And again, she bore his brother Abel: And again translates the common Hebrew connective and a verb meaning “do again, continue.” These words serve to indicate a repetition of a previous act. Bore is the same word as in Gen 4.1. His refers to Cain the older brother. Instead of his brother Good News Translation says “another son.” However, most translations retain a reference to Cain as the brother. In some languages it may be necessary to say, for example, “She gave birth to Abel, Cain’s younger brother” or “She gave birth to Cain’s younger brother, Abel.”

The name Abel is written hebel in Hebrew and means “breath” or “vapor.” However, this does not explain the original meaning nor the reason he was called by this name. The lack of explanation of Abel’s name gives the first hint that Abel plays a passive role in the story that follows. He is referred to in verses 2, 8, 9, 10, and 11 as Cain’s brother. Furthermore, apart from verse 25 Abel does not figure again in the genealogy, and his name does not occur in the Old Testament outside this narrative.

Now Abel was a keeper of sheep jumps the story from birth to manhood. Good News Translation provides for a bit of transition with “became a shepherd.” In translation it may be necessary to make the transition from birth to adult occupation clearer by saying, for example, “When they grew up,” “When they became adults,” or “After a long time had passed.”

Keeper of sheep refers to someone who pastures, tends, raises sheep. The focus here is upon the activity of caring for sheep. In areas where sheep raising is not practiced or is even unknown, it may be necessary to provide a note to explain the meaning of keeping sheep. In some areas sheep are well known, but they live in and around villages picking up scraps of food, and are not herded and pastured as our text suggests.

Cain a tiller of the ground: tiller is a form of the verb used in 2.5, 15; 3.23. In being a tiller Cain is carrying on the occupation God gave to Adam in 2.15 and 3.23. Tiller of the ground may be rendered “one who plants and digs the soil” or “one who raises crops.” In some languages such a person is called “a hoer of the dirt.”

Many languages have set expressions for the occupations and habitual activities of people, like the “man bilong wokim gaden” of the Pacific creole languages. Such expressions may focus on the person being expert in a particular activity or being constantly engaged in it. So Abel may be described as a “person who [habitually or expertly] looks after sheep,” and Cain as a “person who [habitually or expertly] makes a garden.” In many areas of the world, the term “farmer” is applied to both growing crops and raising livestock, and so it is not appropriate in this context.

The reference to the birth and occupations of Cain and Abel follows a pattern used in other parts of the Old Testament. Compare, for example, the birth and occupations of Jacob and Esau in Gen 25.24-27. Although the different occupations are given, the narrative that follows does not focus on the conflict of occupations between crop-farmer and herder. The conflict concerns the sacrifices and the attitudes of the persons who present them.

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 .