Hebrew Parallel: Literary Translation of Genesis (2)

Hebrew Parallel: Literary Translation of Genesis (2)

v1.5

1. Translation Policy

This translation is not a faithful literal rendering of the biblical text, but an artistic endeavor (including free translation and adaptation) that 're-creates' the spirit of the narrative within the dignified, literary resonance of Japanese classical literature. It aims to express the majesty and dramatic progression of the original text through a unique style.

In translating, the following policies were observed:

Conciseness and Rhythm:
Following the linguistic economy of haiku and waka, unnecessary particles and decorations have been stripped away to the limit. The repetitive expressions unique to the story of creation are also utilized within this rhythm.

Classical Literary Tone:
While based on classical literary language, a balance was sought with readability for modern readers. The aim is to reconstruct it as an artistic literary style while avoiding the vulgarity of pseudo-classical writing.

Strict Style:
Hiragana, including archaic forms, has been replaced with kanji as much as possible. Furthermore, by avoiding honorifics and humble language entirely, the fundamental relationship between God, the created, and humanity is expressed more directly and powerfully.

[About the Production Background]

This literary translation was generated and edited through collaboration with AI, based on the creator's clear concept. While the original biblical text is in the public domain, this translation is an attempt at a new creative expression, converting it into a unique style. We welcome readers to freely quote and share this for non-profit purposes such as education, research, and private use. However, please refrain from unauthorized modification or commercial use of the text.

2. Commentary

This translation is an attempt to reconstruct the fall of man in Genesis Chapter 3 and the first murder of humanity and its subsequent genealogy in Chapter 4 within the aesthetic style of Japanese classical literature.

The Cunning Serpent (3:1):
The original word 'arum' (cunning) rhymes with 'arummim' (naked) at the end of the previous chapter. In this translation, the serpent's craftiness is emphasized as 'cunning'.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (3:5):
'To be like God, knowing good and evil' refers not merely to the acquisition of knowledge, but to the fundamental human desire to hold the standard (sovereignty) of value judgment oneself.

Garments and Garments of Skin (3:7, 3:21):
The contrast between the 'fig leaf loincloths' made by themselves and the 'garments of skin' bestowed by God is traditionally understood to symbolize the limitations of human self-repair and the necessity of atonement by God.

Acquisition of a Man by the Lord (4:1):
'I have gotten a man from the Lord' is one traditional interpretation, but the original language has the breadth to also be translated as 'with the Lord'.

The Offerings of Cain and Abel (4:3-5):
The reason the Lord did not regard Cain's offering is not directly stated in the text, but it is often traditionally understood to lie in the heart of the one offering. The conflict between the tiller of the ground and the keeper of sheep is depicted.

The Lurking of Sin (4:7):
The expression comparing sin to a beast crouching at the door waiting to strike vividly depicts the destructive impulses lurking within the human heart.

Cain's Utterance in the Masoretic Text (4:8):
In the Masoretic text, what Cain said to Abel is omitted, but the tense development of murdering Abel in the field follows immediately.

The Mark of Cain (4:15):
A sign of God's protection to break the cycle of vengeance. It possesses the dual nature of mercy toward the sinner and the maintenance of social order.

3. Hebrew Parallel Literary Translation

Genesis Chapter 3

3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden?"'
וְהַנָּחָשׁ הָיָה עָרוּם מִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה אַף כִּי־אָמַר אֱלֹהִים לֹא תֹאכְלוּ מִכֹּל עֵץ הַגָּן׃
Vehanachash hayah arum mikkol chayyat hassadeh asher asah Yahweh Elohim. Vayomer el haishah, af ki amar Elohim, lo tokhlu mikkol ets haggan.
The serpent was / was / crafty / of all / the beasts of the field / made / by the Lord God. / Said / to the woman / 'Truly / did say / God / you shall not eat / from all the trees of the garden'.

3:2 The woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,'
וַתֹּאמֶר הָאִשָּׁה אֶל־הַנָּחָשׁ מִפְּרִי עֵץ־הַגָּן נֹאכֵל׃
Vattomer haishah el hannachash, mippri ets-haggan nokhel.
The woman said / to the serpent / 'From the fruit of the trees of the garden / we eat'.

3:3 'but God did say, "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die."'
וּמִפְּרִי הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֹךְ־הַגָּן אָמַר אֱלֹהִים לֹא תֹאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא תִגְּעוּ בּוֹ פֶּן־תְּמֻתוּן׃
Umippri haets asher betoch-haggan, amar Elohim, lo tokhlu mimmennu velo tigge'u bo, pen temutun.
'But concerning the fruit of the tree / that is in the middle of the garden / God said / you shall not eat / you shall not touch it / lest you die'.

3:4 'You will not certainly die,' the serpent said to the woman.
וַיֹּאמֶר הַנָּחָשׁ אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה לֹא־מוֹת תְּמֻתוּן׃
Vayomer hannachash el haishah, lo-mot temutun.
The serpent said / to the woman / 'You will not surely die'.

3:5 'For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'
כִּי יֹדֵעַ אֱלֹהִים כִּי בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְכֶם מִמֶּנּוּ וְנִפְקְחוּ עֵינֵיכֶם וִהְיִיתֶם כֵּאלֹהִים יֹדְעֵי טוֹב וָרָע׃
Ki yodea Elohim ki beyom akholkhem mimmennu venifkechu eineikhem, vihitem keElohim yode'ei tov vara.
'For / God knows / that in the day you eat from it / your eyes will be opened / and you will be like God / knowing good and evil'.

3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
וַתֵּרֶא הָאִשָּׁה כִּי טוֹב הָעֵץ לְמַאֲכָל וְכִי תַאֲוָה־הוּא לָעֵינַיִם וְנֶחְמָד הָעֵץ לְהַשְׂכִּיל וַתִּקַּח מִפִּרְיוֹ וַתֹּאכַל וַתִּתֵּן גַּם־לְאִישָׁהּ עִמָּהּ וַיֹּאכַל׃
Vatter'e haishah ki tov haets lema'akhal vechi ta'avah-hu la'enayim, vennechmad haets lehaskil. Vattikkach mippiryo vattokhal. Vattitten gam leishah immah vayokhal.
The woman saw / that the tree was good for food / and that it was a delight to the eyes / and the tree was desirable to make one wise. / She took of its fruit / and ate. / She also gave to her husband / who was with her / and he ate.

3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
וַתִּפָּקַחְנָה עֵינֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם וַיֵּדְעוּ כִּי עֵירֻמִּים הֵם וַיִּתְפְּרוּ עֲלֵה תְאֵנָה וַיַּעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם חֲגֹרֹת׃
Vattippachnah einei shenehem, vayyedu ki erummim hem. Vayyitperu aleh te'enah, vayya'asu lahem chagorot.
The eyes of both of them were opened / and they knew / that they were naked. / They sewed fig leaves / and made for themselves loincloths.

3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶת־קוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים מִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּגָּן לְרוּחַ הַיּוֹם וַיִּתְחַבֵּא הָאָדָם וְאִשְׁתּוֹ מִפְּנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים בְּתוֹךְ עֵץ הַגָּן׃
Vayyishme'u et-kol Yahweh Elohim mithallech baggan leruach hayyom. Vayyitchabbe ha'adam veishto mippenei Yahweh Elohim betoch ets haggan.
They heard / the sound of the Lord God / walking / in the garden / in the wind of the day. / The man and his wife hid / from the face of the Lord God / among the trees of the garden.

3:9 But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'
וַיִּקְרָא יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶל־הָאָדָם וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אַיֶּכָּה׃
Vayyiqra Yahweh Elohim el ha'adam, vayyomer lo, ayyekkah.
The Lord God called / to the man / and said to him / 'Where are you?'

3:10 He answered, 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.'
וַיֹּאמֶר אֶת־קֹלְךָ שָׁמַעְתִּי בַּגָּן וָאִירָא כִּי־עֵירֹם אָנֹכִי וָאֵחָבֵא׃
Vayyomer et-kolcha shamati baggan, va'ira ki-erom anochi va'echabe.
He said / 'Your voice / I heard / in the garden / and I was afraid / because I was naked / and I hid'.

3:11 And he said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?'
וַיֹּאמֶר מִי הִגִּיד לְךָ כִּי עֵירֹם אָתָּה הֲמִן־הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ לְבִלְתִּי אֲכָל־מִמֶּנּוּ אָכָלְתָּ׃
Vayyomer mi higgid lecha ki erom attah? Hamin haets asher tsivviticha levilti akhol-mimmennu akhalta?
He said / 'Who told you / that you were naked? / From the tree / that I commanded you / not to eat from / did you eat?'

3:12 The man said, 'The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.'
וַיֹּאמֶר הָאָדָם הָאִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה עִמָּדִי הִוא נָתְנָה־לִּי מִן־הָעֵץ וָאֹכֵל׃
Vayyomer ha'adam, haishah asher natattah immadi, hi natnah-li min haets vaokhel.
The man said / 'The woman / whom you gave / to be with me / she gave / to me / from the tree / and I ate'.

3:13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים לָאִשָּׁה מַה־זֹּאת עָשִׂית וַתֹּאמֶר הָאִשָּׁה הַנָּחָשׁ הִשִּׁיאַנִי וָאֹכֵל׃
Vayyomer Yahweh Elohim laishah, mah-zot asit? Vattomer haishah, hannachash hishiani vaokhel.
The Lord God said / to the woman / 'What is this / you have done?' / The woman said / 'The serpent / deceived me / and I ate'.

3:14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, 'Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.'
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים ׀ אֶל־הַנָּחָשׁ כִּי עָשִׂיתָ זֹּאת אָרוּר אַתָּה מִכָּל־הַבְּהֵמָה וּמִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה עַל־גְּחֹנְךָ תֵלֵךְ וְעָפָר תֹּאכַל כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ׃
Vayyomer Yahweh Elohim el hannachash, ki asita zot, arur attah mikkol habbehemah umikkol chayyat hassadeh. Al-gechonecha telech veafar tokhal kol yemei chaiyecha.
The Lord God said / to the serpent / 'Because you have done this / cursed are you / above all the cattle / and above all the beasts of the field. / On your belly / you shall go / and dust / you shall eat / all the days of your life'.

3:15 'And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.'
וְאֵיבָה אָשִׁית בֵּינְךָ וּבֵין הָאִשָּׁה וּבֵין זַרְעֲךָ וּבֵין זַרְעָהּ הוּא יְשׁוּפְךָ רֹאשׁ וְאַתָּה תְּשׁוּפֶנּוּ עָקֵב׃
Ve'eivah ashith beinecha uvein haishah uvein zar'acha uvein zar'ah. Hu yeshufecha rosh veattah teshufennu aqev.
'And enmity / I will put / between you / and between the woman / and between your seed / and between her seed. / He / will crush your head / and you / will strike his heel'.

3:16 To the woman he said, 'I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.'
אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה אָמַר הַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה עִצְּבוֹנֵךְ וְהֵרֹנֵךְ בְּעֶצֶב תֵּלְדִי בָנִים וְאֶל־אִישֵׁךְ תְּשׁוּקָתֵךְ וְהוּא יִמְשָׁל־בָּךְ׃
El haishah amar, harbah arbe itsevonech veheronech. Beetsev teledi banim. Veel ishech teshuqatech vehu yimshal-bach.
To the woman he said / 'I will greatly multiply / your pain and your conception. / In pain / you shall bring forth / children. / And to your husband / shall be your desire / and he / shall rule over you'.

3:17 To Adam he said, 'Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, "You must not eat from it," cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.'
וּלְאָדָם אָמַר כִּי־שָׁמַעְתָּ לְקוֹל אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתֹּאכַל מִן־הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ לֵאמֹר לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ בְּעִצָּבוֹן תֹּאכֲלֶנָּה כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ׃
Ule'adam amar, ki-shamata leqol ishto vattokhal min haets asher tsivviticha lemor lo tokhal mimmennu, arurah haadamah ba'avurecha. Beittsavon tokhalennah kol yemei chaiyecha.
To Adam he said / 'Because you listened / to the voice of your wife / and ate from the tree / which I commanded you / saying / you shall not eat from it / cursed is the ground / for your sake. / In pain / you shall eat of it / all the days of your life'.

3:18 'It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.'
וְקוֹץ וְדַרְדַּר תַּצְמִיחַ לָךְ וְאָכַלְתָּ אֶת־עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה׃
Veqots vedardar tatsmiach lach, veakhalta et-esev hassadeh.
'And thorns and thistles / it shall bring forth / for you / and you shall eat / the plants of the field'.

3:19 By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground. For out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
בְּזֵעַת אַפֶּיךָ תֹּאכַל לֶחֶם עַד שׁוּבְךָ אֶל־הָאֲדָמָה כִּי מִמֶּנָּה לֻקָּחְתָּ כִּי־עָפָר אַתָּה וְאֶל־עָפָר תָּשׁוּב׃
Beze'at appecha tochal lechem ad shuvecha el ha'adamah, ki mimmenna lukkachta. Ki afar attah ve'el afar tashuv.
“With the sweat of your brow / you shall eat bread / until you return to the ground / for from it you were taken. / Because you are dust / you shall return to dust.”

3:20 The man named his wife Eve, for she was the mother of all the living.
וַיִּקְרָא הָאָדָם שֵׁם אִשְׁתּוֹ חַוָּה כִּי הִוא הָיְתָה אֵם כָּל־חָי׃
Vayyiqra ha'adam shem ishto Chavvah ki hi hayetah em kol chai.
The man called / the name of his wife / Eve / because she was the mother / of all the living.

3:21 The Lord God made garments of skin for the man and his wife, and clothed them.
וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים לְאָדָם וּלְאִשְׁתּוֹ כָּתְנוֹת עוֹר וַיַּלְבִּשֵׁם׃
Vayya'as Yahweh Elohim le'adam ule'ishto kotnot or vayyalbishem.
The Lord God made / for the man and his wife / garments of skin / and clothed them.

3:22 The Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.”
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים הֵן הָאָדָם הָיָה כְּאַחַד מִמֶּנּוּ לָדַעַת טוֹב וָרָע וְעַתָּה ׀ פֶּן־יִשְׁלַח יָדוֹ וְלָקַח גַּם מֵעֵץ הַחַיִּים וְאָכַל וָחַי לְעֹלָם׃
Vayyo'mer Yahweh Elohim hen ha'adam hayah ke'achad mimmennu lada'at tov vara. Ve'attah pen yishlach yado velakach gam me'ets hachayyim ve'achal vachai le'olam.
The Lord God said / “Behold / the man / has become like one of us / in knowing good and evil. / Now / he might reach out / and take also from the tree of life / and eat / and live forever.”

3:23 The Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.
וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים מִגַּן־עֵדֶן לַעֲבֹד אֶת־הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר לֻקַּח מִשָּׁם׃
Vayeshallechehu Yahweh Elohim miggan Eden la'avod et ha'adamah asher lukkach misham.
The Lord God sent out / from the Garden of Eden / to till / the ground / from which he was taken.

3:24 So He drove out the man, and placed at the east of the Garden of Eden the Cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
וַיְגָרֶשׁ אֶת־הָאָדָם וַיַּשְׁכֵּן מִקֶּדֶם לְגַן־עֵדֶן אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִים וְאֵת לַהַט הַחֶרֶב הַמִּתְהַפֶּכֶת לִשְׁמֹר אֶת־דֶּרֶךְ עֵץ הַחַיִּים׃
Vaygaresh et ha'adam, vayyashken mikkedem legan Eden et hakkeruvim ve'et lahat hacherev hammithappechot lishmor et derech ets hachayyim.
He drove out the man / and placed / in the east / of the Garden of Eden / the Cherubim / and the flaming sword that turned / to guard / the way to the tree of life.

Genesis Chapter Four

4:1 The man knew his wife Eve. She conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
וְהָאָדָם יָדַע אֶת־חַוָּה אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד אֶת־קַיִן וַתֹּאמֶר קָנִיתִי אִישׁ אֶת־יְהוָה׃
Veha'adam yada et Chavvah ishto vattahar vattelled et Qayin. Vatto'mer qaniti ish et Yahweh.
The man knew / his wife Eve. / She conceived / and bore Cain. / She said / “I have acquired / a man / with the Lord.”

4:2 Again, she bore his brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
וַתֹּסֶף לָלֶדֶת אֶת־אָחִיו אֶת־הָבֶל וַיְהִי־הֶבֶל רֹעֵה צֹאן וְקַיִן הָיָה עֹבֵד אֲדָמָה׃
Vattosef laledet et achiv et Havel. Vayhi Hevel ro'eh tson veQayin hayah oved adamah.
Also / she bore / his brother Abel. / Abel became / a shepherd / and Cain was / a tiller of the ground.

4:3 In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground.
וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ יָמִים וַיָּבֵא קַיִן מִפְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה מִנְחָה לַֽיהוָה׃
Vayhi miqqets yamim. Vayyave Qayin mippri ha'adamah minchah laYahweh.
Time passed / Cain brought / the fruit of the ground / as an offering / to the Lord.

4:4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering.
וְהֶבֶל הֵבִיא גַם־הוּא מִבְּכֹרוֹת צֹאנוֹ וּמֵחֶלְבֵהֶן וַיִּשַׁע יְהוָה אֶל־הֶבֶל וְאֶל־מִנְחָתוֹ׃
VeHevel hevi gam hu mibechorot tsono umechelvehen. Vayyisha Yahweh el Hevel ve'el minchato.
Abel also brought / of the firstborn of his flock / and their fat. / The Lord had regard / for Abel / and for his offering.

4:5 But for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
וְאֶל־קַיִן וְאֶל־מִנְחָתוֹ לֹא שָׁעָה וַיִּחַר לְקַיִן מְאֹד וַיִּפְּלוּ פָּנָיו׃
Ve'el Qayin ve'el minchato lo sha'ah. Vayyichar leQayin me'od vayyippelu panav.
But for Cain / and his offering / He did not have regard. / Cain was very angry / and his face fell.

4:6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your face fallen?
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־קָיִן לָמָּה חָרָה לָךְ וְלָמָּה נָפְלוּ פָנֶיךָ׃
Vayyo'mer Yahweh el Qayin, lammah charah lach velammah nafelu fanecha.
The Lord said / to Cain / “Why are you angry / and why has your face fallen?

4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
הֲלוֹא אִם־תֵּיטִיב שְׂאֵת וְאִם לֹא תֵיטִיב לַפֶּתַח חַטָּאת רֹבֵץ וְאֶלֶיךָ תְּשׁוּקָתוֹ וְאַתָּה תִּמְשָׁל־בּוֹ׃
Halo im teitiv se'et. Ve'im lo teitiv lappetach chattat rovets ve'eleicha teshuqato ve'attah timshol bo.
“If you do well / will you not be lifted up? / If you do not do well / at the door / sin / is crouching. / It desires you / but you must rule over it.”

4:8 Cain spoke to his brother Abel; and when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
וַיֹּאמֶר קַיִן אֶל־הֶבֶל אָחִיו וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיָּקָם קַיִן אֶל־הֶבֶל אָחִיו וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ׃
Vayyo'mer Qayin el Hevel achiv. Vayhi bihyotam bassadeh vayyaqam Qayin el Hevel achiv vayyahargehu.
Cain said / to his brother Abel. / When they were in the field / Cain rose up / against his brother Abel / and killed him.

4:9 The Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־קַיִן אֵי הֶבֶל אָחִיךָ וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא יָדַעְתִּי הֲשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹכִי׃
Vayyo'mer Yahweh el Qayin, e Hevel achicha. Vayyo'mer lo yada'ti. Hashomer achi anochi.
The Lord said / to Cain / “Where is your brother Abel?” / He said / “I do not know. / Am I my brother’s keeper?”

4:10 He said, “What have you done? Listen, the voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.
וַיֹּאמֶר מֶה עָשִׂיתָ קוֹל דְּמֵי אָחִיךָ צֹעֲקִים אֵלַי מִן־הָאֲדָמָה׃
Vayyo'mer meh asita. Qol demei achicha tso'aqim elai min ha'adamah.
He said / “What have you done? / The voice / of your brother’s blood / is crying / to me / from the ground.”

4:11 Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
וְעַתָּה אָרוּר אָתָּה מִן־הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר פָּצְתָה אֶת־פִּיהָ לָקַחַת אֶת־דְּמֵי אָחִיךָ מִיָּדֶךָ׃
Ve'attah arur attah min ha'adamah asher patsetah et piha laqachat et demei achicha miyyadecha.
“Now / you are cursed / from the ground / which opened its mouth / to take / your brother’s blood / from your hand.”

4:12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת־הָאֲדָמָה לֹא־תֹסֵף תֵּת־כֹּחָהּ לָךְ נָע וָנָד תִּהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ׃
Ki ta'avod et ha'adamah, lo tosef tet kochah lach. Na vanad tihyeh ba'arets.
“When you till the ground / it will no longer give its strength to you. / A fugitive and a wanderer / you shall be / on the earth.”

4:13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
וַיֹּאמֶר קַיִן אֶל־יְהוָה גָּדוֹל עֲוֺנִי מִנְּשֹׂא׃
Vayyo'mer Qayin el Yahweh, gadol avoni minneso.
Cain said / to the Lord / “My punishment (iniquity) is too great / to bear.”

4:14 Behold, You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face, and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.
הֵן גֵּרַשְׁתָּ אֹתִי הַיּוֹם מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה וּמִפָּנֶיךָ אֶסָּתֵר וְהָיִיתִי נָע וָנָד בָּאָרֶץ וְהָיָה כָל־מֹצְאִי יַהַרְגֵנִי׃
Hen gerashta oti hayyom me'al penei ha'adamah. Umipaneicha essater, vehayiti na vanad ba'aretz. Vehayah kol motze'i yahargeni.
“Behold, you have driven me out today from the face of the earth. I shall be hidden from your face and become a fugitive and a wanderer. Whoever finds me will kill me.”

4:15 The Lord said to him, 'Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.' And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ יְהוָה לָכֵן כָּל־הֹרֵג קַיִן שִׁבְעָתַיִם יֻקָּם וַיָּשֶׂם יְהוָה לְקַיִן אוֹת לְבִלְתִּי הַכּוֹת־אֹתוֹ כָּל־מֹצְאוֹ׃
Vayomer lo Yahweh, lachen kol-horeg Qayin shiv'atayim yuqqam. Vayasem Yahweh leQayin ot levilti hakkot-oto kol-motze'o.
The Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain shall suffer sevenfold vengeance.” The Lord set a mark on Cain, so that anyone who met him would not strike him.

4:16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
וַיֵּצֵא קַיִן מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּאֶרֶץ־נוֹד קִדְמַת־עֵדֶן׃
Vayetze Qayin millifnei Yahweh, vayeshev be'eretz-Nod qidmat-Eden.
Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

4:17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
וַיֵּדַע קַיִן אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד אֶת־חֲנוֹךְ וַיְהִי בֹּנֶה עִיר וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם הָעִיר כְּשֵׁם בְּנוֹ חֲנוֹךְ׃
Vayeda Qayin et-ishto vattahar vatteled et-Chanokh. Vayehi boneh 'ir vayiqra shem ha'ir keshem beno Chanokh.
Cain knew his wife. She conceived and bore Enoch. He was building a city and named the city after his son, Enoch.

4:18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
וַיִּוָּלֵד לַחֲנוֹךְ אֶת־עִירָד וְעִירָד יָלַד אֶת־מְחוּיָאֵל וּמְחִיּיָאֵל יָלַד אֶת־מְתוּשָׁאֵל וּמְתוּשָׁאֵל יָלַד אֶת־לָמֶךְ׃
Vayivvaled leChanokh et-'Irad, ve'Irad yalad et-Mechuya'el, uMechuya'el yalad et-Metusha'el, uMetusha'el yalad et-Lamekh.
To Enoch was born Irad. Irad fathered Mehujael. Mehujael fathered Methushael. Methushael fathered Lamech.

4:19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other was Zillah.
וַיִּקַּח־לוֹ לֶמֶךְ שְׁתֵּי נָשִים שֵׁם הָאַחַת עָדָה וְשֵׁם הַשֵּׁנִית צִלָּה׃
Vayiqach-lo Lamekh shetei nashim. Shem ha'achat 'Adah, veshem hashenit Tzilla.
Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.

4:20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
וַתֵּלֶד עָדָה אֶת־יָבָל הוּא הָיָה אֲבִי יֹשֵׁב אֹהֶל וּמִקְנֶה׃
Vatteled 'Adah et-Yaval. Hu hayah avi yoshev ohel umiqneh.
Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.

4:21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
וְשֵׁם אָחִיו יוּבָל הוּא הָיָה אֲבִי כָּל־תֹּפֵשׂ כִּנּוֹר וְעוּגָב׃
Veshem achiv Yuval. Hu hayah avi kol-tofes kinnor ve'ugav.
His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all who handle the lyre and pipe.

4:22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
וְצִלָּה גַם־הִוא יָלְדָה אֶת־תּוּבַל קַיִן לֹטֵשׁ כָּל־חֹרֵשׁ נְחֹשֶׁת וּבַרְזֶל וַאֲחוֹת תּוּבַל־קַיִן נַעֲמָה׃
VeTzilla gam-hi yaldah et-Tuval Qayin, lotesh kol-choresh nechoshet uvarzel. Va'achot Tuval-Qayin Na'amah.
Zillah also bore Tubal-cain, the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

4:23 Lamech said to his wives: 'Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.'
וַיֹּאמֶר לֶמֶךְ לְנָשָׁיו עָדָה וְצִלָּה שְׁמַעַן קוֹלִי נְשֵׁי לֶמֶךְ הַאְזֵנָּה אִמְרָתִי כִּי אִישׁ הָרַגְתִּי לְפִצְעִי וְיֶלֶד לְחַבֻּרָתִי׃
Vayomer Lamekh lenashav, 'Adah veTzilla shema'an qoli, neshei Lamekh ha'zenah imrati. Ki ish haragti lefitz'i, veyeled lechaburati.
Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. I have killed a man for my wound, and a young man for my bruise.”

4:24 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold.
כִּי שִׁבְעָתַיִם יֻקַּם־קָיִן וְלֶמֶךְ שִׁבְעִים וְשִׁבְעָה׃
Ki shiv'atayim yuqqam-Qayin, veLamekh shiv'im veshiv'ah.
“If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

4:25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, 'God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.'
וַיֵּדַע אָדָם עוֹד אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַתִּקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמוֹ שֵׁת כִּי שָׁת־לִי אֱלֹהִים זֶרַע אַחֵר תַּחַת הֶבֶל כִּי הֲרָגוֹ קָיִן׃
Vayeda Adam 'od et-ishto vattahar vatteled ben vattiqra et-shemo Shet. Ki shat-li Elohim zera' acher tachat Hevel, ki harago Qayin.
Adam knew his wife again. She bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, because Cain killed him.”

4:26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
וּלְשֵׁת גַּם־הוּא יֻלַּד־בֵּן וַיִּקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמוֹ אֱנוֹשׁ אָז הוּחַל לִקְרֹא בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה׃
UleShet gam-hu yullad-ben vayiqra et-shemo Enosh. Az huchal liqro beshem Yahweh.
To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

4. Hebrew Glossary

Below is a comprehensive list of the main Hebrew words appearing in Genesis chapters 3 and 4. This list focuses on the key terms that appear repeatedly in chapters 3 and 4.

יהוה (Yahweh): The Lord.

אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): God.

אָדָם (Adam): Man, Adam.

אִשָּׁה (Ishah): Woman, wife.

עֵץ (Etz): Tree.

pərî (pri): fruit, produce.

gan (gan): garden.

śādeh (sadeh): field.

ʾāḵal (akal): to eat.

ʾāmar (amar): to say.

yāḏaʿ (yada): to know.

ʿayin (ayin): eye.

qôl (kol): voice, sound.

šāmaʿ (shama): to hear.

ʿāśâ (asa): to make, to do.

nāṯan (natan): to give, to place.

ʿêrōm (erom) / ʿārûm (arum): naked, crafty (cognate expressions).

ʾăḏāmâ (adama): soil, ground.

zeraʿ (zera): seed, offspring, descendant.

yālaḏ (yalad): to bear, to be born.

bēn (ben): son, child.

ʾîš (ish): man, husband.

qayin (kayin): Cain.

heḇel (hevel): Abel.

ʾāḥ (ach): brother.

מִנְחָה (Minchah): Offering, gift.

פָּנִים (Panim): Face, surface.

דָּם (Dam): Blood.

אָרוּר (Arur): Cursed.

שֵׁם (Shem): Name.

הָרַג (Harag): To kill.

חַיָּה (Chayyah) / חַי (Chay): Living creature, living.

מוּת (Mut): To die.

שָׁלַח (Shalach): To send, to stretch out.

גָּרַשׁ (Garash): To drive out.

מָצָא (Matza): To find.

קָרָא (Kara): To call, to name.

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