - masculine singular And וַֽיְהִי֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular while they were בִּהְיוֹתָ֣ם H1961 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural in the field בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה H7704 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Cain קַ֛יִן H7014 Noun - proper - masculine singular rose up וַיָּ֥קָם H6965 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular against אֶל־ H413 Preposition his brother אָחִ֖יו H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Abel הֶ֥בֶל H1893 Noun - proper - masculine singular and killed him וַיַּהַרְגֵֽהוּ׃ H2026 Conjunctive 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.