King James Bible
"But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."
God rejected Cain's offering, though the text doesn't explicitly state why—later biblical tradition suggests it was either the quality of the offering or Cain's heart attitude. This divine rejection contrasts sharply with Abel's accepted sacrifice, establishing the first recorded instance of worship gone wrong. Cain's response is intense anger rather than humble self-examination. The Hebrew term indicates a burning rage that consumed him, revealing a prideful heart that expected acceptance on his own terms. His downcast face manifests the internal turmoil—a physical expression of dejection mixed with resentment. This visible change foreshadows the dangerous path Cain will take, as unresolved anger begins to dominate his being.