Genesis 4 – Line 00086

LINE SOURCE FILE

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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 4:6

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־קַיִן לָמָה חָרָה לָךְ וְלָמָה נָפְלוּ פָנֶיךָ

2. DIRECT TRANSLITERATION

vayomer YHWH el-qayin lamah charah lakh ve-lamah naflu faneikha

3. WORD-BY-WORD LEXICAL BREAKDOWN

WORD 1

Original: וַיֹּאמֶר

Transliteration: vayomer

Lexical Root: אמר (amar)

Part of Speech: Verb

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

Lexical Range:

to say

to speak

to declare

to utter

WORD 2

Original: יְהוָה

Transliteration: YHWH

Lexical Root:;

Part of Speech: Proper noun

Grammatical Info: Tetragrammaton

Lexical Range:

YHWH (divine name)

the LORD (in traditional rendering)

WORD 3

Original: אֶל־קַיִן

Transliteration: el-qayin

Lexical Root: אל (el) + קין (qayin)

Part of Speech: Preposition + proper noun

Grammatical Info: Directional phrase

Lexical Range:

to Qayin

toward Qayin

in reference to Qayin

WORD 4

Original: לָמָה

Transliteration: lamah

Lexical Root: למה (lamah)

Part of Speech: Interrogative

Grammatical Info:;

Lexical Range:

why

for what reason

to what end

WORD 5

Original: חָרָה

Transliteration: charah

Lexical Root: חרה (charah)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammatical Info: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular

Lexical Range:

to burn

to become hot

to be angry

to be kindled (emotionally)

WORD 6

Original: לָךְ

Transliteration: lakh

Lexical Root: ל (le) + אתה (atah)

Part of Speech: Preposition + pronoun

Grammatical Info: Second person masculine singular

Lexical Range:

to you

for you

concerning you

WORD 7

Original: וְלָמָה

Transliteration: ve-lamah

Lexical Root: ו (ve) + למה (lamah)

Part of Speech: Conjunction + Interrogative

Grammatical Info:;

Lexical Range:

and why

and for what reason

and to what end

WORD 8

Original: נָפְלוּ

Transliteration: naflu

Lexical Root: נפל (naphal)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammatical Info: Qal perfect 3rd person plural

Lexical Range:

they fell

they collapsed

they descended

they slumped

WORD 9

Original: פָנֶיךָ

Transliteration: faneikha

Lexical Root: פנים (panim)

Part of Speech: Noun + pronominal suffix

Grammatical Info: Plural noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix

Lexical Range:

your face

your appearance

your countenance

Notable Observations:

“Panim” is morphologically plural but functionally singular in idiomatic use

4. STRUCTURAL NOTES

The line is composed of a divine question formed in two parallel interrogatives, both beginning with “lamah.”

The first clause “lamah charah lakh” reflects emotional state; the second, “ve-lamah naflu faneikha,” physical expression of that state.

The verbs “charah” and “naflu” are both perfect forms, indicating completed condition or current result.

Pronoun suffixes ("lakh", "faneikha") personalize the address toward Qayin.

5. VARIANT MANUSCRIPT NOTES

No significant textual variants noted in Masoretic manuscripts.

Septuagint rendering reflects similar structure but paraphrases “why are you pained” in place of “burned.”

6. STRUCTURAL CONNECTION TO OTHER LINES

Direct continuation of Line_00085 (Genesis 4:5), with "charah" echoing Cain’s emotional state.

The motif of divine inquiry (“vayomer YHWH el...”) recurs in Genesis 3:9 and 4:9.

The rhetorical dual-question structure anticipates themes of personal accountability and inner posture.

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.