Genesis 4

Cain and Abel

1Then Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she became pregnant. She bore a son and said, “By the LORD's help I have acquired a son.” So she named him Cain.#4.1 Cain: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “acquired”. 2Later she gave birth to another son, Abel. Abel became a shepherd, but Cain was a farmer. 3After some time, Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the LORD. 4#Heb 11.4Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering, 5but he rejected Cain and his offering. Cain became furious, and he scowled in anger. 6Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why that scowl on your face? 7If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling;#4.7 you would be smiling; or I would have accepted your offering. but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it.”

8 # Mt 23.35; Lk 11.51; 1 Jn 3.12 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go out in the fields.”#4.8 Some ancient translations Let's go out in the fields; Hebrew does not have these words. When they were out in the fields, Cain turned on his brother and killed him.

9The LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

He answered, “I don't know. Am I supposed to take care of my brother?”

10 # Heb 12.24 Then the LORD said, “Why have you done this terrible thing? Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground, like a voice calling for revenge. 11You are placed under a curse and can no longer farm the soil. It has soaked up your brother's blood as if it had opened its mouth to receive it when you killed him. 12If you try to grow crops, the soil will not produce anything; you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

13And Cain said to the LORD, “This punishment is too hard for me to bear. 14You are driving me off the land and away from your presence. I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth, and anyone who finds me will kill me.”

15But the LORD answered, “No. If anyone kills you, seven lives will be taken in revenge.” So the LORD put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who met him not to kill him. 16And Cain went away from the LORD's presence and lived in a land called “Wandering”, which is east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

17Cain and his wife had a son and named him Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son. 18Enoch had a son named Irad, who was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael had a son named Methushael, who was the father of Lamech. 19Lamech had two wives, Adah and Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the ancestor of those who raise livestock and live in tents. 21His brother was Jubal, the ancestor of all musicians who play the harp and the flute. 22Zillah gave birth to Tubal Cain, who made all kinds of tools#4.22 who made all kinds of tools; one ancient translation ancestor of all metalworkers. out of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal Cain was Naamah.

23Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me: I have killed a young man because he struck me.

24 # Mt 18.22 If seven lives are taken to pay for killing Cain,

77 will be taken if anyone kills me.”

Seth and Enosh

25Adam and his wife had another son. She said, “God has given me a son to replace Abel, whom Cain killed.” So she named him Seth.#4.25 Seth: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “has given”. 26Seth had a son whom he named Enosh. It was then that people began using the LORD's holy name in worship.

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Genesis 4

Cain and Abel

1Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten#4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of #Lev. 2:12; Num. 18:12the fruit of the ground, 4and Abel also brought of #Ex. 13:12; Num. 18:17; Prov. 3:9 the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord #Heb. 11:4had regard for Abel and his offering, 5but #[Prov. 21:27]for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7#Eccles. 8:12, 13; Isa. 3:10, 11; Rom. 2:6-11 If you do well, will you not be accepted?#4:7 Hebrew will there not be a lifting up [of your face]? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. #ch. 3:16Its desire is contrary to#4:7 Or is toward you, but you must rule over it.”

8Cain spoke to Abel his brother.#4:8 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate add Let us go out to the field And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and #Matt. 23:35; Heb. 12:24; 1 John 3:12; Jude 11killed him. 9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, #John 8:44“I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood #Heb. 12:24; [Rev. 6:10]is crying to me from the ground. 11And now #Deut. 27:24; [Num. 35:33]you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13Cain said to the Lord, “My #ch. 19:15punishment is greater than I can bear.#4:13 Or My guilt is too great to bear 14Behold, #Job 15:20-24 you have driven me today away from the ground, and #2 Kgs. 24:20; Ps. 51:11; 143:7; Jer. 52:3 from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, #ch. 9:6; Num. 35:19and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him #Ps. 79:12 sevenfold.” And the Lord #[Ezek. 9:4, 6; Rev. 14:9, 11]put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod,#4:16 Nod means wandering east of Eden.

17Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:

I have killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for striking me.

24 # ver. 15 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,

then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”

25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed#4:25 Seth sounds like the Hebrew for he appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26To #1 Chr. 1:1; Luke 3:38 Seth also a son was born, and he called his name #ch. 5:6 Enosh. At that time people began #Ps. 116:17; Zeph. 3:9; Zech. 13:9to call upon the name of the Lord.

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