Genesis 4:10

4:10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? ¹  The voice ²  of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!

Genesis 27:34

27:34 When Esau heard ³  his father’s words, he wailed loudly and bitterly. ⁴  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, ⁵  “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”

[4:10]  ¹ sn What have you done? Again the Lord’s question is rhetorical (see Gen 3:13), condemning Cain for his sin.

[4:10]  ² 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.

[27:34]  ³ tn The temporal clause is introduced with the temporal indicator and has the infinitive as its verb.

[27:34]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he yelled [with] a great and bitter yell to excess.”

[41:55]  ⁵ tn Heb “to all Egypt.” The name of the country is used by metonymy for the inhabitants.