Genesis 4:5

Genesis 4:5

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

a. NLT: but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

b. NIV: but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

c. YLT: and unto Cain and unto his present He hath not looked; and it is very displeasing to Cain, and his countenance is fallen.

d. Amplified Bible: But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.

e. Septuagint:  but Cain and his sacrifices he regarded not, and Cain was exceedingly sorrowful and his countenance fell.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: but to Cain and to his offering He did not turn, This annoyed Cain exceedingly, and his countenance fell.

1. “But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect…”

a. But unto Cain [7014 * Qayin] [Strong: the same as 7013 (with a play upon the affinity to 7069); Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe:--Cain, Kenite(-s).]

b. 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.]

c. he had not 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”.

3). Cain is a type of false Christianity whose carnal non-Christian characteristics will be relevant until the second coming of Christ. Cain was no unbeliever because he brought an offering, but a bloodless one. Scofield Reference Bible: Cain is a type of the religious natural man, who believes in God and in religion, but after his own will, and who rejects redemption by blood. He also hates true Christianity: 1 John 3:12, 13 “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”

4). The only “works” we have reference to are their “offerings”.

2. “…And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”

a. and Cain [7014 * Qayin] [Strong: the same as 7013 (with a play upon the affinity to 7069); Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe:--Cain, Kenite(-s).]

b. was very [3966 * m’od] [Strong: from the same as 181; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated):--diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), X louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very (+ much, sore), well.]

c. wroth [2734 * charah] [Strong: a primitive root (Compare 2787); to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy:--be angry, burn, be displeased, X earnestly, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, X very, be wroth.]

d. and his countenance [6440 * paniym] [Strong: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

e. fell [5307 * naphal] [Strong: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.]