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׃ (Genesis 4:5) 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