Genesi 4:5

5 Ma non riguardò a Caino, nè alla sua offerta; onde Caino si sdegnò grandemente, e il suo volto fu abbattuto.

Genesi 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.

Genesi 4:5 In-Context

3 Or avvenne, in capo di alquanto tempo, che Caino offerse al Signore offerta de’ frutti della terra.

4 Ed Abele offerse anch’esso de’ primogeniti delle sue pecore, e del grasso di esse. E il Signore riguardò ad Abele ed alla sua offerta.

5 Ma non riguardò a Caino, nè alla sua offerta; onde Caino si sdegnò grandemente, e il suo volto fu abbattuto.

6 E il Signore disse a Caino: Perchè sei tu sdegnato? e perchè è il tuo volto abbattuto?

7 Se tu fai bene, non vi sarà egli esaltazione? ma altresì, se tu fai male, il peccato giace alla porta. Ora i desiderii di esso dipendono da te, e tu hai la signoria sopra lui.