Génesis 4:5

5 Mas no miró propicio á Caín y á la ofrenda suya. Y ensañóse Caín en gran manera, y decayó su semblante.

Génesis 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.

Génesis 4:5 In-Context

3 Y aconteció andando el tiempo, que Caín trajo del fruto de la tierra una ofrenda á Jehová.
4 Y Abel trajo también de los primogénitos de sus ovejas, y de su grosura. Y miró Jehová con agrado á Abel y á su ofrenda;
5 Mas no miró propicio á Caín y á la ofrenda suya. Y ensañóse Caín en gran manera, y decayó su semblante.
6 Entonces Jehová dijo á Caín: ¿Por qué te has ensañado, y por qué se ha inmutado tu rostro?
7 Si bien hicieres, ¿no serás ensalzado? y si no hicieres bien, el pecado está á la puerta: con todo esto, á ti será su deseo, y tú te enseñorearás de él.
The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.