A. O. Korchagin. On the interpretation of Genesis 4: 3–5 (pp. 463–472)

Author

A. O. Korchagin (Lomonosov Moscow State University)

Keywords\n Septuagint, Masoretic text, Cain, Abel, offering, minḥâ, θυσία, δῶρον

Pages\n 463–472

Summary\n

This papers provides an analysis of the episode of Cain and Abel’s offering to God which is the first description of a sacrifice in the Bible text. In the Masoretic text, both offerings are referred to as minḥâ, while the Septuagint uses different terms in order to render one Hebrew word – θυσία for the Cain’s offering and δῶρον for the one made by Abel. The translator draws thus a much sharper distinction between the offerings of the two brothers. It seems that the reason why the translator makes use of the two different words must be sought in exegetic domain. The paper provides an analysis of possible interpretations of this episode.

References\n

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