Lectionary Calendar

Tuesday, December 24th, 2024
Christmas Eve

Attention!

StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Commentaries
Genesis 4

GenesisGen 3 GenesisGen GenesisGen 5

Search for…

Resource Toolbox

Print version Copyright Bibliography

Introduction

1:1 God (a-4) Heb. Elohim , the plural of Eloah , 'the Supreme'. It is Deity in the absolute sense. Elohim will, in the text, appear only in the name of Jehovah Elohim ; moreover, when Elohim following immediately on Jehovah has a grammatical adjunct, its place will be taken by the English word 'God'. see Genesis 9:26 and 24.7. Other Hebrew divine names translated as 'God' will be indicated as follows. Eloah +God; El , (meaning 'The Mighty,' see Genesis 14:18 ), *God. For the meaning of Jehovah, (Heb. Yahveh , or Yehveh ), the ever-existing One, see Exodus 3:14 ,Exodus 3:15 ; Isaiah 40:28 . For Jah , the existing One objectively, see Exodus 15:2 ; Psalms 68:4 . The name seems to express absolute rather than continuous existence. For Adonai (a name of God, not merely a title), translated 'Lord', see Ezekiel 2:4 .

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 1

4:1 Cain, (a-12) Acquisition.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 2

4:2 Abel. (b-7) Heb. Hebel , a breath (Job 7:16 ); or 'vanity' (Psalms 144:4 ). shepherd, (c-12) Lit. 'herdsman of small cattle.' husbandman. (d-17) Lit. 'worked the ground.'

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 3

4:3 time (e-5) Lit. 'at the end of days.' offering (f-20) Lit. 'gift,' minchah . so vers. 4,5; elsewhere translated 'oblation.' See Leviticus 2:1 .

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 7

4:7 confidence]? (g-12) See Job 11:15 . Or possibly, 'shalt thou not be accepted.' But I should question 'accepted,' the rather as nasa is used for it here. Lit. 'is there not a lifting up?' sin (h-19) Or 'a sin-offering,' Heb. chattath the word having both senses. see Note b Leviticus 5:1 . Also 'punishment.' see Note Zechariah 14:19 .

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 13

4:13 borne. (i-13) Or 'Mine iniquity (Heb. gahvon ) is too great to be forgiven.' See Note Lamentations 4:6 .

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 15

4:15 smite (k-27) Or 'strike.'

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 16

4:16 Nod, (l-16) Flight, wandering. see ver. 12, where it is translated 'fugitive.'

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 22

4:22 of (a-14) Or 'the instructor of every worker in.' brass (b-15) Or 'bronze.' so always. Naamah. (c-24) Charming.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 23

4:23 bruise. (d-35) Or 'to my wounding,' 'to my bruising.'

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 25

4:25 Seth. (e-16) Appointed.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 26

4:26 Enosh. (f-16) Man, as weak, mortal, Psalms 8:4 ; Psalms 103:15 . on (g-22) Or 'to call themselves by,' but see chs. 12.8; 13.4; 21.33; 26.25.

return to 'Top of Page'

GenesisGen 3 GenesisGen GenesisGen 5

Bibliographical Information
Darby, John. "Commentary on Genesis 4". "John Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsn/genesis-4.html. 1857-67.

Bible CommentariesGenesis 4

Darby's Synopsis of the New TestamentDarby's Synopsis

Bible Commentaries
Genesis 4