Genesis 4:1-15

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.

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Genesis 4:1-15 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 21

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

Footnotes 7

[a]. Lit "knew"
[b]. I.e. gotten one
[c]. Or "man, the LORD
[d]. Lit "at the end of days"
[e]. Or "surely you will be accepted"
[f]. Lit "said to"
[g]. Or "set a mark on"