Most of the text in this chapter is prose, but 4:23-24 is poetry. If the translator should put these two verses into poetic form, or at least into elegant speech, different from the rest of the chapter.
The theme of vengeance is important in this chapter. Ancient Hebrew society allowed for people to seek revenge if a relative was murdered. After Cain murdered his brother Abel, he thought that he would be helpless against this danger because he had been driven away from God's protection. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=other#avenge)
The theme of vengeance continues with the words of Lamech, who had killed someone for injuring him: "I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me. If Cain is avenged seven times as much, truly Lamech will be avenged seventy-seven times as much" (Gen. 4:23b-24).
This is a polite way of saying that the man had sexual relations with Eve. You may need to use another euphemism in your language. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"the human being" or "Adam"
The word for "man" typically describes an adult male, rather than a baby or child. If that would cause confusion, it could be translated as "manchild" or "boy" or "baby boy" or "son."
Translators may want to include a footnote that says "The name Cain sounds like the Hebrew word that means 'produce.' Eve named him Cain because she produced him." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
We do not know how much time passed between the births of Cain and Abel. They may have been twins, or Abel may have been born after Eve became pregnant again. If possible, use an expression that does not tell how much time passed.
This means he did everything he needed to do so that the plants would grow well. See how "cultivate" is translated in Genesis 2:5.
This phrase is used to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using that method here.
Possible meanings are 1) "after some time had passed" or 2) "at the right time"
This refers to the food that came from plants he had tended. Alternate translation: "crops" or "harvest" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This refers to the fatty parts of the lambs that he had killed, it was the best part of the animal. Alternate translation: "some of their fat parts" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"looked favorably upon" or "was pleased with"
"did not look favorably upon" or "was not pleased with"
Some languages have an idiom for anger such as "He burned" or "His anger burned."
This means that the expression on his face showed that he was angry or jealous. Some languages have an idiom that describes what a person's face looks like when he is angry. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
God used these rhetorical questions to tell Cain that he was wrong to be angry and scowl. They may also have been intended to give Cain an opportunity to confess that he was wrong. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
God used this rhetorical question to remind Cain of something Cain should have already known. Alternate translation: "You know that if you do what is right, I will accept you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
God speaks of sin as if it were a person. Alternate translation: "But if you do not do what is right, you will desire to sin even more, and then you will do sinful things. You must refuse to obey it" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification)
Here sin is spoken of as a dangerous wild animal that is waiting for the chance to attack Cain. Alternate translation: "you will become so angry that you will not be able to stop sin" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Languages that do not have a noun that means "sin" could translate this as "your desire to sin" or "the bad things you want to do."
Yahweh speaks of Cain's desire to sin as if it were a person over whom Cain should rule. Alternate translation: "you must control it so you do not sin" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification)
Some early translations tell explicitly what Cain said to his brother. You may want to do the same if it is present in your national version. Alternate translation: "Cain said to Abel his brother, 'Let us go into the fields.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-textvariants and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Abel was Cain's younger brother. Some languages may need to use the word for "younger brother." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Standing up to fight against a person is an idiom for attacking him. Alternate translation: "attacked" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
God knew that Cain had killed Abel, but he asked Cain this question so that Cain would have to answer. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
Cain used this rhetorical question so that he would not have to tell the truth. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "I am not my brother's keeper!" or "You know that taking care of my brother is not my job!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
God uses a rhetorical question to rebuke Cain. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "What you have done is terrible!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
Abel's blood is a metonym for his death, as if it were a person calling out for God to punish Cain. Alternate translation: "Your brother's blood is like a person calling out to me to punish the person who killed him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I am cursing you so that you will not be able to grow food from the ground" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
God speaks of the earth as if it were a person who could drink Abel's blood. Alternate translation: "which is soaked with your brother's blood" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification)
Here Cain is represented by his "hand," to emphasize that he personally had killed his brother. Alternate translation: "that spilled when you killed him" or "from you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
This means to do everything necessary to do so that the plants would grow well. See how "cultivate" is translated in Genesis 2:5.
The ground is personified as if it were a person who loses strength. Alternate translation: "the ground will not produce much food for you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification)
You can join these words together. Alternate translation: "A homeless wanderer" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-hendiadys)
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The term "your face" represents God's presence. Alternate translation: "I will not be able to speak to you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
See how you translated this in Genesis 4:12
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I will take vengeance on him seven times" or "I will punish that person seven times as severely as I am punishing you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"would not kill Cain"
Even though Yahweh is everywhere, this idiom speaks of Cain as though he went far away. Alternate translation: "went away from where Yahweh spoke to him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
Translators may add a footnote saying "The word Nod means 'wandering.'"
This is a polite way of saying that Cain had sexual relations with his wife. You may need to use another euphemism in your language. See how you translated this in Genesis 4:1. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"Cain built a city"
It is implied that Enoch grew up and married a woman. Alternate translation: "Enoch grew up and married and became the father of a son whom he named Irad" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This is a man's name. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
women's names (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
See how you translated this woman's name in Genesis 4:19.
Possible meanings are 1) "He was the first person to live in a tent" or 2) "He and his descendants lived in tents."
people who both live in tents and also take care of animals
Possible meanings are 1) "He was the first person to play the harp and pipe" or 2) "He and his descendants played the harp and pipe."
See how you translated this woman's name in Genesis 4:19.
the name of a man (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"who made tools out of bronze and iron"
a very strong metal used to make tools and weapons.
See how you translated these women's names in Genesis 4:19.
Lamech said the same thing twice for emphasis. His voice is a synecdoche for his whole person. Alternate translation: "listen carefully to me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-parallelism and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
Lamech killed only one person. These two phrases means the same thing and are repeated to emphasize the certainly of his action. Alternate translation: "a young man because he hurt me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-parallelism)
Lamech knows that God will avenge Cain seven times. Alternate translation: "Since God will punish anyone who kills Cain seven times, Lamech" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "whoever kills me, God will punish seventy-seven times" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
77 (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
This is a polite way of saying that Adam had sexual relations with his wife. You may need to use another euphemism in your language. See how you translated this in Genesis 4:1. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
This is the reason that she named him Seth. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "explained, 'God has given me another child" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Translators may add a footnote that says "This name sounds like the Hebrew word that means 'has given.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "Seth's wife bore him a son" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This is the first time people called God by the name Yahweh. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "to worship God by using the name Yahweh" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)