Genesis 4:1-7

Cain and Abel

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten^[a] a man with the help of the LORD."

2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of ¹the fruit of the ground,

4 and Abel also brought of ²the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD ³ had regard for Abel and his offering,

5 but ⁴for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

6 The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?

7 ⁵If you do well, will you not be accepted?^[b] And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. ⁶Its desire is for^[c] you, but you must rule over it."

Genesis 4:1-7 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

• 1. Leviticus 2:12; Numbers 18:12
• 2. Exodus 13:12; Numbers 18:17; Proverbs 3:9
• 3. Hebrews 11:4
• 4. [Proverbs 21:27]
• 5. Ecclesiastes 8:12, 13; Isaiah 3:10, 11; Romans 2:6-11
• 6. Genesis 3:16

Footnotes

• [a]. Cain sounds like the Hebrew for gotten
• [b]. Hebrew will there not be a lifting up [of your face]?
• [c]. Or against