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Genesis 4:8-15

Listen to Genesis 4:8-15
8 Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and 1killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "2Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
10 He said, "What have you done? 3The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.
11 "Now 4you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
12 "5When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; 6you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth."
13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is too great to bear!
14 "Behold, You have 7driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and 8I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and 9whoever finds me will kill me."
15 So the LORD said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him 10sevenfold." And the LORD 11appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.

Genesis 4:8-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 4

In this chapter an account is given of the two eldest children of Adam and Eve, their names and calling, Ge 4:1,2 and of their different offerings to the Lord, and the different respect had unto them by him, which in Cain issued in wrath and envy, which appeared in his countenance, and were taken notice of by the Lord, and about which he reasoned with him, Ge 4:3-7 but it had no effect upon him, he murdered his brother, upon which he was examined about him, but denied he knew anything of him where he was, Ge 4:8,9 he is arraigned, convicted and condemned, sentence passed upon him, and that executed, which he complains of, and is mitigated, or however a protection is granted him, and a mark set on him for his security, Ge 4:10-15 after which we have an account of his posterity for several generations, their names, and the business of some of them, Ge 4:16-24 and the chapter is closed with the birth of another son, and of a grandson to Adam and Eve, in whose days was the beginning of social religion.

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Cross References 11

  • 1. Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51; 1 John 3:12-15; Jude 11
  • 2. Genesis 3:9
  • 3. Numbers 35:33; Deuteronomy 21:1-9; Hebrews 12:24; Revelation 6:9, 10
  • 4. Genesis 3:14; Deuteronomy 28:15-20; Galatians 3:10
  • 5. Deuteronomy 28:15-24; Joel 1:10-20
  • 6. Leviticus 26:17, 36
  • 7. Genesis 3:24; Jeremiah 52:3
  • 8. Deuteronomy 28:64-67
  • 9. Numbers 35:19
  • 10. Genesis 4:24
  • 11. Ezekiel 9:4, 6

Footnotes 2

  • [a] Lit "said to"
  • [b] Or "set a mark on"
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org

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