And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
What does Genesis 4:4 mean?
When Cain was born, Eve said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. Perhaps she thought that this was the promised seed.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Genesis 4:3-5 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Genesis 4:4
And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: And Habel brought. - Habel's offering differs from that of his brother in outward form. It consists of the firstlings of his flock. These were slain; for their fat is offered. Blood was therefore shed, and life taken away. To us who are accustomed to partake of animal food, there may appear nothing strange here. We may suppose that each brother offered what came to hand out of the produce of his own industry. But let us ascend to that primeval time when the fruit tree and the herb bearing seed were alone assigned to man for food, and we must feel that there is something new here.
Key words
- Abel
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And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock,.
- brought
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And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock,.
- firstlings
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And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock,.
Context in Genesis 4
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Genesis 4 belongs to the early movement of the book, especially the section often described as primeval history from creation to Babel. Genesis opens the whole Bible with creation, fall, flood, Babel, and the long patriarchal story that carries the reader from Eden to Egypt. Read this chapter with the wider themes of creation, fall, and covenant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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A collection of passages on hope under pressure, future inheritance, resurrection expectation, and confidence in God’s final faithfulness.