Genesis 4:12-22

12 If you work the land, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."[a]
13 But Cain answered the Lord, "My punishment[b] is too great to bear!
14 Since You are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from Your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me."[c]
15 Then the Lord replied to him, "In that case,[d] whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over."[e] And He placed a mark[f] on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him.
16 Then Cain went out from the Lord's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

The Line of Cain

17 Cain knew his wife intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain became the builder of a city, and he named the city Enoch after his son.
18 Irad was born to Enoch, Irad fathered Mehujael, Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
19 Lamech took two wives for himself, one named Adah and the other named Zillah.
20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of the nomadic herdsmen.[g]
21 His brother was named Jubal; he was the father of all who play the lyre and the flute.
22 Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. Tubal-cain's sister was Naamah.

Genesis 4:12-22 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.

Footnotes 7

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