Genesis 4 – Line 00097

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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 4:17

וַיֵּדַע קַיִן אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד אֶת־חֲנוֹךְ וַיְהִי בֹנֶה עִיר וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם הָעִיר כְּשֵׁם בְּנוֹ חֲנוֹךְ

2. DIRECT TRANSLITERATION

vayyéda qayin et-ishto vattahar vatteled et-chanokh vayehi boneh ir vayiqra shem ha’ir keshem beno chanokh

3. WORD-BY-WORD LEXICAL BREAKDOWN

WORD 1

Original: וַיֵּדַע

Transliteration: vayyéda

Lexical Root: ידע (yada)

Part of Speech: Verb

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

Lexical Range:

he knew

he had sexual relations

he became acquainted with

he experienced

WORD 2

Original: קַיִן

Transliteration: qayin

Lexical Root: קין (qayin)

Part of Speech: Proper noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular

Lexical Range:

Cain (personal name)

WORD 3

Original: אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ

Transliteration: et-ishto

Lexical Root: את (et) + אשה (ishah)

Part of Speech: Direct object marker + noun with suffix

Grammatical Info: Feminine singular noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix

Lexical Range:

his wife

his woman

WORD 4

Original: וַתַּהַר

Transliteration: vattahar

Lexical Root: הרה (harah)

Part of Speech: Verb

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

Lexical Range:

she conceived

she became pregnant

WORD 5

Original: וַתֵּלֶד

Transliteration: vatteled

Lexical Root: ילד (yalad)

Part of Speech: Verb

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

Lexical Range:

she gave birth

she bore

she delivered

WORD 6

Original: אֶת־חֲנוֹךְ

Transliteration: et-chanokh

Lexical Root: חנוך (chanokh)

Part of Speech: Direct object marker + proper noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular

Lexical Range:

Enoch (personal name)

WORD 7

Original: וַיְהִי

Transliteration: vayehi

Lexical Root: היה (hayah)

Part of Speech: Verb

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

Lexical Range:

and he became

and he came to be

and there was

WORD 8

Original: בֹנֶה

Transliteration: boneh

Lexical Root: בנה (banah)

Part of Speech: Participle (active)

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular

Lexical Range:

building

constructing

founding

establishing

WORD 9

Original: עִיר

Transliteration: ir

Lexical Root: עיר (ir)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Feminine singular

Lexical Range:

city

town

settlement

WORD 10

Original: וַיִּקְרָא

Transliteration: vayiqra

Lexical Root: קרא (qara)

Part of Speech: Verb

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

Lexical Range:

and he called

and he named

and he proclaimed

WORD 11

Original: שֵׁם

Transliteration: shem

Lexical Root: שם (shem)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular

Lexical Range:

name

designation

reputation

WORD 12

Original: הָעִיר

Transliteration: ha’ir

Lexical Root: עיר (ir)

Part of Speech: Noun with definite article

Grammatical Info: Feminine singular

Lexical Range:

the city

the town

WORD 13

Original: כְּשֵׁם

Transliteration: keshem

Lexical Root: כמו (kemo) + שם (shem)

Part of Speech: Preposition (comparative) + noun

Grammatical Info:;

Lexical Range:

like the name

as the name

WORD 14

Original: בְּנוֹ

Transliteration: beno

Lexical Root: בן (ben)

Part of Speech: Noun with pronominal suffix

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

Lexical Range:

his son

WORD 15

Original: חֲנוֹךְ

Transliteration: chanokh

Lexical Root: חנוך (chanokh)

Part of Speech: Proper noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular

Lexical Range:

Enoch (personal name)

4. STRUCTURAL NOTES

Structured in four clauses, all joined by vav-consecutives to show action sequence.

First clause: Cain “knew” his wife; euphemism for sexual union.

Second clause: she conceives and gives birth to Enoch.

Third clause: Cain is described as “building a city”; participial usage denotes active role.

Fourth clause: he names the city after his son; “keshem beno” uses construct form.

Repetitions of proper names frame narrative continuation through lineage.

5. VARIANT MANUSCRIPT NOTES

LXX (Septuagint) preserves parallel clause structure and names.

Some LXX manuscripts rephrase order slightly, but MT sequence retained.

Samaritan Pentateuch aligns closely with Masoretic structure.

6. STRUCTURAL CONNECTION TO OTHER LINES

Begins Cainite genealogy and urbanization theme that runs through Genesis 4.

First biblical reference to city-building; introduces “ir” as structural unit.

“Enoch” here not to be confused with the Enoch of Sethite line (Genesis 5:18).

Transitions narrative focus from Cain to his descendants (continued in Genesis 4:18).

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.