Genesis 4:5

5 aber Kain und sein Opfer sah er nicht gnädig an. Da ergrimmte Kain sehr, und seine Gebärde verstellte sich.

Genesis 4:5 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 4:5

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect
Not because of the matter of it, as some have thought; but because it was not offered in faith and sincerity, but in a formal and hypocritical manner, without any regard to the Messiah and his sacrifice, and without any view to the glory of God: no notice was taken, no approbation was given of it by the above token, or any other; so that it was manifest to Cain himself, that God did not approve of it, or was well pleased with it, as with his brother's: and Cain was very wroth;
with God, to whom he offered it, because he did not accept of it, and with his brother, because he and his sacrifice were preferred to him and his: and his countenance fell;
the briskness and cheerfulness of his countenance went off, and he looked dejected; and instead of lifting up his face towards heaven; he looked with a down look to the earth; he looked churlish, morose, and sullen, ill natured, full of malice and revenge, and as if he was studying which way to vent it; he knit his brows and gnashed his teeth, put on a surly countenance; and there might be seen in his face all the signs, not only of grief and disappointment, but of rage and fury; though F9 some interpret it of shame and confusion.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 R. Jonah apud R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 9. p. 2.

Genesis 4:5 In-Context

3 Es begab sich nach etlicher Zeit, daß Kain dem HERRN Opfer brachte von den Früchten des Feldes;
4 und Abel brachte auch von den Erstlingen seiner Herde und von ihrem Fett. Und der HERR sah gnädig an Abel und sein Opfer;
5 aber Kain und sein Opfer sah er nicht gnädig an. Da ergrimmte Kain sehr, und seine Gebärde verstellte sich.
6 Da sprach der HERR zu Kain: Warum ergrimmst du? und warum verstellt sich deine Gebärde?
7 Ist's nicht also? Wenn du fromm bist, so bist du angenehm; bist du aber nicht fromm, so ruht die Sünde vor der Tür, und nach dir hat sie Verlangen; du aber herrsche über sie.
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