Genesis 4:7 (WEB)
If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Genesis 4:7 (KJV)
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Key words
- חַטָּאת רֹבֵץchattat rovets · Hebrew
- 'sin lieth' — literally sin 'crouches' at the door like a beast waiting to spring.
- תִּמְשָׁל־בּוֹtimshol-bo · Hebrew
- 'thou shalt rule over him' — Cain must master the beast.
Why it matters
In the chapter right after the serpent's curse, sin is pictured as a beast crouching at the door, ready to strike Eve's son. Pitre cites this as the Bible's own commentary on Genesis 3:15 (p 24): the war between the serpent's seed and the woman's seed is moral and spiritual, not a note about snakes. The woman's offspring must 'master' the beast, which Jesus finally does at the cross.
Catechism · 2
The Tenth Commandment
“Envy can lead to the worst crimes.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Gen 4:3-7; 1 Kings 21:1-29.
The Fall
“Likewise, sin frequently manifests itself in the history of Israel, especially as infidelity to the God of the Covenant and as transgression of the Law of Moses. and even after Christ's atonement, sin raises its head in countless ways among Christians.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Gen 4:3-15; 6:5, 12; Rom 1:18-32; I Cor 1-6; Rev 2-3.
Fathers and councils · 15
Irenaeus of Lyons
“4. [These act] as Cain [did, who], when he was counselled by God to keep quiet, because he had not made an equitable division of that share to which his brother was…” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 7, after LXX. version.
Read the whole comment“Be at rest;” since God is not appeased by sacrifice.” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 7, LXX.
Read the whole comment
Tertullian
“…He accepted what he was offering in simplicity of heart, and reprobated the sacrifice of his brother Cain, who was not rightly dividing what he was offering.” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 1–7, especially in the LXX.; comp. Heb. xi. 4.
Read the whole comment“Groaning and trembling shalt thou be upon the earth, and every one who shall have found thee shall slay thee.”” — editor's note: See Gen. iv. 2–14. But it is to be observed that the version given in our author differs widely in some particulars from the Heb. and the LXX.
Read the whole comment“How will he appease his Father who is angry with his brother, when from the beginning “all anger” is forbidden us?” — editor's note: “Ab initio” probably refers to the book of Genesis, the initium, or beginning of Scripture, to which he is about to refer. But see likewise Eph. iv. 31, Matt.…
Read the whole comment
John Damascene
“But after their transgression they knew that they were naked, and in their shame they sewed aprons for themselves.” — editor's note: Ibid. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment
Ambrose of Milan
“And so no one in a state of sin ought to claim a right to or the use of the sacraments, for it is written: “Thou hast sinned, be still.”” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 7 [LXX.]. These words occur in the Septuagint only, and would seem to be taken here by St. Ambrose as a warning from God to Cain, not to sacrifice…
Read the whole comment“To the murderer it was said: “Thou hast sinned, be silent,” that he might not sin more; but to the virgin it must be said, “Be silent lest thou sin.”” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“His praise, then, is not full, because Christ said to him: “Thou hast rightly judged,” for Cain also offered rightly, but did not divide rightly, and therefore God said to him: “If thou offerest rightly, but dividest not rightly, thou hast sinned, be still.”” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 7 [LXX.].
Read the whole comment
John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22Conference XXI
“…and so have this said to us by reason of excessive strictness or relaxation: “If thou offerest rightly, but dost not divide rightly, hast thou not sinned?”” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 7 (xxx.)
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“Even though thou believe the body of the Christ to be real and bring it to the altar for transformation, and fail to distinguish the nature of the body and of the Godhead we shall say to thee, ‘If thou offer rightly and fail to distinguish rightly, thou sinnest; hold thy peace.’” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 7. Sept.
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John Chrysostom
“He did accept it, and said unto Cain, [“Hast thou] not [sinned], if thou rightly offer, but dost not rightly divide?” ( Gen. iv. 7 , LXX.) So then Abel both rightly offered, and rightly divided.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment
Jerome
“God says to you what He said to Cain: “Thou hast sinned: hold thy peace.”” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 7, LXX.
Read the whole comment“But if we give to God only those things which are without while we give to the devil those things which are within, the division is not fair, and the divine voice says: “Hast thou not sinned in offering aright, and yet not dividing aright?”” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 7, LXX.
Read the whole comment
Augustine of Hippo
“Fret not thyself, for unto thee shall be his turning, and thou shalt rule over him.”” — editor's note: Gen. iv. 6, 7.
Read the whole comment
Cross-references · 32
Cited together in Concerning Virgins III.3.
Cited together in Concerning Virgins III.3.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22.
Cited together in Concerning Virgins III.3.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22.
Cited together in Concerning Virgins III.3.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in The City of God XV.7.
Cited together in The City of God XV.7.
Cited together in The City of God XV.7.
Cited together in The City of God XV.7.
Cited together in The City of God XV.7.
Cited together in The City of God XV.7.
Cited together in The City of God XV.7.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance II.11.