Cain (Genesis 4:1–2; Genesis 4:3–5; Genesis 4:6–7; Genesis 4:8; Genesis 4:9–12; Genesis 4:13–15; Genesis 4:16–17; Genesis 4:18–24; Genesis 4:25; Hebrews 11:4; 1 John 3:11–12; Jude 1:11)

Firstborn of Adam and Eve, Tiller of the Ground

The firstborn son of Eve, a tiller of the ground, who brought an offering of the fruit of the ground, was very wroth when the LORD had no respect to it, rose up against his brother Abel and slew him, was cursed from the ground, received a sign from the LORD, and went out to dwell in the land of Nod, where he built a city.

Genesis tells of his birth in one verse: “And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with the help of Jehovah” (Genesis 4:1). Then “again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground” (Genesis 4:2).

Each brought an offering to the LORD. “Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:4-5). The LORD said to him, “Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door: and unto thee shall be its desire; but do thou rule over it” (Genesis 4:6-7). “And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Genesis 4:8). Asked where Abel was, he answered, “I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). The LORD declared him cursed from the ground and a fugitive and a wanderer; Cain said, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (Genesis 4:13), and the LORD appointed a sign for him, “lest any finding him should smite him” (Genesis 4:15).

“And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden” (Genesis 4:16). He knew his wife, and she bore Enoch, and he built a city (Genesis 4:17). Genesis traces his line to Lamech, who said to his wives, “If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold” (Genesis 4:24). Scripture does not record his death. When Seth is born, Eve says that God has appointed her another seed “instead of Abel; for Cain slew him” (Genesis 4:25). The New Testament names him three times: Abel offered “a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Hebrews 11:4); “not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12); and of certain men, “they went in the way of Cain” (Jude 1:11).

Weaknesses

• Very wroth
• Rose up against his brother and slew him
• Answered, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?
• Works were evil

Themes

• Two offerings
• Anger and sin at the door
• Brother slain
• The curse and the sign
• Land of Nod

Born to Eve; a tiller of the ground (Genesis 4:1–2)

Eve bears Cain, and then his brother Abel; Abel keeps sheep and Cain tills the ground.

The two offerings (Genesis 4:3–5)

Cain brings of the fruit of the ground and Abel of the firstlings of his flock; the LORD has respect to Abel and his offering but not to Cain's, and Cain is very wroth.

The two offerings

“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof” (Genesis 4:3-4).

“And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:4-5).

Genesis does not state the reason outright; the LORD's next words to Cain are “If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up?” (Genesis 4:7). Hebrews says of Abel: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Hebrews 11:4).

The LORD's question and warning (Genesis 4:6–7)

The LORD asks Cain why he is wroth and tells him that sin couches at the door and that he is to rule over it.

Abel slain in the field (Genesis 4:8)

Cain tells Abel his brother, and when they are in the field he rises up against him and slays him.

Abel slain in the field

“And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Genesis 4:8).

Of the reason, the first letter of John says: “And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12).

Where is Abel? The curse (Genesis 4:9–12)

The LORD asks where Abel is; Cain says he knows not and asks if he is his brother's keeper; the LORD says the blood cries from the ground and that Cain is cursed from it, a fugitive and a wanderer.

Where is Abel? The curse

“And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).

“What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth” (Genesis 4:10-12).

The sign appointed for Cain (Genesis 4:13–15)

Cain says his punishment is greater than he can bear and that whoever finds him will slay him; the LORD says sevenfold vengeance will be taken on any who slays Cain and appoints a sign for him.

The sign appointed for Cain

“And Cain said unto Jehovah, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the ground; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever findeth me will slay me” (Genesis 4:13-14).

“And Jehovah said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Jehovah appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him” (Genesis 4:15). Genesis does not describe the sign.

Land of Nod and the city of Enoch (Genesis 4:16–17)

Cain goes out from the presence of the LORD and dwells in Nod, east of Eden; his wife bears Enoch, and he builds a city and names it after his son.

His line to Lamech (Genesis 4:18–24)

Genesis names Cain's descendants from Enoch to Lamech and Lamech's children, and Lamech tells his wives that if Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Lamech shall be avenged seventy and sevenfold.

Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:1; Genesis 4:25)

Eve bore Cain after the man knew her, and later bore Seth, saying that God had appointed her another seed instead of Abel.

Abel (Genesis 4:2; Genesis 4:8; Hebrews 11:4)

His brother, a keeper of sheep, whom Cain rose up against in the field and slew.

The LORD (Genesis 4:4–15)

Had respect to Abel's offering and not to Cain's, questioned him, cursed him from the ground, and appointed a sign for him.

Enoch (Genesis 4:17)

His son, after whom Cain named the city he built.

Lamech (Genesis 4:18–24)

Of Cain's line through Enoch, Irad, Mehujael and Methushael; he spoke to his wives of Cain avenged sevenfold.

Seth (Genesis 4:25)

Born to Adam and Eve after Abel's death, appointed by God, Eve said, instead of Abel.

Major sections

• Genesis 4:1–16
• Genesis 4:17–25

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