Genesis 4:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Complete Jewish Bible:

In addition she gave birth to his brother Hevel. Hevel kept sheep, while Kayin worked the soil.

Berean Standard Bible:

Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.

American Standard Version:

And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And she again^{H3254} bare^{H3205} his brother^{H251} Abel^{H1893}. And Abel^{H1893} was a keeper^{H7462} of sheep^{H6629}, but Cain^{H7014} was a tiller^{H5647} of the ground^{H127}.

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Commentary for Genesis 4:2

Genesis 4:2 introduces the reader to the birth of Abel, the second son of Adam and Eve, and contrasts the occupations of the two brothers: Cain, the elder, works the land as a farmer, while Abel tends to livestock as a shepherd. This verse sets the stage for the first recorded instance of sibling rivalry and the complex themes that follow, including vocation, worship, jealousy, and fratricide.

**Themes:**
1. **Vocation and Work:** The different occupations of Cain and Abel reflect early human societies' transition from nomadic herding to settled agriculture, highlighting the diversity of labor and its role in human life.
2. **Worship and Righteousness:** The narrative eventually leads to both brothers offering sacrifices to God, with Abel's offering being accepted and Cain's rejected, introducing themes of proper worship and divine favor.
3. **Jealousy and Sin:** Cain's reaction to God's preference for Abel's offering leads to the first account of sin crouching at the door, as described in Genesis 4:7, illustrating the destructive nature of envy and anger.
4. **Moral Choice and Consequences:** The story underscores the early presence of moral agency and the consequences of actions, as Cain's choice to kill Abel results in banishment and a mark of protection from God.

**Historical Context:**
Genesis 4:2 is part of the Primeval History in the Book of Genesis, which includes the creation accounts, the fall of humanity, the story of Cain and Abel, and the genealogies leading up to Noah and the flood. This passage reflects the ancient Near Eastern environment where pastoralism and agriculture were foundational to society. It also serves as an etiological narrative, explaining the origins of various human experiences, such as murder, exile, and the establishment of cities. The text is traditionally dated to the early first millennium BCE, reflecting the cultural and religious concerns of the Israelite people as they sought to understand the origins of sin and the nature of divine-human relationships.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3254
   There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָסַף
   Transliteration: yâçaph
   Pronunciation: yaw-saf'
   Description: a primitive root; to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing); add, [idiom] again, [idiom] any more, [idiom] cease, [idiom] come more, [phrase] conceive again, continue, exceed, [idiom] further, [idiom] gather together, get more, give more-over, [idiom] henceforth, increase (more and more), join, [idiom] longer (bring, do, make, much, put), [idiom] (the, much, yet) more (and more), proceed (further), prolong, put, be (strong-) er, [idiom] yet, yield.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3205
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַד
   Transliteration: yâlad
   Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
   
3. Strong's Number: H251
   There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָח
   Transliteration: ʼâch
   Pronunciation: awkh
   Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1893
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הֶבֶל
   Transliteration: Hebel
   Pronunciation: heh'-bel
   Description: the same as הֶבֶל; Hebel, the son of Adam; Abel.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7462
   There are 144 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָעָה
   Transliteration: râʻâh
   Pronunciation: raw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend); [idiom] break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep) (-er), pastor, [phrase] shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6629
   There are 247 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צֹאן
   Transliteration: tsôʼn
   Pronunciation: tsone
   Description: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).
   
7. Strong's Number: H7014
   There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קַיִן
   Transliteration: Qayin
   Pronunciation: kah'-yin
   Description: the same as קַיִן (with a play upon the affinity to קָנָה); Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe; Cain, Kenite(-s).
   
8. Strong's Number: H5647
   There are 263 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָבַד
   Transliteration: ʻâbad
   Pronunciation: aw-bad'
   Description: a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.; [idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,
   
9. Strong's Number: H127
   There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲדָמָה
   Transliteration: ʼădâmâh
   Pronunciation: ad-aw-maw'
   Description: from אָדַם; soil (from its general redness); country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land.