Genesis 4:4

Genesis 4:4

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and his offering:

a. NLT: Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift,

b. NIV: And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

c. YLT: and Abel, he hath brought, he also, from the female firstlings of his flock, even from their fat ones; and Jehovah looketh unto Abel and unto his present,

d. Amplified Bible: And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering,

e. Septuagint: And Abel also brought of the first born of his sheep and of his fatlings, and God looked upon Abel and his gifts,

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: and as for Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and from their choicest. HASHEM turned to Abel and to his offering,

1.  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.

a. and Abel [1893 * Hebel] [Strong: the same as 1892; Hebel, the son of Adam:--Abel.]

b. he [1931 * huw’] [Strong: of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.]

c. also brought [935 * bow’] [Strong: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, + besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken (in age), X surely, take (in), way.]

d. of the firstlings [1062 * bikowrah] [Strong: feminine of 1060; the firstling of man or beast; abstractly primogeniture:--birthright, firstborn(-ling).]

e. of his flock [6629 * tso’n] [Strong: from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men):--(small) cattle, flock (+ -s), lamb (+ -s), sheep((-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds)).]

f. and of the fat [2459 * cheleb] [Strong: from an unused root meaning to be fat; fat, whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or choice part:--X best, fat(-ness), X finest, grease, marrow.]

2. “…And the LORD had respect unto Abel and his offering:”

a. And the LORD [3068 * Yhovah] [Strong: from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

b. had respect [8159 * sha’ah] [Strong: a primitive root; to gaze at or about (properly, for help); by implication, to inspect, consider, compassionate, be nonplussed (as looking around in amazement) or bewildered:--depart, be dim, be dismayed, look (away), regard, have respect, spare, turn.]

1). Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown Commentary: the Lord had respect unto Abel, not unto Cain, &c.--The words, "had respect to," signify in Hebrew,--"to look at any thing with a keen earnest glance," which has been translated, "kindle into a fire," so that the divine approval of Abel's offering was shown in its being consumed by fire (see Genesis 15:17;Judges 13:20).

a). I checked all the resources at my disposal in Strong’s numbering system and could not find this.

2). Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsh Commentary: And Jehovah looked upon Abel and his gift; and upon Cain and his gift He did not look." The look of Jehovah was in any case a visible sign of satisfaction. It is a common and ancient opinion that fire consumed Abel's sacrifice, and thus showed that it was graciously accepted. Theodotion explains the words by καὶ ἐνεπύρισεν ὁ Θεός. But whilst this explanation has the analogy of Leviticus 9:24 and Judges 6:21 in its favour, it does not suit the words, "upon Abel and his gift”.

c. unto Abel [1893 * Hebel] [Strong: the same as 1892; Hebel, the son of Adam:--Abel.]

d. and to his offering [4503 * minchah] [Strong:  from an unused root meaning to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary):--gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice.]

1). Why did God accept Abel’s offering and not Cain’s offering?

a). Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

(1) The fact that in this sacrifice Abel “obtained witness that he was righteous” shows this was blood sacrifice. Aurthur Pink commenting in his work, Exposistion of Hebrews writes: “First, that in order for a sinner to stand before a thrice holy God, he needed a covering. Second, that which was of human manufacturing was worthless, (the “fig leaves” Genesis 3:21). Third, that God himself must provide the requisite covering. Fourth, that the necessary covering could only be obtained by death, by blood-shedding.”

b). The “faith” in Hebrew 11:4 speaks of previous instruction. Romans 10:17 says “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” They had been previously instructed on how to offer an appropriate sacrifice. This was not just a normal offering, it was a sin offering because through it, Abel “obtained witness that he was righteous.” Hebrews 11:4.