Genesis 4:2

4:2 Then she gave birth ¹  to his brother Abel. ²  Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground. ³ 

Genesis 28:21

28:21 and I return safely to my father’s home, ⁴  then the Lord will become my God.

Genesis 38:5

38:5 Then she had ⁵  yet another son, whom she named Shelah. She gave birth to him in Kezib. ⁶ 

[4:2]  ¹ tn Heb “And she again gave birth.”

[4:2]  ² sn The name Abel is not defined here in the text, but the tone is ominous. Abel’s name, the Hebrew word הֶבֶל (hevel), means “breath, vapor, vanity,” foreshadowing Abel’s untimely and premature death.

[4:2]  ³ tn Heb “and Abel was a shepherd of the flock, and Cain was a worker of the ground.” The designations of the two occupations are expressed with active participles, רֹעֵה (ro’eh, “shepherd”) and עֹבֵד (’oved, “worker”). Abel is occupied with sheep, whereas Cain is living under the curse, cultivating the ground.

[28:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “and I return in peace to the house of my father.”

[38:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “and she added again and she gave birth.” The first verb and the adverb emphasize that she gave birth once more.

[38:5]  ⁸ tn Or “and he [i.e., Judah] was in Kezib when she gave birth to him.”