Bereshis 4:1-16

1 And HaAdam knew Chavah (Eve) his isha; and she conceived, and bore Kayin (Cain), and said, Kaniti (I have acquired) ish with Hashem.

2 And again she bore his ach Hevel (Abel). And Hevel was a ro’eh tzon, but Kayin was an oved adamah (tiller of soil).

3 And in ketz yamim it came to pass, that Kayin brought of the p’ri haadamah a minchah unto Hashem.

4 And Hevel, he also brought of the bechorot of his tzon and of the chelev thereof. And Hashem regarded [with favor, respect] unto Hevel and to his minchah:

5 But unto Kayin and to his minchah He had not regard . And Kayin was very angry, and his countenance fell.

6 And Hashem said unto Kayin, Why art thou angry? And why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If thou doest right, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not right, chattat croucheth at the petach. And unto thee shall be its teshukah (desire), and thou must rule over it.

8 And Kayin talked with Hevel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the sadeh, that Kayin rose up against Hevel his brother, and killed him.

9 And Hashem said unto Kayin, Where is Hevel thy brother? And he said, I know not; am I shomer achi (my brother’s keeper)?

10 And He said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s dahm crieth unto Me from haadamah.

11 And now art thou arur (cursed) from haadamah, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s dahm from thy hand;

12 When thou tillest haadamah, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her ko’ach (strength); na (restless fugitive) vanad (and a wanderer, nomad) shalt thou be in ha’aretz.

13 And Kayin said unto Hashem, My avon (iniquity, punishment for guilt) is greater than I can bear.

14 See, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the adamah; and from Thy face shall I be hidden and I shall be a na (restless fugitive) vanad (and a wanderer, nomad) in ha’aretz; and it shall come to pass, that whoever findeth me shall kill me.

15 And Hashem said unto him, Therefore whoever killeth Kayin, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Hashem placed an ot (mark) upon Kayin, so that none finding him should kill him.

16 And Kayin went out from the presence of Hashem, and dwelt in Eretz Nod, east of Eden.

Bereshis 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.