Discovery BoxGenesis 4:5-6
Context4:5 but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. 1 So Cain became very angry, 2 and his expression was downcast. 3
4:6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast?
Genesis 24:64
Context24:64 Rebekah looked up 4 and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel
Genesis 33:4
Context33:4 But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both wept.
Genesis 44:14
Context44:14 So Judah and his brothers 5 came back to Joseph’s house. He was still there, 6 and they threw themselves to the ground before him.
Genesis 45:14
Context45:14 Then he threw himself on the neck of his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
Genesis 50:1
Context50:1 Then Joseph hugged his father’s face. 7 He wept over him and kissed him.
Genesis 50:18
Context50:18 Then his brothers also came and threw themselves down before him; they said, “Here we are; we are your slaves.”
[4:5] 1 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] 2 tn Heb “and it was hot to Cain.” This Hebrew idiom means that Cain “burned” with anger.
[4:5] 3 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
[24:64] 4 tn Heb “lifted up her eyes.”
[44:14] 7 sn Judah and his brothers. The narrative is already beginning to bring Judah to the forefront.
[44:14] 8 tn The disjunctive clause here provides supplemental information.
[50:1] 10 tn Heb “fell on.” The expression describes Joseph’s unrestrained sorrow over Jacob’s death; he probably threw himself across the body and embraced his father.
