Genesis 4 (KJV) - Bible Truth Library

• “And if thou doest not well,” it is said, “sin lieth at the door.” Evil conduct is that which makes manifest an evil state, and flows from it. I do not think that the expression means a sin-offering, as is sometimes supposed; for it does not appear that there is ground for inferring that the truth of a sin-offering was understood in the slightest degree until long afterward. “By the law is the knowledge of sin”; and until the law was brought in there was, as far as scripture tells us, no such discrimination, if any, between the offerings. They were all merged in one; and hence it is that we find that Job’s friends, though guilty in the Lord’s sight, yet alike with him offer burnt-offerings. (“Genesis 4” by W. Kelly)

• It is therefore legitimate to conceive that a sin offering may be meant in ver. 7, especially as Jehovah uttered the words, though it was reserved to the law to define and demand them in due time, for by law is full knowledge or acknowledgment of sin....The question is whether Jehovah simply charges home the conviction of sin on the wrong-doer, or intimates a sacrificial means of getting cleared, according to the proposed correction. In this case a burnt offering would not be in place, since it is generally expressive of man's actual state in approaching God, not a specific bearing away of positive and personal wrong-doing as is here implied. Even if certainly thus, what believer can doubt that the mind of Jehovah has in these words Christ and His cross before Him? What grace in bringing sin to the door! (“Genesis 4:4-8” by W. Kelly)

• This is brought out in Jehovah’s word to Cain: “If thou doest well, (or, as the Septuagint reads, “if thou offer correctly,” ορθως προσενεγκης) shalt thou not be accepted?” The well-doing had reference to the offering. Abel did well by hiding himself behind an acceptable sacrifice. Cain did badly by bringing an offering without blood; and all his after-conduct was but the legitimate result of his false worship. (“Genesis 4-5” by C.H. Mackintosh)

• When I see sin really, as God sees it, I see it is putting away; I see what it is, only when it is put away. "If one died for all, then were all dead," {2 Cor. 5:14} they were away from God in sin, and He, in its judicial infliction, drinking that cup, was forsaken of God—just feeling it as it really was, as forsaken of God—separated from the presence of God—as to what His soul felt, and judicially. Hence when sin is presented to me fully (not merely my particular sins), Christ and His cross is presented to me—He, on the cross, a sacrifice. And I think there is allusion to this in the Lord's word to Cain; I do not say it is to be translated "a sin offering," but sin has been laid at my door by God—how?—in Christ. No doubt I have sins to be dealt with; but, when the world is convinced of sin, the whole status of man is exposed—it is in the cross of Christ. So, even here, it is in that "lying couched at the door," that sin is laid there. Still, it is to be remarked here that the case of Cain's not doing well is put, i.e., not the status of Adam; it is a positive and imputable fault which is supposed, then sin "lies couched at the door," and the word of course is so applied—sin-offering. (“Genesis 4” by J.N. Darby)

• There was no ground in any case for wrath or despair. God is the God of grace now, as by-and-by He will judge by the Man He has raised from the dead: the witness to the believer that he will not be judged, being already justified; to the unbeliever that he cannot escape judgment, having refused saving grace in Christ Who will judge him. Meanwhile the title of the firstborn remains intact for the unbeliever over the younger brother that believes; just as the man's over the woman. What a just God is ours even to an unjust Cain! (“Genesis 4:4-8” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

If thou doest well, will not thy countenance look up with confidenceg? and if thou doest not well, sinh lieth at the door; and unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

JND Translation Notes

See Job 11.15. Or possibly, "shalt thou not be accepted." But I should question "accepted," the rather as nasa is used for it here. Lit. "is there not a lifting up?"

Or "a sin-offering," Heb. chattath the word having both senses. see Note b Lev. 5.1. Also "punishment." see Note Zech. 14.19.

W. Kelly Translation

If thou doest well, will it not be lifted upa ? and if thou doest not well, sinb coucheth at the door; and to thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

WK Translation Notes

Lit. is there not a lifting up.

Or, a sin-offering.