Genesis 4:5

4:5 but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. 1  So Cain became very angry, 2  and his expression was downcast. 3 

Genesis 19:21

19:21 “Very well,” he replied, 4  “I will grant this request too 5  and will not overthrow 6  the town you mentioned.

1 sn The Letter to the Hebrews explains the difference between the brothers as one of faith – Abel by faith offered a better sacrifice. Cain’s offering as well as his reaction to God’s displeasure did not reflect faith. See further B. K. Waltke, “Cain and His Offering,” WTJ 48 (1986): 363-72.

2 tn Heb “and it was hot to Cain.” This Hebrew idiom means that Cain “burned” with anger.

3 tn Heb “And his face fell.” The idiom means that the inner anger is reflected in Cain’s facial expression. The fallen or downcast face expresses anger, dejection, or depression. Conversely, in Num 6 the high priestly blessing speaks of the Lord lifting up his face and giving peace.

4 tn Heb “And he said, ‘Look, I will grant.’” The order of the clauses has been rearranged for stylistic reasons. The referent of the speaker (“he”) is somewhat ambiguous: It could be taken as the angel to whom Lot has been speaking (so NLT; note the singular references in vv. 18-19), or it could be that Lot is speaking directly to the Lord here. Most English translations leave the referent of the pronoun unspecified and maintain the ambiguity.

5 tn Heb “I have lifted up your face [i.e., shown you favor] also concerning this matter.”

6 tn The negated infinitive construct indicates either the consequence of God’s granting the request (“I have granted this request, so that I will not”) or the manner in which he will grant it (“I have granted your request by not destroying”).