Genesis 4:11-21

11 "Now 1you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
12 "2When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; 3you 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 4driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and 5I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and 6whoever finds me will kill me."
15 So the LORD said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him 7sevenfold." And the LORD 8appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.
16 Then Cain went out from the presence 9of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son.
18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael became the father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech.
19 Lamech took to himself 10two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.
20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.

Genesis 4:11-21 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.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Genesis 3:14; Deuteronomy 28:15-20; Galatians 3:10
  • 2. Deuteronomy 28:15-24; Joel 1:10-20
  • 3. Leviticus 26:17, 36
  • 4. Genesis 3:24; Jeremiah 52:3
  • 5. Deuteronomy 28:64-67
  • 6. Numbers 35:19
  • 7. Genesis 4:24
  • 8. Ezekiel 9:4, 6
  • 9. 2 Kings 24:20; Jeremiah 23:39; Jeremiah 52:3
  • 10. Genesis 2:24

Footnotes 7

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