EOB: Official Site of the Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible (Old and New Testament)

Genesis 4:4

EOB (Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible):

Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock, along with their fat portions. The Lord approved of Abel and his offering.

EOB Footnote:

The MT specifies “from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions,” where “their fat portions” refers to the choicest fatty parts of the animals, considered the most valuable portion. The LXX renders this more simply as “from the firstborn of his sheep and from their fat,” without the same emphasis on the fat as a distinct sacrificial element. The phrase “the LORD looked upon” in the MT uses a verbal form suggesting favorable regard or acceptance, while the LXX uses a term meaning “looked upon” or “paid attention to,” which carries a similar but slightly less emphatic sense of divine approval.

Other Translations:

KJV (King James Version):

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

WEB (World English Bible):

Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,

Benton LXX (Vaticanus):

And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his sheep and of his fatlings, and God looked upon Abel and his gifts.

Douai-Rheims (Vulgate):

And Abel also offered of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat: and the Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offerings.

Apostoliki Diakonia (LXX):

Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord looked favorably upon Abel and his offering.

YLT (Young Literal Translation )(MT):

Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering.

BBE (Bible in Basic English):

And Abel gave an offering of the young lambs of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord was pleased with Abel’s offering;

EOB COMMENTARY:

EOB Commentary:

GENESIS 4:4

Abel’s Offering and Its Typological Significance

Abel’s offering of the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions stands as one of the earliest prefigurations of the sacrifice of Christ in Holy Scripture. The Church Fathers consistently understood this passage as pointing forward to the Lamb of God who would offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice.

St. John Chrysostom observes that Abel offered not merely any animal from his flock, but the firstborn and the choicest portions, demonstrating the disposition of his heart. The fat portions, considered the richest part of the sacrifice, indicate that Abel gave to God what was most precious. Chrysostom emphasizes that God’s regard was first toward Abel himself, and only then toward his offering—teaching us that the inner disposition of the worshipper determines the acceptability of worship.

The Epistle to the Hebrews explicitly references this verse, stating that “by faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous” (Hebrews 11:4). This apostolic interpretation establishes Abel as the first martyr and the first righteous one whose faith was demonstrated through proper sacrifice.

Christological Reading

The Orthodox liturgical tradition sees in Abel’s lamb offering a direct type of Christ the Paschal Lamb. Just as Abel offered the firstborn of his flock, so the Father offered His Only-begotten Son. The blood of Abel’s sacrifice, acceptable to God, prefigures the precious Blood of Christ that speaks “better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24). In the Anaphora prayers of the Divine Liturgy, the Church recalls the acceptable sacrifices of the righteous ones of old, including Abel, as types fulfilled in the Eucharistic offering.

St. Cyril of Alexandria notes that Abel, the shepherd who offered an unblemished lamb and was slain by his brother, becomes a figure of Christ the Good Shepherd, who offered Himself and was rejected and killed by His own people.

Liturgical and Spiritual Application

In Orthodox hymnography, Abel appears frequently during Great Lent and Holy Week as a prototype of innocent suffering. The kontakion for the Sunday of the Prodigal Son and other penitential texts contrast the way of Cain with the way of Abel, calling the faithful to offer themselves wholly to God with pure hearts.

The spiritual teaching drawn from this verse emphasizes that God desires not merely external religious observance but the offering of our very selves—our firstfruits, our best efforts, our whole hearts. As Abel offered the firstlings, so Christians are called to offer themselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.

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