Literary Devices – Bereshit 4/0

Literary Devices – Bereshit 4

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Key Words Tanakh Lab reveals that the top keywords in the story of Kayin and Hevel (Bereshit 4:1-16) are: אדמה, הרג, מנחה, and אח . When looking at the chapter as a whole, including its second half which lists Kayin's descendants, these words still top the list but are joined by the verb "ילד" (to bear a child) reflecting the theme of the second half of the unit.

 אֲדָמָה (Land) The word "אֲדָמָה" appears six times in verses 1-16, and can be used to trace the plot. The reader is introduced to Kayin through his occupation as a worker of the land (עֹבֵד אֲדָמָה).  The murder of Hevel, though, cannot be tolerated by the land, as his blood cries out from within.  As such, Kayin is cursed from the land, which will no longer produce fruit for him, forcing him to wander.

הרג (Kill) Given the theme of fratricide, it is not surprising that the root "הרג" appears multiple times in the chapter.  Interestingly, though, in addition to thee mentions in the story of Hevel's murder, the root also appears twice in the genealogy list of the second half of the chapter, when speaking of Kayin's descendant Lemech. The continuity of the theme makes one question whether Kayin's whole line was marked by violence, and whether sins of fathers are doomed to be repeated by their children.

אָח (Brother) The word “אָח” (brother) appears seven times in the unit.  The word serves to underscore the unusual cruelty of Hevel’s murder at the hands of Kayin by emphasizing the familial bond that he severed.