But for Cain and his offering he had no regard: but marks a strong contrast between God’s acceptance of Abel and his rejection of Cain. Good News Translation makes the contrast effective with “but he rejected Cain.” He [the LORD] had no regard is the same verb as used in Gen 4.4. Interpreters offer many reasons why God may have rejected Cain’s offering; however, the narrator is silent on this matter.

So Cain was very angry: So translates the usual Hebrew connective, which here marks a consequence. Angry translates a word whose verb form means to burn. In English it is similar to saying “he became inflamed with anger.” The reason for Cain’s heated reaction was that God rejected him and his offering. Cain is apparently envious of his brother’s acceptance, but the story does not reveal how Cain knew about that. Many languages have figurative expressions for being angry. For example, “So Cain’s insides burned,” “So Cain became hot,” or “Therefore Cain’s innermost boiled up.”

And his countenance fell: countenance means “face.” The whole expression is an idiom meaning “he put on a sad face” or “he took on an ugly look.” Good News Translation has “he scowled in anger.” Idioms similar to the Hebrew are quite common in other languages; examples of their use here are “his face changed [its appearance]” or “his face became bad.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .