Genesis Chapter 4, part 1: Translation

Monday, 21 July 2008

Some Preliminary Comments

You may notice in the translation that there will be a switch between referring to Adam as "Earthling" to "Adam". The reason for this has to do with the definite article, "the", in the Hebrew. Everywhere that "the Adam" is used in the Hebrew I have opted for "the Earthling", and where the definite article is missing I have simply called him by the name "Adam". Also, you may notice that I no longer capitalize "Woman". That is because it takes on a more general meaning, most often referring to wives--which brings up another issue. Translation is always a difficult process, and choices have to be made that affect the reading of the text. For example, in Hebrew the word for "woman" can also be used as "wife". Typically, wherever the phrase "his wife" takes place in most English translations it literally reads "his woman", and this is true throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. I have chosen to retain "his woman" in my text, retaining the tension that reading creates in our culture, in order to continue to highlight the fact that this text does not come from our culture. Also, I asked Amy if she would prefer that I use the traditional names and spellings of characters, or spell them as they are in the Hebrew (or close). She said she would prefer the Hebrew, so I have done this (using modern Hebrew pronunciation rather than classical). I hope this does not cause too much confusion, as I also find this helps to remind me that this isn't an English, Western text.

Lastly, in places where connections between Hebrew terms are made that can't be seen in English I have included in italics the Hebrew terms that are being referenced. For example, Qayin (Cain) is a play on the Hebrew verb qaniytiy. I hope this helps explain such connections.

The Translation

And the Earthling knew Chavah (Eve), his woman, and she conceived and she brought forth Qayin and she said, “I have acquired (qaniytiy) a man with YHWH.” In addition she brought forth his brother, Havel. Hevel was a shepherd of sheep, and Qayin was a servant, a worker, of the earthen soil.

It was at the end of many days and Qayin brought from the fruit of the earthen soil a gift offering to YHWH. And Hevel, he also brought the firstborn from his flock as well as the fattest. YHWH noticed Hevel and his gift offering, but he did not notice Qayin and his gift. Qayin was very hot with anger and his face fell. And YHWH said to Qayin, “Why do you burn with anger? And why does your face fall? If you do good you will be lifted up? But if you do not do what is good sin lies down at the door...and its desire is towards you, but you shall rule it.

Qayin spoke to Hevel, his brother, and while they were in the field, Qayin rose up to Hevel his brother and killed him. YHWH said to Qayin, “Where is Hevel, your brother?” And he said , “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s guard?” And he said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the earthen soil. You are cursed now in regard to the earthen soil which opened its mouth to take the blood of your brother from your hand. When you shall work the earthen soil it will not add, giving her strength to you. A wanderer and a fugitive you will be in the land."

Qayin said to YHWH, “Too great is my iniquity to carry. Look! Today you are driving me from upon the face of the earthen soil, and from your face I will hide. I will be a wanderer and fugitive in the land, and so it will be that all who find me will kill me.” And YHWH said to him, “Therefore, to all killing Qayin: sevenfold shall he be avenged.” YHWH placed on Qayin a sign for those finding him not to strike him; and Qayin went out from the face of YHWH and dwelt in the Land of the Wanderer, east of Eden.

Qayin knew his woman, and she conceived and she brought forth Chanokh. He was building a city and called the name of the city the same as the name of his son, Chanokh. Irad was brought forth to Chanokh, and Irad brought forth Mechuyael, and Mechuyael brought forth Metushael and Metushael brought forth Lamekh.

Lamekh took to himself two women. The name of the first was Adah and the name of the second was Zillah. Adah brought forth Yaval. He was the father of those dwelling in tents and with livestock. And the name of his brother was Juval. He was the father of all who take hold of the oud and flute. And Zillah, she also brought forth Tuval Qayin, sharpening all tools of bronze and iron. The sister of Tuval Qayin was Naamah.

And Lamekh said to his women,
     “Adah and Zillah!
          Listen to my voice!
      Women of Lamekh,
          hear my word!
      For a man I have killed for wounding me,
          a young man for striking me.
     Because sevenfold avenged is Qayin,
          Lamekh seventy-seven times!"

And Adam knew again his woman, and she brought forth a son. And she called his name Shet, for “Elohim has given (shat) to me another seed instead of Hevel for Qayin killed him.” And to Shet also was brought forth a son, and he called his name Enosh.