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Genesis 4:7

“If you do well, will there not be a lifting up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and toward you is its desire, but you will rule over it.””

Genesis 4:7 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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God warns Cain: sin is “crouching at the door,” yet “you will rule over it”TemptationCain is very angry, and YHWH warns him about the sin crouching at the doorConflict and Reconciliation

With the Hebrew beneath

7

Allusion · Genesis 3:16

Go to Genesis 3:16

Both verses use the same construction: “toward… will be the desire (teshuqa)” and “will rule (mashal).” Teshuqa appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible: here, in Genesis 4:7, and in Song of Songs 7:10.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • תְּשׁוּקָתteshukatH8669תְּשׁוּקָתֵteshukateH8669“desire”
  • תִּמְשָׁלtimshalH4910יִמְשָׁלyimshalH4910“govern, rule”

Genesis 4:7, word by word

you do wellתֵּיטִיבtetiv

do good

To act rightly, or mend one's ways.

Where else “tetiv” appears
a lifting upשְׂאֵתseet

majesty

Being raised above, first place; God's greatness.

Where else “seet” appears
sinחַטָּאתchatat

sin

Failing God, not doing what he asks.

Where else “chatat” appears
is crouchingרֹבֵץrovets

lie down, crouch

Lie down, crouch, like an animal at rest or lying in wait.

Where else “rovets” appears
at the doorפֶּתַחpetach

entrance, door

Entrance, doorway, door, opening.

Where else “petach” appears
its desireתְּשׁוּקָתteshukat

desire

Strong desire toward someone. It appears only three times in the Bible (Genesis 3:16; 4:7; Song of Songs 7:10) and its exact shade is debated.

Where else “teshukat” appears
will ruleתִּמְשָׁלtimshal

rule

To hold sway over something or someone.

Where else “timshal” appears

Translation note

“A lifting up” translates seet, “to lift up,” with no object: the Hebrew does not say what is lifted up. It can be understood as the face (compare “his face fell,” 4:5-6) or as Cain being accepted.

The context

6And YHWH said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?

7 · This verse (above)

8And Cain said to Abel his brother … And it happened, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Read all of Genesis 4

To study Genesis 4 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    How did Cain feel when YHWH did not look with favor on his offering, and what did YHWH say to him (vv. 5-7)?

  2. 2. What it means

    What does Cain mean by his question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (v. 9)?

  3. 3. How I live it

    How can you deal with anger or envy toward someone today before it grows?

How to use it