GEN 4:2 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Eventually she also gave birth to Kayin’s brother, Abel. Abel became a shepherd, while Kayin became a crop farmer.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Καὶ προσέθηκε τεκεῖν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν Ἄβελ· καὶ ἐγένετο Ἄβελ ποιμὴν προβάτων, Κάϊν δὲ ἦν ἐργαζόμενος τὴν γῆν.
(Kai prosethaʸke tekein ton adelfon autou ton Abel; kai egeneto Abel poimaʸn probatōn, Kain de aʸn ergazomenos taʸn gaʸn. )

BrTr And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

ULT Then she continued on to bear his brother Abel. Now Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain became a worker of the ground.

UST Then Eve also gave birth to Cain’s brother whom they named Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, and Cain became a crop farmer.

BSB § Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel.
§ Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.

OEB She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel was a shepherd, while Cain was a farmer.

WEBBE Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Then she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground.

LSV and she adds to bear his brother, even Abel. And Abel is feeding a flock, and Cain has been servant of the ground.

FBV Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel became a shepherd, while Cain was a crop farmer.

T4T After those boys grew up, Abel ◄tended/took care of► sheep and goats, and Cain became a farmer.

LEB Then she bore[fn] his brother Abel. And Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain became a tiller of the ground.

4:2 Literally “And she added to bear”

BBE Then again she became with child and gave birth to Abel, his brother. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a farmer.

Moff No Moff GEN book available

JPS And again she bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

ASV And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

DRA And again she brought forth his brother Abel. And Abel was a shepherd, and Cain a husbandman.

YLT and she addeth to bear his brother, even Abel. And Abel is feeding a flock, and Cain hath been servant of the ground.

Drby And she further bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a shepherd, but Cain was a husbandman.

RV And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Wbstr And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

KJB-1769 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.[fn][fn]

4.2 Abel: Heb. Hebel

4.2 a keeper: Heb. a feeder

KJB-1611 [fn][fn]And she againe bare his brother Abel, and Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

4:2 Heb. Hebel.

4:2 Heb. a feeder.

Bshps And she proceading, brought foorth his brother Habel, and Habel was a keper of sheepe, but Cain was a tyller of the grounde.
(And she proceading, brought forth his brother Habel, and Habel was a keper of sheep, but Cain was a tyller of the ground.)

Gnva And againe she brought foorth his brother Habel, and Habel was a keeper of sheepe, and Kain was a tiller of the ground.
(And again she brought forth his brother Habel, and Habel was a keeper of sheep, and Kain was a tiller of the ground. )

Cvdl And she proceaded forth, & bare his brother Abell. And Abell became a shepherde, but Cain became an husbande man.
(And she proceeded forth, and bare his brother Abell. And Abell became a shepherd, but Cain became an husband man.)

Wycl And efte sche childide his brother Abel. Forsothe Abel was a kepere of scheep, and Cayn was an erthe tilyere.
(And efte she childide his brother Abel. Forsothe Abel was a kepere of sheep, and Cayn was an earth tilyere.)

Luth Und sie fuhr fort und gebar Habel, seinen Bruder. Und Habel ward ein Schäfer, Kain aber ward ein Ackermann.
(And they/she/them fuhr fort and gebar Habel, his brother. And Habel what/which a Schäfer, Kain but what/which a Ackermann.)

ClVg Rursumque peperit fratrem ejus Abel. Fuit autem Abel pastor ovium, et Cain agricola.[fn]
(Rursumque gave_birth brother his Abel. Fuit however Abel pastor ovium, and Cain agricola. )

4.2 Fuit autem Abel, etc. In quo significatur qui de terrena inhabitatione lugent. Abel namque luctus interpretatur, vel vapor, quia luctus fuit parentibus vel tanquam vapor cito disparuit.

4.2 Fuit however Abel, etc. In quo significatur who about terrena inhabitatione lugent. Abel namque luctus interpretatur, or vapor, because luctus fuit parentibus or tanquam vapor cito disparuit.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

וַ⁠תֹּ֣סֶף לָ⁠לֶ֔דֶת

and=she/it_added to=give_birth

The Hebrew text is ambiguous here. Cain and Abel may have been twins, or Abel may have been born sometime later after Eve became pregnant again. If possible, translate verse 2 in a way that allows for either interpretation. Also, consider whether it is better in your language to use a pronoun or a noun to refer to Eve here. Alternate translation: “Then she also gave birth to” or “After that, Eve gave birth to”

Note 2 topic: translate-kinship

אֶת אָחִ֖י⁠ו

DOM his/its=woman

Some languages have a specific term for “younger brother” that can be used here. Do what is best in your language.

אֶת הָ֑בֶל

DOM DOM Heⱱel/(Abel)

Alternate translation: “whose name was Abel.”

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-time-background

וַֽ⁠יְהִי הֶ֨בֶל֙

and=he/it_was Heⱱel/(Abel)

This sentence introduces background information for what happens next. Consider what is the best way to begin this sentence in your language. Also, It is implied here that the boys had grown up to be adults. If necessary, you could make that explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “Now when the boys had grown up, Abel”

רֹ֣עֵה צֹ֔אן

herding_of flock_of_sheep/goats

A flock can be a large group of sheep or goats, or a mixture of both. Alternate translation: “was a keeper of sheep,” or “was a shepherd,” or “raised sheep and goats,”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

וְ⁠קַ֕יִן

and=Qayin/(Cain)

Consider what is the best way in your language to contrast Cain and his work with Abel and his work. Alternate translation: “but Cain”

הָיָ֖ה עֹבֵ֥ד אֲדָמָֽה

it_became tilling_of soil/ground

Cain raised crops, not animals. See how you translated a similar phrase (“work the ground”) in Gen 2:5. Alternate translation: “was a tiller of the soil.” or “was a crop farmer.” or “grew food crops.”

Parallel GEN 4:2