Genesis 4

Genesis 04 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Most of the text in this chapter is prose, but 4:23-24 is poetry. If the translator should put these two verses into poetic form, or at least into elegant speech, different from the rest of the chapter.

Special concepts in this chapter
Vengeance

The theme of vengeance is important in this chapter. Ancient Hebrew society allowed for people to seek revenge if a relative was murdered. After Cain murdered his brother Abel, he thought that he would be helpless against this danger because he had been driven away from God's protection. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=other#avenge)

The theme of vengeance continues with the words of Lamech, who had killed someone for injuring him: "I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me. If Cain is avenged seven times as much, truly Lamech will be avenged seventy-seven times as much" (Gen. 4:23b-24).

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Genesis 4:1

The man knew Eve

This is a polite way of saying that the man had sexual relations with Eve. You may need to use another euphemism in your language. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-euphemism)

The man

"the human being" or "Adam"

I have produced a man

The word for "man" typically describes an adult male, rather than a baby or child. If that would cause confusion, it could be translated as "manchild" or "boy" or "baby boy" or "son."

Cain

Translators may want to include a footnote that says "The name Cain sounds like the Hebrew word that means 'produce.' Eve named him Cain because she produced him." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)

Genesis 4:2

Then she gave birth

We do not know how much time passed between the births of Cain and Abel. They may have been twins, or Abel may have been born after Eve became pregnant again. If possible, use an expression that does not tell how much time passed.

cultivated

This means he did everything he needed to do so that the plants would grow well. See how "cultivate" is translated in Genesis 2:5.

Genesis 4:3

It came about that

This phrase is used to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using that method here.

in the course of time

Possible meanings are 1) "after some time had passed" or 2) "at the right time"

fruit of the ground

This refers to the food that came from plants he had tended. Alternate translation: "crops" or "harvest" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)

Genesis 4:4

some of the fat

This refers to the fatty parts of the lambs that he had killed, it was the best part of the animal. Alternate translation: "some of their fat parts" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)

accepted

"looked favorably upon" or "was pleased with"

Genesis 4:5

did not accept

"did not look favorably upon" or "was not pleased with"

was very angry

Some languages have an idiom for anger such as "He burned" or "His anger burned."

he scowled

This means that the expression on his face showed that he was angry or jealous. Some languages have an idiom that describes what a person's face looks like when he is angry. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-idiom)

Genesis 4:6

Why are you angry and why are you scowling?

God used these rhetorical questions to tell Cain that he was wrong to be angry and scowl. They may also have been intended to give Cain an opportunity to confess that he was wrong. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-rquestion)

Genesis 4:7

If you ... will you not be accepted?

God used this rhetorical question to remind Cain of something Cain should have already known. Alternate translation: "You know that if you do what is right, I will accept you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-rquestion)

But if you do not ... you must rule over it

God speaks of sin as if it were a person. Alternate translation: "But if you do not do what is right, you will desire to sin even more, and then you will do sinful things. You must refuse to obey it" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-personification)

sin crouches ... to control you

Here sin is spoken of as a dangerous wild animal that is waiting for the chance to attack Cain. Alternate translation: "you will become so angry that you will not be able to stop sin" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metaphor)

sin

Languages that do not have a noun that means "sin" could translate this as "your desire to sin" or "the bad things you want to do."

you must rule over it

Yahweh speaks of Cain's desire to sin as if it were a person over whom Cain should rule. Alternate translation: "you must control it so you do not sin" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-personification)

Genesis 4:8

Cain spoke to Abel his brother.

Some early translations tell explicitly what Cain said to his brother. You may want to do the same if it is present in your national version. Alternate translation: "Cain said to Abel his brother, 'Let us go into the fields.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-textvariants and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)

brother

Abel was Cain's younger brother. Some languages may need to use the word for "younger brother." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)

rose up against

Standing up to fight against a person is an idiom for attacking him. Alternate translation: "attacked" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-idiom)

Genesis 4:9

Where is Abel your brother

God knew that Cain had killed Abel, but he asked Cain this question so that Cain would have to answer. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-rquestion)

Am I my brother's keeper?

Cain used this rhetorical question so that he would not have to tell the truth. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "I am not my brother's keeper!" or "You know that taking care of my brother is not my job!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-rquestion)

Genesis 4:10

What have you done?

God uses a rhetorical question to rebuke Cain. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "What you have done is terrible!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-rquestion)

Your brother's blood is calling out to me

Abel's blood is a metonym for his death, as if it were a person calling out for God to punish Cain. Alternate translation: "Your brother's blood is like a person calling out to me to punish the person who killed him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 4:11

Now cursed are you from the ground

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I am cursing you so that you will not be able to grow food from the ground" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)

which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood

God speaks of the earth as if it were a person who could drink Abel's blood. Alternate translation: "which is soaked with your brother's blood" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-personification)

from your hand

Here Cain is represented by his "hand," to emphasize that he personally had killed his brother. Alternate translation: "that spilled when you killed him" or "from you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-synecdoche)

Genesis 4:12

cultivate

This means to do everything necessary to do so that the plants would grow well. See how "cultivate" is translated in Genesis 2:5.

it will not yield to you its strength

The ground is personified as if it were a person who loses strength. Alternate translation: "the ground will not produce much food for you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-personification)

A fugitive and a wanderer

You can join these words together. Alternate translation: "A homeless wanderer" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-hendiadys)

Genesis 4:13

General Information:

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Genesis 4:14

I will be hidden from your face

The term "your face" represents God's presence. Alternate translation: "I will not be able to speak to you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-idiom)

a fugitive and a wanderer

See how you translated this in Genesis 4:12

Genesis 4:15

vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I will take vengeance on him seven times" or "I will punish that person seven times as severely as I am punishing you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)

would not attack him

"would not kill Cain"

Genesis 4:16

went out from the presence of Yahweh

Even though Yahweh is everywhere, this idiom speaks of Cain as though he went far away. Alternate translation: "went away from where Yahweh spoke to him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-idiom)

Nod

Translators may add a footnote saying "The word Nod means 'wandering.'"

Genesis 4:17

Cain knew his wife

This is a polite way of saying that Cain had sexual relations with his wife. You may need to use another euphemism in your language. See how you translated this in Genesis 4:1. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-euphemism)

He built a city

"Cain built a city"

Genesis 4:18

To Enoch was born Irad

It is implied that Enoch grew up and married a woman. Alternate translation: "Enoch grew up and married and became the father of a son whom he named Irad" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)

Irad

This is a man's name. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)

Genesis 4:19

Adah ... Zillah

women's names (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)

Genesis 4:20

Adah

See how you translated this woman's name in Genesis 4:19.

He was the father of those who lived in tents

Possible meanings are 1) "He was the first person to live in a tent" or 2) "He and his descendants lived in tents."

who lived in tents who have livestock

people who both live in tents and also take care of animals

Genesis 4:21

He was the father of those who play the harp and pipe

Possible meanings are 1) "He was the first person to play the harp and pipe" or 2) "He and his descendants played the harp and pipe."

Genesis 4:22

Zillah

See how you translated this woman's name in Genesis 4:19.

Tubal-Cain

the name of a man (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)

the forger of tools of bronze and iron

"who made tools out of bronze and iron"

iron

a very strong metal used to make tools and weapons.

Genesis 4:23

Adah ... Zillah

See how you translated these women's names in Genesis 4:19.

listen to my voice ... listen to what I say

Lamech said the same thing twice for emphasis. His voice is a synecdoche for his whole person. Alternate translation: "listen carefully to me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-parallelism and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-synecdoche)

a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me

Lamech killed only one person. These two phrases means the same thing and are repeated to emphasize the certainly of his action. Alternate translation: "a young man because he hurt me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-parallelism)

Genesis 4:24

If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech

Lamech knows that God will avenge Cain seven times. Alternate translation: "Since God will punish anyone who kills Cain seven times, Lamech" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)

then Lamech will be avenged seventy-seven times

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "whoever kills me, God will punish seventy-seven times" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)

seventy-seven

77 (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 4:25

Adam knew his wife

This is a polite way of saying that Adam had sexual relations with his wife. You may need to use another euphemism in your language. See how you translated this in Genesis 4:1. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-euphemism)

said, "God has given me another son

This is the reason that she named him Seth. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "explained, 'God has given me another child" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)

Seth

Translators may add a footnote that says "This name sounds like the Hebrew word that means 'has given.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)

Genesis 4:26

A son was born to Seth

This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "Seth's wife bore him a son" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)

to call on the name of Yahweh

This is the first time people called God by the name Yahweh. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "to worship God by using the name Yahweh" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)