Genesis 4 – Line 00088

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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 4:8

וַיֹּאמֶר קַיִן אֶל־הֶבֶל אָחִיו וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיָּקָם קַיִן אֶל־הֶבֶל אָחִיו וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ

2. DIRECT TRANSLITERATION

vayomer qayin el-hevel achiv vayhi bihyotam basadeh vayaqam qayin el-hevel achiv vayahargehu

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

WORD 2

Original: קַיִן

Transliteration: qayin

Lexical Root: קין (qayin)

Part of Speech: Proper noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine proper noun

Lexical Range:

personal name “Qayin” (Cain)

WORD 3

Original: אֶל־הֶבֶל

Transliteration: el-hevel

Lexical Root: אל (el) + הבל (hevel)

Part of Speech: Preposition + proper noun

Grammatical Info: Directional construction

Lexical Range:

to Hevel

toward Hevel

WORD 4

Original: אָחִיו

Transliteration: achiv

Lexical Root: אח (ach)

Part of Speech: Noun + pronominal suffix

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

Lexical Range:

his brother

his kin

his sibling

WORD 5

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:

it happened

it came to be

it was

WORD 6

Original: בִּהְיוֹתָם

Transliteration: bihyotam

Lexical Root: היה (hayah)

Part of Speech: Infinitive construct + pronominal suffix

Grammatical Info: Infinitive construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix

Lexical Range:

in their being

when they were

during their presence

Notable Observations:

Temporal clause indicator

WORD 7

Original: בַּשָּׂדֶה

Transliteration: basadeh

Lexical Root: שדה (sadeh)

Part of Speech: Noun with preposition + definite article

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular with ב + ה

Lexical Range:

in the field

in the open area

in the countryside

WORD 8

Original: וַיָּקָם

Transliteration: vayaqam

Lexical Root: קום (qum)

Part of Speech: Verb

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

Lexical Range:

he rose

he stood up

he arose

he took action

WORD 9

Original: קַיִן

Transliteration: qayin

Lexical Root: קין (qayin)

Part of Speech: Proper noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine proper noun

Lexical Range:

personal name “Qayin” (Cain)

WORD 10

Original: אֶל־הֶבֶל

Transliteration: el-hevel

Lexical Root: אל (el) + הבל (hevel)

Part of Speech: Preposition + proper noun

Grammatical Info: Directional phrase

Lexical Range:

to Hevel

toward Hevel

WORD 11

Original: אָחִיו

Transliteration: achiv

Lexical Root: אח (ach)

Part of Speech: Noun + pronominal suffix

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

Lexical Range:

his brother

his kin

WORD 12

Original: וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ

Transliteration: vayahargehu

Lexical Root: הרג (harag)

Part of Speech: Verb + pronominal suffix

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

Lexical Range:

he killed him

he slew him

he struck him down

Notable Observations:

Direct narrative completion of Cain’s action

4. STRUCTURAL NOTES

The verse features a two-part narrative structure: initial dialogue setup (“vayomer...”) followed by situational event (“vayhi bihyotam...”) and culminating action (“vayaqam... vayahargehu”).

Repetition of “el-hevel achiv” emphasizes relational identity and intent.

The use of “vayahargehu” with the suffix directly identifies the victim (his brother), preserving clarity in minimal words.

No dialogue is preserved in the Masoretic text after “vayomer”; the phrase stands without a recorded statement.

5. VARIANT MANUSCRIPT NOTES

Samaritan Pentateuch and some Septuagint manuscripts include an extended version of Cain’s speech (e.g., “Let us go out to the field”), which is not preserved in the Masoretic Text.

Dead Sea Scroll fragment 4QGenb includes similar expansion.

The MT reflects a shorter reading, with “vayomer Qayin el-Hevel achiv” not followed by direct quotation.

6. STRUCTURAL CONNECTION TO OTHER LINES

Culmination of the rising narrative tension from Lines 00083–00087.

“Vayahargehu” establishes the first human-to-human killing in biblical record.

The verbal pairing of “vayaqam” and “vayahargehu” parallels hostile action scenes elsewhere (e.g., Exodus 2:12).

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.