Genesis 4:5

5 aber auf Kain und auf seine Opfergabe blickte er nicht. Und Kain ergrimmte sehr, und sein Antlitz senkte 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 Und es geschah nach Verlauf einer Zeit, da brachte Kain dem Jehova eine Opfergabe von der Frucht des Erdbodens;
4 und Abel, auch er brachte von den Erstlingen seiner Herde und von ihrem Fett. Und Jehova blickte auf Abel und auf seine Opfergabe;
5 aber auf Kain und auf seine Opfergabe blickte er nicht. Und Kain ergrimmte sehr, und sein Antlitz senkte sich.
6 Und Jehova sprach zu Kain: Warum bist du ergrimmt, und warum hat sich dein Antlitz gesenkt?
7 Ist es nicht so, daß es sich erhebt, wenn du wohl tust? Und wenn du nicht wohl tust, so lagert die Sünde vor der Tür. Und nach dir wird sein Verlangen sein, du aber wirst über ihn herrschen.
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