New American Standard Bible 1995

Genesis 4

Cain and Abel

1Now the manוְהָ֣אָדָ֔םve.Ha.'a.DamH120hadH3045relationsH3045with his wifeאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ'ish.ToH802Eveחַוָּ֣הcha.VahH2332,and she conceivedוַתַּ֙הַר֙va.Ta.harH2029and gaveH3205birthH3205toCainקַ֔יִןKa.yinH7014,and she saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merH559, “I have gottenקָנִ֥יתִיka.Ni.tiH7069amanchildאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376with the help ofthe Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.”

2Againוַתֹּ֣סֶףva.To.sefH3254,she gaveלָלֶ֔דֶתla.Le.detH3205birthH3205to his brotherאָחִ֖יו'a.ChivH251Abelהָ֑בֶלHa.velH1893. AndAbelהֶ֙בֶל֙he.velH1893wasa keeperרֹ֣עֵהRo.'ehH7462of flocksצֹ֔אןTzonH6629,but Cainוְקַ֕יִןve.Ka.yinH7014was a tillerעֹבֵ֥ד'o.VedH5647of the groundאֲדָמָֽה׃'a.da.MahH127.

3So it cameוַֽיְהִ֖יvay.HiH1961aboutin the courseמִקֵּ֣ץmi.KetzH4480 H7093of timeיָמִ֑יםya.MimH3117that Cainקַ֜יִןKa.yinH7014broughtוַיָּבֵ֨אvai.ya.Ve'H935an offeringמִנְחָ֖הmin.ChahH4503to the Lordלַֽיהוָֽה׃la.Yah.wehH3068of the fruitמִפְּרִ֧יmi.pe.RiH6529of the groundהָֽאֲדָמָ֛הha.'a.da.MahH127.

4Abelוְהֶ֨בֶלve.He.velH1893,on his partH1571alsoגַם־gam-H1571broughtהֵבִ֥יאhe.Vi'H935of the firstlingsמִבְּכֹר֥וֹתmi.be.kho.RotH1060of his flockצֹאנ֖וֹtzo.NoH6629and of their fatוּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ןu.me.chel.ve.HenH2459portionsH2459. Andthe Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068hadH8159regardH8159for Abelהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1893and for his offeringמִנְחָתֽוֹ׃min.cha.ToH4503;

5butfor Cainקַ֥יִןKa.yinH7014and for his offeringמִנְחָת֖וֹmin.cha.ToH4503He hadH8159noלֹ֣אlo'H3808regardH8159. SoCainלְקַ֙יִן֙le.Ka.yinH7014becameH2734veryמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966angryH2734and his countenanceפָּנָֽיו׃pa.NavH6440fellוַֽיִּפְּל֖וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307.

6Then the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Cainקָ֑יִןKa.yinH7014, “Whyלָ֚מָּהLa.mahH4100are you angryחָ֣רָהCha.rahH2734?And whyוְלָ֖מָּהve.La.mahH4100has your countenanceפָנֶֽיךָ׃fa.Nei.khaH6440fallenנָפְל֥וּna.fe.LuH5307?

7Ifאִם־'im-H518you doH3190wellתֵּיטִיב֙tei.TivH3190, will not your countenancebe liftedשְׂאֵ֔תse.'EtH7613up?And ifוְאִם֙ve.'ImH518you do not doH3190wellתֵיטִ֔יבtei.TivH3190,sinחַטָּ֣אתcha.TatH2403is crouchingרֹבֵ֑ץro.VetzH7257at the doorלַפֶּ֖תַחla.Pe.tachH6607;and its desireתְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔וֹte.Shu.ka.ToH8669is for you,but you must masterתִּמְשָׁל־tim.shol-H4910it.”

8Cainקַ֖יִןKa.yinH7014toldוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Abelהֶ֣בֶלHe.velH1893his brotherאָחִ֑יו'a.ChivH251.And it cameH1961about when they were in the fieldH7704,that Cainקַ֛יִןKa.yinH7014roseוַיָּ֥קָםvai.Ya.komH6965up againstH413Abelהֶ֥בֶלHe.velH1893his brotherאָחִ֖יו'a.ChivH251andkilledוַיַּהַרְגֵֽהוּ׃vai.ya.har.Ge.huH2026him.

9Then the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Cainקַ֔יִןKa.yinH7014, “Whereאֵ֖י'eiH335is Abelהֶ֣בֶלHe.velH1893your brotherאָחִ֑יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251?”And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “I do not knowיָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045.Am I my brother’sאָחִ֖י'a.ChiH251keeperהֲשֹׁמֵ֥רha.sho.MerH8104?”

10He saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whatמֶ֣הmehH4100have you doneעָשִׂ֑יתָ'a.Si.taH6213?The voiceק֚וֹלKolH6963of your brother’sאָחִ֔יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251bloodדְּמֵ֣יde.MeiH1818is cryingצֹעֲקִ֥יםtzo.'a.KimH6817to Me from the groundהָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃Ha.'a.da.MahH127.

11Nowוְעַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH6258you are cursedאָר֣וּר'a.RurH779from the groundהָֽאֲדָמָה֙ha.'a.da.MahH127,whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834has openedפָּצְתָ֣הpa.tze.TahH6475its mouthפִּ֔יהָPi.haH6310to receiveלָקַ֛חַתla.Ka.chatH3947your brother’sאָחִ֖יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251bloodדְּמֵ֥יde.MeiH1818from your handמִיָּדֶֽךָ׃mi.ya.De.khaH3027.

12Whenכִּ֤יkiH3588you cultivateתַֽעֲבֹד֙ta.'a.VodH5647the groundהָ֣אֲדָמָ֔הha.'a.da.MahH127,it will noלֹֽא־lo'-H3808longerתֹסֵ֥ףto.SefH3254yieldתֵּת־tet-H5414its strengthכֹּחָ֖הּko.ChahH3581to you;you will be a vagrantנָ֥עna'H5128and a wandererוָנָ֖דva.NadH5110on the earthבָאָֽרֶץ׃va.'A.retzH776.”

13Cainקַ֖יִןKa.yinH7014saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068, “My punishmentעֲוֹנִ֖י'a.vo.NiH5771is tooH4480greatגָּד֥וֹלga.DolH1419to bearמִנְּשֹֽׂא׃mi.ne.So'H5375!

14Beholdהֵן֩henH2005, You havedrivenגֵּרַ֨שְׁתָּge.Rash.taH1644me this dayהַיּ֗וֹםhai.YomH3117from the faceפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440of the groundהָֽאֲדָמָ֔הha.'a.da.MahH127;and from Your faceוּמִפָּנֶ֖יךָu.mi.pa.Nei.khaH6440I will be hiddenאֶסָּתֵ֑ר'e.sa.TerH5641, andI will be a vagrantנָ֤עna'H5128and a wandererוָנָד֙va.NadH5110on the earthבָּאָ֔רֶץba.'A.retzH776, andwhoeverכָל־khol-H3605findsמֹצְאִ֖יmo.tze.'IH4672me will killיַֽהַרְגֵֽנִי׃Ya.har.Ge.niH2026me.”

15So the Lordיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Thereforeלָכֵן֙la.KhenH3651whoeverH3605killsהֹרֵ֣גho.RegH2026Cainקַ֔יִןKa.yinH7014,vengeanceH5358will be takenH5358on himsevenfoldשִׁבְעָתַ֖יִםshiv.'a.Ta.yimH7659.”And the Lordיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068appointedוַיָּ֨שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760a signא֔וֹת'otH226for Cainלְקַ֙יִן֙le.Ka.yinH7014,so that noH3605oneH3605findingמֹצְאֽוֹ׃mo.tze.'OH4672him would slayהַכּוֹת־ha.kot-H5221him.

16Then Cainקַ֖יִןKa.yinH7014wentוַיֵּ֥צֵאvai.Ye.tze'H3318out from the presenceמִלִּפְנֵ֣יmi.lif.NeiH6440of the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068, andsettledוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in the landבְּאֶֽרֶץ־be.'e.retz-H776ofNodנ֖וֹדNodH5113,eastקִדְמַת־kid.mat-H6926of Edenעֵֽדֶן׃'E.denH5731.

17Cainקַ֙יִן֙ka.yinH7014hadH3045relationsH3045with his wifeאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ'ish.ToH802and she conceivedוַתַּ֖הַרva.Ta.harH2029,and gaveH3205birthH3205to Enochחֲנ֑וֹךְcha.NokhH2585;and he builtבֹּ֣נֶהBo.nehH1129a cityעִ֔יר'IrH5892,and calledוַיִּקְרָא֙vai.yik.Ra'H7121the nameשֵׁ֣םshemH8034of the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892Enochחֲנֽוֹךְ׃cha.NokhH2585,after the nameכְּשֵׁ֖םke.ShemH8034of his sonבְּנ֥וֹbe.NoH1121.

18Now to Enochלַֽחֲנוֹךְ֙la.cha.noKhH2585was bornH3205Iradעִירָ֔ד'i.RadH5897,and Iradוְעִירָ֕דve.'i.RadH5897becameH3205the fatherH3205of Mehujaelמְחֽוּיָאֵ֑לme.chu.ya.'ElH4232,and Mehujaelוּמְחִיּיָאֵ֗לu.me.chi.ya.'ElH4232becameH3205the fatherH3205of Methushaelמְת֣וּשָׁאֵ֔לme.Tu.sha.'ElH4967,and Methushaelוּמְתוּשָׁאֵ֖לu.me.tu.sha.'ElH4967becameH3205the fatherH3205of Lamechלָֽמֶךְ׃La.mekhH3929.

19Lamechלֶ֖מֶךְLe.mekhH3929tookוַיִּֽקַּֽח־vai.yi.kach-H3947to himselftwoשְׁתֵּ֣יshe.TeiH8147wivesנָשִׁ֑יםna.ShimH802:the nameשֵׁ֤םshemH8034of the oneהָֽאַחַת֙ha.'a.ChatH259was Adahעָדָ֔ה'a.DahH5711,and the nameוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034of the otherהַשֵּׁנִ֖יתha.she.NitH8145,Zillahצִלָּֽה׃tzi.LahH6741.

20Adahעָדָ֖ה'a.DahH5711gaveH3205birthH3205to Jabalיָבָ֑לya.ValH2989;he was the fatherאֲבִ֕י'a.ViH1of those who dwellיֹשֵׁ֥בyo.ShevH3427in tentsאֹ֖הֶל'O.helH168and havelivestockוּמִקְנֶֽה׃u.mik.NehH4735.

21His brother’sאָחִ֖יו'a.ChivH251nameוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034was Jubalיוּבָ֑לyu.ValH3106;he was the fatherאֲבִ֕י'a.ViH1of allכָּל־kol-H3605those who playתֹּפֵ֥שׂto.FesH8610the lyreכִּנּ֖וֹרki.NorH3658and pipeוְעוּגָֽב׃ve.'u.GavH5748.

22As for Zillahוְצִלָּ֣הve.tzi.LahH6741,she alsoגַם־gam-H1571gaveH3205birthH3205to Tubal-cainH8423,the forgerלֹטֵ֕שׁlo.TeshH3913of allכָּל־kol-H3605implementsחֹרֵ֥שׁcho.ReshH2790of bronzeנְחֹ֖שֶׁתne.Cho.shetH5178and ironוּבַרְזֶ֑לu.var.ZelH1270;and the sisterוַֽאֲח֥וֹתva.'a.ChotH269of Tubal-cainH8423was Naamahנַֽעֲמָֽה׃Na.'a.MahH5279.

23Lamechלֶ֜מֶךְLe.mekhH3929saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his wivesלְנָשָׁ֗יוle.na.ShavH802, “Adahעָדָ֤ה'a.DahH5711and Zillahוְצִלָּה֙ve.tzi.LahH6741,Listenשְׁמַ֣עַןshe.Ma.'anH8085to my voiceקוֹלִ֔יko.LiH6963,You wivesנְשֵׁ֣יne.SheiH802of Lamechלֶ֔מֶךְLe.mekhH3929,Giveהַאְזֵ֖נָּהha'.Ze.nahH238heedH238to my speechאִמְרָתִ֑י'im.ra.TiH565, For Ihave killedהָרַ֙גְתִּי֙ha.Rag.tiH2026a manאִ֤ישׁ'ishH376for woundingלְפִצְעִ֔יle.fitz.'IH6482me;And a boyוְיֶ֖לֶדve.Ye.ledH3206for strikingלְחַבֻּרָתִֽי׃le.cha.bu.ra.TiH2250me;

24Ifכִּ֥יkiH3588Cainקָ֑יִןKa.yinH7014is avengedיֻקַּם־yu.kam-H5358sevenfoldשִׁבְעָתַ֖יִםshiv.'a.Ta.yimH7659,Then Lamechוְלֶ֖מֶךְve.Le.mekhH3929seventy-sevenfoldשִׁבְעִ֥יםshiv.'ImH7657.”

25Adamאָדָ֥ם'a.DamH121hadH3045relationsH3045with his wifeאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ'ish.ToH802againעוֹד֙'OdH5750;and she gaveH3205birthH3205to a sonבֵּ֔ןBenH1121,and namedוַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹva.tik.Ra' she.MoH7121 H8034himSethשֵׁ֑תShetH8352, for, she said, “Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430has appointedשָֽׁת־shat-H7896me anotherאַחֵ֔ר'a.CherH312offspringזֶ֣רַעZe.ra'H2233in placeתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478of Abelהֶ֔בֶלHe.velH1893,for Cainקָֽיִן׃Ka.yinH7014killedהֲרָג֖וֹha.ra.GoH2026him.”

26To Sethוּלְשֵׁ֤תul.ShetH8352,to him alsoגַּם־gam-H1571a sonבֵּ֔ןBenH1121was bornיֻלַּד־yu.lad-H3205;and he calledוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121his nameשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034Enoshאֱנ֑וֹשׁ'e.No.oshH583.Thenאָ֣ז'azH227menbeganהוּחַ֔לhu.ChalH2490to callלִקְרֹ֖אlik.Ro'H7121upon the nameבְּשֵׁ֥םbe.ShemH8034of the Lordיְהוָֽה׃ פYah.wehH3068.

Cain and Abel

Commentaries on Genesis 4