Genesis 4:3

4:3 At the designated time ¹  Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering ²  to the Lord.

Genesis 4:5

4:5 but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. ³  So Cain became very angry, ⁴  and his expression was downcast. ⁵ 

Genesis 32:13

32:13 Jacob ⁶  stayed there that night. Then he sent ⁷  as a gift ⁸  to his brother Esau

Genesis 32:21

32:21 So the gifts were sent on ahead of him ⁹  while he spent that night in the camp. ¹⁰ 

[4:3]  ¹ tn Heb “And it happened at the end of days.” The clause indicates the passing of a set period of time leading up to offering sacrifices.

[4:3]  ² tn The Hebrew term מִנְחָה (minkhah, “offering”) is a general word for tribute, a gift, or an offering. It is the main word used in Lev 2 for the dedication offering. This type of offering could be comprised of vegetables. The content of the offering (vegetables, as opposed to animals) was not the critical issue, but rather the attitude of the offerer.

[4:5]  ³ sn The Letter to the Hebrews explains the difference between the brothers as one of faith – Abel by faith offered a better sacrifice. Cain’s offering as well as his reaction to God’s displeasure did not reflect faith. See further B. K. Waltke, “Cain and His Offering,” WTJ 48 (1986): 363-72.

[4:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “and it was hot to Cain.” This Hebrew idiom means that Cain “burned” with anger.

[4:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “And his face fell.” The idiom means that the inner anger is reflected in Cain’s facial expression. The fallen or downcast face expresses anger, dejection, or depression. Conversely, in Num 6 the high priestly blessing speaks of the Lord lifting up his face and giving peace.

[32:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[32:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “and he took from that which was going into his hand,” meaning that he took some of what belonged to him.

[32:13]  ⁷ sn The Hebrew noun translated gift can in some contexts refer to the tribute paid by a subject to his lord. Such a nuance is possible here, because Jacob refers to Esau as his lord and to himself as Esau’s servant (v. 4).

[32:21]  ⁷ tn Heb “and the gift passed over upon his face.”

[32:21]  ⁸ tn The disjunctive clause is circumstantial/temporal.