And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord 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.
And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
And Cain talked with 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.
And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
And Zillah, she also bare Tubal–cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal–cain was Naamah.
And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 4 unveils the stark consequences of the fall, showcasing the burgeoning effects of sin on humanity and yet, amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope emerges. This chapter, a crucial bridge connecting creation to the story of Noah, explores themes of worship, rejection, violence, and the enduring grace of God.
Cain and Abel: Two Offerings, Two Hearts (4:1-5)
Adam and Eve, though exiled from Eden, experienced God's continued blessing, as Eve acknowledges the LORD's help in the birth of her two sons, Cain and Abel (4:1). Both sons were raised with knowledge of God and the expectation of bringing offerings to their Creator. "In the course of time" (4:3), they both presented their sacrifices. Abel, a shepherd, offered the fat portions of his flock, while Cain, a farmer, offered produce from the ground. Genesis 4:4 tells us that God "had regard for Abel and his offering," but Genesis 4:5 states He "did not have regard for Cain and his offering."
The critical question arises: Why the difference? Some suggest Cain's offering, derived from ground already under a curse, symbolized an alignment with that curse. 1 John 3:12 even identifies Cain as "evil" before the murder. Abel, in contrast, demonstrated dominion over the animals, as God commanded in Genesis 1:28, and offered the required sacrifice of shed blood, foreshadowing the need for atonement (Hebrews 9:22). Perhaps Cain's attitude was lacking, or his offering was less sacrificial. True worship, as revealed here, must be what God desires, not simply what we choose to give. God rejected Cain's offering because of the condition of his heart and the nature of his sacrifice.
The Warning and the Wrath (4:5-8)
Cain's rejection fueled anger and resentment. God, in His grace, warned Cain of the danger lurking within: "Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it" (Genesis 4:7). God offered Cain a path to redemption, reminding him that doing what is right leads to acceptance. Spiritual realignment is the antidote to emotional turmoil. Tragically, Cain ignored God's counsel. Instead, he allowed his negative emotions to fester, culminating in the ultimate act of fratricide: the murder of his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8).
Accountability and Consequences (4:9-16)
God confronted Cain, mirroring His interaction with Adam after the fall. "Where is your brother Abel?" (Genesis 4:9), God asked, not for information, but to offer Cain a chance to confess. Like his father, Cain evaded responsibility, infamously retorting, "I don't know...Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). Justice followed. God cursed Cain from the ground, rendering it unproductive for him. He was condemned to be "a restless wanderer on the earth" (Genesis 4:12). This was more than just expulsion from a garden; it was banishment from the LORD's presence (Genesis 4:16). Cain lamented his fate, fearing for his life, so God placed a mark on him, promising sevenfold vengeance on anyone who would kill him. This shows God's persistent concern for human life, even in the face of such heinous sin.
The Line of Cain: Innovation and Iniquity (4:17-24)
Cain's lineage, though marked by innovation and cultural advancement, became increasingly characterized by violence and disregard for God's design. His descendants built cities and developed crafts, but Lamech, a descendant seven generations from Adam, boasted of killing a man for merely wounding him (Genesis 4:23). Lamech's polygamy (Genesis 4:23) further demonstrates the growing departure from God's original intent for marriage. Cain's murderous ways infected his family line.
Seth: A New Hope (4:25-26)
Amidst the darkness, God raised up another family tree. After Abel's death, Adam and Eve had another son, Seth, whom Eve recognized as God's replacement for Abel (Genesis 4:25). Seth's line distinguished itself by their devotion to God. "At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD" (Genesis 4:26). While Cain's way of worship was prideful, Abel and Seth's way humbly called out to God. This line of Seth would eventually lead to Noah (Genesis 5:28-32), a testament to God's enduring faithfulness and plan of redemption.
Genesis 4 serves as a sobering reminder of the pervasive nature of sin and its devastating consequences. Yet, it also offers a beacon of hope through the line of Seth, who exemplified true worship and reliance on God. It highlights the importance of examining our hearts and ensuring that our worship aligns with God's will, not our own. The chapter underscores that God, even in the face of human depravity, continues to offer grace and a path back to Himself.
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord 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.
And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
And Cain talked with 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.
And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
And Zillah, she also bare Tubal–cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal–cain was Naamah.
And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 4 unveils the stark consequences of the fall, showcasing the burgeoning effects of sin on humanity and yet, amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope emerges. This chapter, a crucial bridge connecting creation to the story of Noah, explores themes of worship, rejection, violence, and the enduring grace of God.
Cain and Abel: Two Offerings, Two Hearts (4:1-5)
Adam and Eve, though exiled from Eden, experienced God's continued blessing, as Eve acknowledges the LORD's help in the birth of her two sons, Cain and Abel (4:1). Both sons were raised with knowledge of God and the expectation of bringing offerings to their Creator. "In the course of time" (4:3), they both presented their sacrifices. Abel, a shepherd, offered the fat portions of his flock, while Cain, a farmer, offered produce from the ground. Genesis 4:4 tells us that God "had regard for Abel and his offering," but Genesis 4:5 states He "did not have regard for Cain and his offering."
The critical question arises: Why the difference? Some suggest Cain's offering, derived from ground already under a curse, symbolized an alignment with that curse. 1 John 3:12 even identifies Cain as "evil" before the murder. Abel, in contrast, demonstrated dominion over the animals, as God commanded in Genesis 1:28, and offered the required sacrifice of shed blood, foreshadowing the need for atonement (Hebrews 9:22). Perhaps Cain's attitude was lacking, or his offering was less sacrificial. True worship, as revealed here, must be what God desires, not simply what we choose to give. God rejected Cain's offering because of the condition of his heart and the nature of his sacrifice.
The Warning and the Wrath (4:5-8)
Cain's rejection fueled anger and resentment. God, in His grace, warned Cain of the danger lurking within: "Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it" (Genesis 4:7). God offered Cain a path to redemption, reminding him that doing what is right leads to acceptance. Spiritual realignment is the antidote to emotional turmoil. Tragically, Cain ignored God's counsel. Instead, he allowed his negative emotions to fester, culminating in the ultimate act of fratricide: the murder of his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8).
Accountability and Consequences (4:9-16)
God confronted Cain, mirroring His interaction with Adam after the fall. "Where is your brother Abel?" (Genesis 4:9), God asked, not for information, but to offer Cain a chance to confess. Like his father, Cain evaded responsibility, infamously retorting, "I don't know...Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). Justice followed. God cursed Cain from the ground, rendering it unproductive for him. He was condemned to be "a restless wanderer on the earth" (Genesis 4:12). This was more than just expulsion from a garden; it was banishment from the LORD's presence (Genesis 4:16). Cain lamented his fate, fearing for his life, so God placed a mark on him, promising sevenfold vengeance on anyone who would kill him. This shows God's persistent concern for human life, even in the face of such heinous sin.
The Line of Cain: Innovation and Iniquity (4:17-24)
Cain's lineage, though marked by innovation and cultural advancement, became increasingly characterized by violence and disregard for God's design. His descendants built cities and developed crafts, but Lamech, a descendant seven generations from Adam, boasted of killing a man for merely wounding him (Genesis 4:23). Lamech's polygamy (Genesis 4:23) further demonstrates the growing departure from God's original intent for marriage. Cain's murderous ways infected his family line.
Seth: A New Hope (4:25-26)
Amidst the darkness, God raised up another family tree. After Abel's death, Adam and Eve had another son, Seth, whom Eve recognized as God's replacement for Abel (Genesis 4:25). Seth's line distinguished itself by their devotion to God. "At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD" (Genesis 4:26). While Cain's way of worship was prideful, Abel and Seth's way humbly called out to God. This line of Seth would eventually lead to Noah (Genesis 5:28-32), a testament to God's enduring faithfulness and plan of redemption.
Genesis 4 serves as a sobering reminder of the pervasive nature of sin and its devastating consequences. Yet, it also offers a beacon of hope through the line of Seth, who exemplified true worship and reliance on God. It highlights the importance of examining our hearts and ensuring that our worship aligns with God's will, not our own. The chapter underscores that God, even in the face of human depravity, continues to offer grace and a path back to Himself.