Discovery BoxGenesis 1:10 
Context1:10 God called the dry ground “land” 1 and the gathered waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good.
Genesis 4:2-3
Context4:2 Then she gave birth 2 to his brother Abel. 3 Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground. 4
4:3 At the designated time 5 Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering 6 to the Lord.
Genesis 7:8
Context7:8 Pairs 7 of clean animals, of unclean animals, of birds, and of everything that creeps along the ground,
Genesis 8:8
Context8:8 Then Noah 8 sent out a dove 9 to see if the waters had receded 10 from the surface of the ground.
Genesis 24:52
Context24:52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord.
Genesis 48:12
Context48:12 So Joseph moved them from Israel’s knees 11 and bowed down with his face to the ground.
1 tn Heb “earth,” but here the term refers to the dry ground as opposed to the sea.
2 tn Heb “And she again gave birth.”
3 sn The name Abel is not defined here in the text, but the tone is ominous. Abel’s name, the Hebrew word הֶבֶל (hevel), means “breath, vapor, vanity,” foreshadowing Abel’s untimely and premature death.
4 tn Heb “and Abel was a shepherd of the flock, and Cain was a worker of the ground.” The designations of the two occupations are expressed with active participles, רֹעֵה (ro’eh, “shepherd”) and עֹבֵד (’oved, “worker”). Abel is occupied with sheep, whereas Cain is living under the curse, cultivating the ground.
5 tn Heb “And it happened at the end of days.” The clause indicates the passing of a set period of time leading up to offering sacrifices.
6 tn The Hebrew term מִנְחָה (minkhah, “offering”) is a general word for tribute, a gift, or an offering. It is the main word used in Lev 2 for the dedication offering. This type of offering could be comprised of vegetables. The content of the offering (vegetables, as opposed to animals) was not the critical issue, but rather the attitude of the offerer.
7 tn Heb “two two” meaning “in twos.”
8 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Noah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 tn The Hebrew text adds “from him.” This has not been translated for stylistic reasons, because it is redundant in English.
10 tn The Hebrew verb קָלָל (qalal) normally means “to be light, to be slight”; it refers here to the waters receding.
11 tn Heb “and Joseph brought them out from with his knees.” The two boys had probably been standing by Israel’s knees when being adopted and blessed. The referent of the pronoun “his” (Israel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
