Genesis 4:1-16

Cain Murders Abel

1 Adam knew his wife Eve intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, "I have had a male child with the Lord's help."^[a]

2 Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of a flock, but Cain cultivated the land.

3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land's produce as an offering to the Lord.^[b]

4 And Abel also presented [an offering]-some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,

5 but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he was downcast.^[c]

6 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you furious? And why are you downcast?^[d]

7 If you do right, won't you be accepted? But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it."

8 Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field."^[e] And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's guardian?"

10 Then He said, "What have you done? Your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground!

11 So now you are cursed [with alienation] from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood you have shed.^[f]

12 If you work the land, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."^[g]

13 But Cain answered the Lord, "My punishment^[h] 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."^[i]

15 Then the Lord replied to him, "In that case,^[j] whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over."^[k] And He placed a mark^[l] 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.

Genesis 4:1-16 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

• [a]. Lit the Lord
• [b]. Ex 23:19; 34:26; Neh 10:35
• [c]. Lit and his face fell
• [d]. Lit why has your face fallen
• [e]. Sam, LXX, Syr, Vg; MT omits Let's go out to the field
• [f]. Lit blood from your hand
• [g]. Dt 28:16-18; Isa 26:21
• [h]. Or sin
• [i]. Nm 35:26-27
• [j]. LXX, Syr, Vg read Not so!
• [k]. Or suffer severely
• [l]. Ex 9:4; Rv 13:16-17