Genesis 4:10

4:10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!

Genesis 27:34

27:34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he wailed loudly and bitterly. He said to his father, “Bless me too, my father!”

Genesis 41:55

41:55 When all the land of Egypt experienced the famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh said to all the people of Egypt, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”


sn What have you done? Again the Lord’s question is rhetorical (see Gen 3:13), condemning Cain for his sin.

tn The word “voice” is a personification; the evidence of Abel’s shed blood condemns Cain, just as a human eyewitness would testify in court. For helpful insights, see G. von Rad, Biblical Interpretations in Preaching; and L. Morris, “The Biblical Use of the Term ‘Blood,’” JTS 6 (1955/56): 77-82.

tn The temporal clause is introduced with the temporal indicator and has the infinitive as its verb.

tn Heb “and he yelled [with] a great and bitter yell to excess.”

tn Heb “to all Egypt.” The name of the country is used by metonymy for the inhabitants.