Genesis 4
World English Bible
WEB1The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.” 2Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground. 4Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering, 5but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell. 6Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? 7If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.” 8Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him. 9Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground. 11Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. Whoever finds me will kill me.” 15Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him. 16Cain left Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18Irad was born to Enoch. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. 19Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe. 22Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah. 23Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me. 24If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.” 25Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on Yahweh’s name.
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Genesis Chapter 4 presents a profound narrative about the early human experience, focusing on the lives of #Cain and #Abel, the sons of #Adam and #Eve. The chapter begins with Cain, a farmer, and Abel, a shepherd, bringing offerings to the Lord. While God favors Abel's offering of a lamb, He does not accept Cain's offering of fruits from the ground. This rejection leads to Cain's anger and jealousy, prompting God to warn him about sin's desire to control him. This interaction emphasizes the importance of the heart's condition in worship and the need for obedience to God’s will.
The story escalates as Cain, consumed by jealousy, lures Abel into the field and murders him. This act of violence introduces the theme of sin's destructive power in human relationships. When God confronts Cain, he responds with defiance, asking, "Am I my brother's keeper?" This question highlights the moral responsibility we have towards one another. As a consequence of his actions, Cain is cursed and becomes a wanderer, yet God places a mark on him to protect him from being killed, demonstrating God's mercy even in judgment. The chapter concludes with the genealogy of Cain, illustrating the development of civilization and the continuation of sin, while also hinting at the ongoing struggle between good and evil in the world.
Referenced by
- Genesis 5:3v25Genesis 5:3 mentions Seth as the son of Adam, connecting to Genesis 4:25 where Seth is born as a replacement for Abel, continuing the godly lineage.
- Judges 9:5v8Judges 9:5 describes Abimelech's murder of his brothers, reminiscent of Cain's murder of Abel in Genesis 4:8, highlighting themes of jealousy and fratricide.
- Esther 3:5v5Haman's anger in Esther 3:5 upon Mordecai's refusal to bow parallels Cain's anger in Genesis 4:5-6 when God does not accept his offering. Both passages illustrate how unchecked anger can lead to destructive actions.
- Hebrews 11:4v4Hebrews 11:4 highlights Abel's offering as a demonstration of faith, which is detailed in Genesis 4:4 where Abel offers a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.
Topics in this chapter
- Justice
- Sin
- Mercy
- Righteousness
- Protection
- Worship
- Abel
- Cain
- Creation
- Faith
- Jealousy
- Redemption
- Repentance
- Responsibility
- Accountability
- Adam
- Brotherhood
- Cain and Abel
- Civilization
- Community
- Consequences
- Eve
- Exile
- Grace
- Judgment
- Land of Nod
- Lineage
- Separation
- Temptation
- The First Murder (Genesis 4:1-16)
- Acquisition
- Am I My Brother's Keeper?
- Anger
- Art in the Bible
- Blood
- Confession
- Creativity
- Culture
- Curse
- Divine Justice
- Eden
- Father
- First Man (Adam)
- First Woman (Eve)
- Forgiveness
- Generosity
- Genesis
- God's Character
- God's Provision
- Heart Attitude
- Honesty
- Human Potential
- Hymn
- Innocence
- Innocent Blood
- Innovation
- Invocation
- Keeper
- Lamech
- Literature in the Bible
- Mark of Cain
- Martyrdom
- Mastering Sin
- Mastery
- Messiah
- Messianic Line
- Moral Reform
- Moral Responsibility
- Mother
- Murder
- Music in the Bible
- Offering
- Offerings
- Paradise Lost
- Personal Responsibility
- Polygamy
- Prayer
- Procreation
- Providence
- Relationship with God
- Responsive Reading
- Sacrifice
- Seth
- Shepherd
- Spiritual Awakening
- The Fall
- Violence
Related chapters
- Genesis 3EveParadise LostEden
- Genesis 5SethEdenAdam
- Hebrews 11AbelMartyrdom
- 1 John 3Cain
- James 1Personal ResponsibilityTemptationGod's Provision
- Genesis 2First Man (Adam)First Woman (Eve)Eve
- Jude 1CainMurderRelationship with God
- 1 Chronicles 1CivilizationSethAdam
- Romans 6Temptation
- Ezekiel 3Moral ResponsibilityResponsibilityExile
- 2 Samuel 18ViolenceFatherCurse
- 2 Samuel 13ViolenceInnocenceLineage
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