God’s Word Translation
Genesis 4:6
6Then the Lord asked Cain, “Why are you angry, and why do you look disappointed?
Genesis 4:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
- New International Version (NIV)Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
- English Standard Version (ESV)The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
- New King James Version (NKJV)So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
Context of Genesis 4:6
4Abel also brought some choice parts of the firstborn animals from his flock. The Lord approved of Abel and his offering, 5but he didn’t approve of Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry and was disappointed. Then the Lord asked Cain, “Why are you angry, and why do you look disappointed? 7If you do well, won’t you be accepted? But if you don’t do well, sin is lying outside your door ready to attack. It wants to control you, but you must master it.” 8Cain talked to his brother Abel. Later, when they were in the fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Read all of Genesis 4Genesis 4:6 word by word
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־קָ֑יִן לָ֚מָּה חָ֣רָה לָ֔ךְ וְלָ֖מָּה נָפְל֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 4:6
- 1 Chronicles 13:11David was angry because the Lord had struck Uzzah so violently. (That place is still called Perez Uzzah [The Striking of Uzzah] today.)
- Job 5:2Certainly, anger kills a stubborn fool, and jealousy murders a gullible person.
- Isaiah 1:18“Come on now, let’s discuss this!” says the Lord. “Though your sins are bright red, they will become as white as snow. Though they are dark red, they will become as white as wool.
- Jeremiah 2:5This is what the Lord says: What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they went so far away from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
- John 4:1Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John.
- Micah 6:3“My people, what have I done to you? How have I tried your patience? Answer me!
- Matthew 20:15Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Or do you resent my generosity towards others?’
- Luke 15:31“His father said to him, ‘My child, you’re always with me. Everything I have is yours.
Commentaries on Genesis 4:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Why art thou wroth? - This was designed as a gracious warning, and a preventive of the meditated crime.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
- 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 4:6
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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