Genesis 4

Cain and Abel

1 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD."
2 Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And 1Abel was 2a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 So it came about in the course * of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.
4 3Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And 4the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering;
5 but 5for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So 6Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "7Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
7 "8If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? 9And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, 10but you must master it."
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 11killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "12Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
10 He said, "What have you done? 13The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.
11 "Now 14you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
12 "15When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; 16you 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 17driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and 18I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and 19whoever finds me will kill me."
15 So the LORD said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him 20sevenfold." And the LORD 21appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.
16 Then Cain went out from the presence 22of 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 23two 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.
22 As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech, Give heed to my speech, 24For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me;
24 If Cain is avenged 25sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."
25 26Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named * him Seth, for, she said, "God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, 27for Cain killed him."
26 To Seth, to him also 28a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began 29to call upon the name of the LORD.

Images for Genesis 4

Cross References 29

  • 1. Luke 11:50, 51
  • 2. Genesis 46:32; Genesis 47:3
  • 3. Hebrews 11:4
  • 4. 1 Samuel 15:22
  • 5. 1 Samuel 16:7
  • 6. Isaiah 3:9; Jude 11
  • 7. Jonah 4:4
  • 8. Jeremiah 3:12; Micah 7:18
  • 9. Numbers 32:23
  • 10. Job 11:14, 15; Romans 6:12, 16
  • 11. Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51; 1 John 3:12-15; Jude 11
  • 12. Genesis 3:9
  • 13. Numbers 35:33; Deuteronomy 21:1-9; Hebrews 12:24; Revelation 6:9, 10
  • 14. Genesis 3:14; Deuteronomy 28:15-20; Galatians 3:10
  • 15. Deuteronomy 28:15-24; Joel 1:10-20
  • 16. Leviticus 26:17, 36
  • 17. Genesis 3:24; Jeremiah 52:3
  • 18. Deuteronomy 28:64-67
  • 19. Numbers 35:19
  • 20. Genesis 4:24
  • 21. Ezekiel 9:4, 6
  • 22. 2 Kings 24:20; Jeremiah 23:39; Jeremiah 52:3
  • 23. Genesis 2:24
  • 24. Exodus 20:13; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalms 94:1
  • 25. Genesis 4:15
  • 26. Genesis 5:3
  • 27. Genesis 4:8
  • 28. Luke 3:38
  • 29. Genesis 12:8; Genesis 26:25; 1 Kings 18:24; Psalms 116:17; Joel 2:32; Zephaniah 3:9; 1 Corinthians 1:2

Footnotes 19

Genesis 4 Commentaries

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