Literary Devices – Bereshit 4/0
Literary Devices – Bereshit 4
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 the three 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 repetition of 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. The use of the word “אח” in this narrative is also an example of a relational epithet, a device by which a person is referred to in relation to another person in order to emphasize the significance of their relationship in the context of the story. [See Character Titles, below.]
Parallels and Contrasts
The song of Lemech (4:23-24) is an excellent example of Biblical parallelism, in which adjacent phrases parallel each other. This is a typical feature of Biblical poetry, of which this might be the first instance.1
Character Titles
Hevel
Hevel is referred to in three ways in the chapter: a) with his proper name, Hevel, b) in relationship to Kayin, "הֶבֶל אָחִיו" (his brother, Hevel), c) and sometimes, simply: "אָחִיךָ"/ "אָחִי" (your/my brother)
- הָבֶל – In the opening verses of the chapter (2-4) Hevel is referred to by his proper name alone. Though these verses contrast him and Kayin, there is no repeated emphasis on their relationship, and Hevel is described in terms of his own name, occupation, and actions.
- הֶבֶל אָחִיו – In verses 8-9 which describe the murder and its immediate aftermath, the text highlights the relationship, emphasizing the this is not simply murder but fratricide, all the more terrible due to the familial bond.
- "אָחִיךָ"/ "אָחִי" – In the second half of verse 9-11, when Hashem accuses and punishes Kayin, Hevel's identity is solely that of "brother", with the verse focusing only on the relationship, no longer even mentioning his name. With his death, Hevel is no longer, not even in name, and all that remains is the reminder of brotherhood that should have been.
Kayin
- Interestingly, Kayin has but one title throughout, his proper name. In contrast to Hevel, he is never referred to as Hevel's brother, perhaps because he proved himself not to really be one.
