Bible Strands
Genesis 4:5
but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records God’s response to Cain’s sacrifice immediately after describing His favorable regard for Abel and his offering. The moment captures the direct contrast between divine acceptance and rejection that triggers Cain’s emotional collapse.
The words — The Hebrew verb שָׁעָה (sha.'Ah) literally means "to look" or "to regard," indicating God’s active attention or lack thereof. The verb וַיִּחַר (va/i.Yi.char) means "to burn" or "to be angry," describing the sudden internal heat that caused Cain’s face to fall.
The thread — This pattern of divine rejection followed by human anger appears in Hebrews 11:4, which contrasts Abel’s faithful acceptance with Cain’s rejected offering. The connection between resentment and spiritual ruin is echoed in Job 5:2, where the text notes that resentment kills a fool.
Why it lands — The text records God’s refusal of Cain’s offering and Cain’s subsequent anger before interpreting the moral cause. It requires a reader to confront how unaddressed rejection breeds destructive pride rather than prompting self-examination.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
- Job 5:2 For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
- Isaiah 3:10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
- Luke 15:28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
- Psalms 20:3 May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Selah
- Matthew 20:15 Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
- Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
- Genesis 31:2 And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
- Genesis 31:5 and he told them, “I can see from your father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me.
- Numbers 16:15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not regard their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them or mistreated a single one of them.”