Genesis 4:5

Genesis 4:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
• New International Version (NIV)but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

Context of Genesis 4:5

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, 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? 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.”

Genesis 4:5 word by word

וְאֶל־קַ֥יִן וְאֶל־מִנְחָת֖וֹ לֹ֣א שָׁעָ֑ה וַיִּ֤חַר לְקַ֙יִן֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ פָּנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

• butאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• He had noלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• regardשָׁעָהshâ‛âh · to gazeH8159
• Cainקַ֫יִןqayin · CainH7014
• and his offeringמִנְחָהminchâh · offeringH4503
• became veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• angryחָרָהchârâh · to be incensedH2734
• and his countenanceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: angryH6440
• fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: angryH5307

Cross-references for Genesis 4:5

• Numbers 16:15Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not regard their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them or mistreated a single one of them.”
• Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
• Genesis 31:2And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
• Job 5:2For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
• Psalms 20:3May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Selah
• Isaiah 3:10Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
• Matthew 20:15Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
• Luke 15:28The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
• Acts 13:45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.

Commentaries on Genesis 4:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Unto Cain - As being unconscious of his sinfulness, and consequently unhumbled, and to his offering, as not being accompanied, as Abel's was, with faith and a sacrifice for sin, he had not respect - He could not, consistently with his holiness and justice, approve of the one or receive the other. Of the manner in which God testified his approbation we are not informed; it was probably, as in the case of Elijah, by sending down fire from heaven, and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-16Verses 1-16 - Section IV - The Family of Adam - Cain and Abel 1. קין qayı̂n Qain (Cain), “spear-shaft,” and קנה qānah “set up, establish, gain, buy,” contain the biliteral root קן qan “set up, erect, gain.” The relations of root words are not confined to the narrow rules of our common etymology, but really extend to such instinctive usages as the unlettered speaker will invent or employ. A full examination of the Hebrew tongue leads to the conclusion…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5the best portions of the firstborn of his flock (or the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions): Abel gave God the best animals and their richest parts. Unlike Cain, Abel offered the best he had. True worship is a costly privilege.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-261. Eve said, I have gotten a man from the Lord--that is, "by the help of the Lord"--an expression of pious gratitude--and she called him Cain, that is, "a possession," as if valued above everything else; while the arrival of another son reminding Eve of the misery she had entailed on her offspring, led to the name Abel, that is, either weakness, vanity (Psa 39:5), or grief, lamentation. Cain and Abel were probably twins; and it is thought that, at this…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 4:5

• Abel
• Anger
• Cain
• Consecration
• Countenance
• Envy
• Jealousy
• Martyrdom
• Religion
• Worship

In the dictionaries

• Cain
• Abel
• Adam
• Blood
• Call
• Cursed
• Fall
• Fat
• Hurt
• Mark

Commentaries on Genesis 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings