Genesis 4 – Line 00082

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INTRO

This file shows what the earliest Hebrew/Greek manuscripts say, word by word, before any interpretation.

PREFACE

This file presents the earliest traceable form of this line, drawn primarily from manuscript sources like the Leningrad Codex.

Where other manuscript witnesses differ or offer meaningful variation (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls or the Samaritan Pentateuch), we remain watchful and will note those cases transparently when identified.

Every word is shown with its full lexical range; without smoothing, interpretation, or insertion.

This is not a translation or conclusion. It is a transparent starting point, open to personal encounter and divine resonance.

We do not treat any human source as final; only as visible reference points for deeper unfolding.

While we strive for care and clarity, any oversight or omission is unintentional, and all work remains open to refinement as understanding grows.

1. ORIGINAL LINE TEXT

Language: Hebrew

Manuscript Source: Leningrad Codex

Line Reference: Genesis 4:2

וַתֹּסֶף לָלֶדֶת אֶת־אָחִיו אֶת־הָבֶל וַיְהִי הֶבֶל רֹעֵה צֹאן וְקַיִן הָיָה עֹבֵד אֲדָמָה

2. DIRECT TRANSLITERATION

vattosef laledet et-achiv et-hevel vayhi hevel ro’eh tson ve-qayin hayah oved adamah

3. WORD-BY-WORD LEXICAL BREAKDOWN

WORD 1

Original: וַתֹּסֶף

Transliteration: vattosef

Lexical Root: יסף (yasaf)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammatical Info: Hiphil imperfect 3rd person feminine singular with vav-consecutive

Lexical Range:

to add

to continue

to do again

to increase

Notable Observations:

Indicates repetition or continuation of an action, in this case childbirth.

WORD 2

Original: לָלֶדֶת

Transliteration: laledet

Lexical Root: ילד (yalad)

Part of Speech: Verb (infinitive construct)

Grammatical Info: Qal infinitive construct with prefixed preposition ל (to)

Lexical Range:

to give birth

to bear

to bring forth

WORD 3

Original: אֶת־

Transliteration: et

Lexical Root:;

Part of Speech: Particle

Grammatical Info: Direct object marker

Lexical Range:

marks definite direct object

no equivalent in English

WORD 4

Original: אָחִיו

Transliteration: achiv

Lexical Root: אח (ach)

Part of Speech: Noun + pronominal suffix

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix

Lexical Range:

his brother

male sibling

kin

Notable Observations:

Construct form links this to the next direct object: Hevel.

WORD 5

Original: אֶת־הָבֶל

Transliteration: et-hevel

Lexical Root: הבל (hevel)

Part of Speech: Proper noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine proper noun with direct object marker

Lexical Range:

personal name “Hevel” (Abel)

also: vapor, breath, vanity (abstract sense)

WORD 6

Original: וַיְהִי

Transliteration: vayhi

Lexical Root: היה (hayah)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammatical Info: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive

Lexical Range:

to be

to become

to exist

to happen

WORD 7

Original: הֶבֶל

Transliteration: hevel

Lexical Root: הבל (hevel)

Part of Speech: Proper noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular

Lexical Range:

personal name “Hevel” (Abel)

also: vapor, breath, futility (in abstract contexts)

WORD 8

Original: רֹעֵה

Transliteration: ro’eh

Lexical Root: רעה (ra’ah)

Part of Speech: Verb (participle)

Grammatical Info: Qal participle masculine singular

Lexical Range:

one who tends

shepherd

herder

one who pastures

WORD 9

Original: צֹאן

Transliteration: tson

Lexical Root: צאן (tson)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Common gender, collective noun

Lexical Range:

flock

small livestock (sheep, goats)

animals kept for herding

WORD 10

Original: וְקַיִן

Transliteration: ve-qayin

Lexical Root: קין (qayin)

Part of Speech: Proper noun with conjunction

Grammatical Info: Masculine proper noun prefixed by conjunction “ve” (and)

Lexical Range:

personal name “Qayin” (Cain)

WORD 11

Original: הָיָה

Transliteration: hayah

Lexical Root: היה (hayah)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammatical Info: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular

Lexical Range:

to be

to exist

to happen

to become

WORD 12

Original: עֹבֵד

Transliteration: oved

Lexical Root: עבד (avad)

Part of Speech: Verb (participle)

Grammatical Info: Qal participle masculine singular

Lexical Range:

one who works

laborer

cultivator

servant

worshiper (in other contexts)

WORD 13

Original: אֲדָמָה

Transliteration: adamah

Lexical Root: אדמה (adamah)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Feminine singular

Lexical Range:

ground

soil

cultivated earth

land

red earth (etymologically)

4. STRUCTURAL NOTES

The line is composed of two narrative sequences:

(1) Continuation of childbirth with “vattosef laledet”; a causative construction marking repeated action.

(2) Parallel statements of occupation: Hevel is described with a participle (“ro’eh”), as is Qayin (“oved”), marking ongoing identity or function.

Use of vav-consecutive with “vattosef” and “vayhi” sets rhythm in narrative time.

The phrase “et-achiv et-hevel” reinforces syntactic clarity and referential specificity.

5. VARIANT MANUSCRIPT NOTES

No documented deviations in the Leningrad Codex or major Masoretic manuscripts.

The structure and spelling of names align across known early Hebrew sources.

Some scribal traditions emphasize the repetition of “et” before both "achiv" and "hevel" to avoid ambiguity.

6. STRUCTURAL CONNECTION TO OTHER LINES

The dual professions (shepherd and cultivator) reflect a motif of occupational contrast, seen again in Genesis 9:20 and Genesis 13:5–7.

Continuation of the “yalad” and “hayah” patterns begun in Genesis 4:1 and recurring throughout Genesis genealogies.

7. CAUTIONARY REMINDER

The content above does not represent a translation.

No conclusions, smoothing, or interpretive decisions have been made.

This file serves only to display the original structure and lexical range as transparently as possible.