Tag Archives: Genesis 4:5

Genesis 4:5 – Emotion Verbs and the Use of וַיִּפְּלוּ פָּנָיו

וְאֶל־קַ֥יִן וְאֶל־מִנְחָתֹ֖ו לֹ֣א שָׁעָ֑ה וַיִּ֤חַר לְקַ֨יִן֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ פָּנָֽיו׃ But to Qayin and to his offering He did not look with favor, and Qayin was very angry, and his face fell. Explanation of Feature This verse from Genesis 4:5 contains two noteworthy grammatical features: 1. Emotion verbs with לְ (lamed) – as seen in וַיִּחַר לְקַיִן, “Qayin became angry.” In Hebrew, anger is often described with the verb חָרָה (“to burn”) used impersonally with a lamed preposition marking the subject: “it burned to Qayin.”… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Genesis 4:5 – Emotion Verbs and the Use of וַיִּפְּלוּ פָּנָיו