Genesis

Genesis 4:4–10

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,b but you must master it.”

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

9And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.

Footnotes

  • b 4:7 Or it desires to control you
  • c 4:8 SP, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew Then Cain spoke to his brother Abel.

Read all of Genesis 4

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 4:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
while Abelוְהֶ֨בֶלwə·he·ḇelConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1893 Hebel
broughtהֵבִ֥יאhê·ḇîVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
the best portionsוּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ןū·mê·ḥel·ḇê·henConjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine pluralH2459 fat
of the firstbornמִבְּכֹר֥וֹתmib·bə·ḵō·rō·wṯPreposition-m; Noun - masculine plural constructH1060 first-born
of his flockצֹאנ֖וֹṣō·nōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
And the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
looked with favorוַיִּ֣שַׁעway·yi·ša‘Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH8159 gaze
onאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Abelהֶ֖בֶלhe·ḇelNoun - proper - masculine singularH1893 Hebel
andוְאֶל־wə·’el-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH413 motion to
his offeringמִנְחָתֽוֹ׃min·ḥā·ṯōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4503 gift, tribute, offering

Genesis 4:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
butוְאֶל־wə·’el-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH413 motion to
He had noלֹ֣אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
regardשָׁעָ֑הšā·‘āhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH8159 gaze
forוְאֶל־wə·’el-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH413 motion to
Cainקַ֥יִןqa·yinNoun - proper - masculine singularH7014 Cain
and his offeringמִנְחָת֖וֹmin·ḥā·ṯōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4503 gift, tribute, offering
So Cainלְקַ֙יִן֙lə·qa·yinPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH7014 Cain
became veryמְאֹ֔דmə·’ōḏAdverbH3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
angryוַיִּ֤חַרway·yi·ḥarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2734 burn, be kindled
and his countenanceפָּנָֽיו׃pā·nāwNoun - common plural construct; third person masculine singularH6440 face, before
fellוַֽיִּפְּל֖וּway·yip·pə·lūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH5307 fall, lie

Genesis 4:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Whyלָ֚מָּהlām·māhPreposition-l; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
are you angryחָ֣רָהḥā·rāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH2734 burn, be kindled
saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Cainקָ֑יִןqā·yinNoun - proper - masculine singularH7014 Cain
and whyוְלָ֖מָּהwə·lām·māhConjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
has your countenanceפָנֶֽיךָ׃p̄ā·ne·ḵāNoun - common plural construct; second person masculine singularH6440 face, before
fallenנָפְל֥וּnā·p̄ə·lūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH5307 fall, lie

Genesis 4:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Ifאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
you do what is rightתֵּיטִיב֙tê·ṭîḇVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
you notלֹ֣אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
be acceptedשְׂאֵ֔תśə·’êṯVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7613 exaltation, dignity
But ifוְאִם֙wə·’imConjunctionH518 if
you refuse to do what is rightתֵיטִ֔יבṯê·ṭîḇVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
sinחַטָּ֣אתḥaṭ·ṭāṯNoun - feminine singularH2403 offence, penalty, occasion
is crouchingרֹבֵ֑ץrō·ḇêṣVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7257 stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out
at your doorלַפֶּ֖תַחlap·pe·ṯaḥPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH6607 opening, doorway, entrance
it desiresתְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔וֹtə·šū·qā·ṯōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH8669 longing
youוְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙wə·’ê·le·ḵāConjunctive waw; Preposition; second person masculine singularH413 motion to
but youוְאַתָּ֖הwə·’at·tāhConjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
must masterתִּמְשָׁל־tim·šāl-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH4910 rule, have dominion, reign
itבּֽוֹ׃bōwPreposition; third person masculine singular

Genesis 4:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Cainקַ֖יִןqa·yinNoun - proper - masculine singularH7014 Cain
saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
his brotherאָחִ֑יו’ā·ḥîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
Abelהֶ֣בֶלhe·ḇelNoun - proper - masculine singularH1893 Hebel
Andוַֽיְהִי֙way·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
while they wereבִּהְיוֹתָ֣םbih·yō·w·ṯāmPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine pluralH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
in the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֔הbaś·śā·ḏehPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH7704 id.
Cainקַ֛יִןqa·yinNoun - proper - masculine singularH7014 Cain
rose upוַיָּ֥קָםway·yā·qāmConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
againstאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
his brotherאָחִ֖יו’ā·ḥîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
Abelהֶ֥בֶלhe·ḇelNoun - proper - masculine singularH1893 Hebel
and killed himוַיַּהַרְגֵֽהוּ׃way·ya·har·ḡê·hūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH2026 kill, slay

Genesis 4:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Cainקַ֔יִןqa·yinNoun - proper - masculine singularH7014 Cain
Whereאֵ֖י’êInterrogativeH335 where?
your brotherאָחִ֑יךָ’ā·ḥî·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH251 brother
Abelהֶ֣בֶלhe·ḇelNoun - proper - masculine singularH1893 Hebel
I do notלֹ֣אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
knowיָדַ֔עְתִּיyā·ḏa‘·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH3045 know
he answeredוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙way·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Iאָנֹֽכִי׃’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
my brother’sאָחִ֖י’ā·ḥîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH251 brother
keeperהֲשֹׁמֵ֥רhă·šō·mêrVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH8104 keep, watch, preserve

Genesis 4:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Whatמֶ֣הmehInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
have you doneעָשִׂ֑יתָ‘ā·śî·ṯāVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH6213 do, make
repliedוַיֹּ֖אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
The voiceק֚וֹלqō·wlNoun - masculine singular constructH6963 sound, voice
of your brother’sאָחִ֔יךָ’ā·ḥî·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH251 brother
bloodדְּמֵ֣יdə·mêNoun - masculine plural constructH1818 blood
cries outצֹעֲקִ֥יםṣō·‘ă·qîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH6817 cry, cry out, call
to Meאֵלַ֖י’ê·layPreposition; first person common singularH413 motion to
fromמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the groundהָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃hā·’ă·ḏā·māhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH127 ground, land

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Genesis 4:4 Hebrews 11:4 · Proverbs 3:9 · Exodus 13:12 · Numbers 18:17 · 1 Peter 1:19–20 · 2 Chronicles 7:1 · Psalm 20:3 · Leviticus 3:16–17 · Hebrews 9:22 · Leviticus 9:24 · 1 Chronicles 21:26 · Numbers 18:12

Genesis 4:5 Hebrews 11:4 · Job 5:2 · Luke 15:28–30 · Isaiah 3:10–11

Genesis 4:6 Isaiah 1:18 · Job 5:2 · Luke 15:31–32

Genesis 4:7 James 1:15 · Romans 2:6–10 · Isaiah 3:10–11 · Romans 6:16 · Hebrews 11:4 · Numbers 32:23 · Romans 12:1 · Romans 7:8–9 · Proverbs 21:27 · Malachi 1:13 · Ecclesiastes 8:12–13 · Malachi 1:10

Genesis 4:8 Matthew 23:35 · 1 John 3:12–15 · Jude 1:11 · Proverbs 26:24–26 · Luke 11:51 · 2 Samuel 14:6 · Psalm 24:3–6 · Hebrews 12:24 · 2 Samuel 13:26–28 · Micah 7:6 · 2 Samuel 20:9–10 · Psalm 55:21

Genesis 4:9 Proverbs 28:13 · John 8:44 · Psalm 9:12 · Psalm 10:13–14

Genesis 4:10 Hebrews 12:24 · Hebrews 11:4 · Psalm 72:14 · Isaiah 5:7 · James 5:4 · Psalm 9:12 · Revelation 6:9–10 · Numbers 35:33 · Job 16:18 · Job 31:38–39 · Genesis 9:5

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.