American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Genesis 4
1
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
Reference
People
2
And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Reference
People
3
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the LORD.
Reference
References Lord
Numbers 18:12
4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect to Abel and to his offering:
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 9:22
Genesis 15:17
References Lord
Proverbs 3:9
Exodus 13:12
Sacrifice
Hebrews 11:4
Numbers 18:17
Psalm 20:3
2 Chronicles 7:1
1 Chronicles 21:26
1 Kings 18:38
5
But to Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Reference
7
If you do well, shall you not be accepted? and if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And to you shall be his desire, and you shall rule over him.
Reference
8
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.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 23:35
Jude 1:11
Luke 11:51
Micah 7:6
2 Samuel 14:6
Nehemiah 6:2
2 Samuel 3:27
9
And the LORD said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
Reference
10
And he said, What have you done? the voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground.
Reference
Blood
Hebrews 12:24
Psalm 72:14
Psalm 9:12
Numbers 35:33
Job 16:18
Parallel theme
Hebrews 11:4
James 5:4
Isaiah 5:7
11
And now are you cursed from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand;
Reference
12
When you till the ground, it shall not from now on yield to you her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shall you be in the earth.
Reference
14
Behold, you have driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from your 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 finds me shall slay me.
Reference
15
And the LORD said to him, Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Reference
16
And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelled in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 23:39
Exodus 20:18
Genesis 4:14
References Lord
Job 2:7
Jeremiah 52:3
Genesis 3:8
2 Kings 13:23
2 Kings 24:20
17
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Enoch: and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Psalm 49:11
18
And to Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
People
19
And Lamech took to him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Genesis 2:24
20
And Adah bore Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
People
21
And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
People
22
And Zillah, she also bore Tubalcain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
People
23
And Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
25
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, has appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
Reference
People
26
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call on the name of the LORD.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 3:38
References Lord
Psalm 116:17
Joel 2:32
1 Kings 18:24
Zephaniah 3:9
Genesis 12:8
Genesis 26:25
Isaiah 48:1
Isaiah 44:5
Jeremiah 33:16
Summary of Genesis 4
Chapter 4 begins with the aftermath of the fall. This is the chapter in which sin, introduced in chapter three, manifests for the first time in a family.
It starts with Eve conceiving and subsequently birthing Cain, and later having another son, Abel. The two grow up and lead very different lives, with Cain working the land and tending to it, and Abel going into animal husbandry and taking care of his flock. When the time comes for offerings to the Lord, Cain offers the fruits of the land, while Abel offers the firstborn of his flock and their fatty portions, which are described as a pleasing aroma to God. God rejects Cain’s offering, but it is unclear why, as the text only mentions Abel’s offering being made with the best parts. Cain’s response to this perceived injustice was anger and frustration, his countenance falling, as the text describes it.
God reproaches Cain, asking him why he is angry and subsequently warns him that sin is waiting to ambush him, like a predator at the door, but that he will have power over it. This warning from God is important, as it demonstrates the spiritual stakes of this confrontation with Cain.
Cain, being unsatisfied with God’s response, invites his brother out to the field. There, Cain kills Abel, becoming the first murderer in the Bible.
God asks Cain where Abel is, and Cain responds that he does not know, saying that he is not responsible for his brother’s life. God tells Cain that Abel’s blood cries out from the earth, and that the land has been contaminated by it, which will make it barren in the future.
As punishment for his crime, Cain is sentenced to be a wanderer on the face of the earth, but he is disappointed at this penalty, claiming that his punishment is too severe, that any man finding him will kill him. God places a mark over Cain, promising that no man may kill him and that those who do will suffer a seventy-sevenfold retribution. Even when committing such a horrendous crime, Cain was shown mercy by God, who warned him not to kill his brother.
Cain leaves the land of Eden, wandering to the east of it, where he finds a settlement in a land called Nod, where he proceeds to have numerous children with his wife and found a city named after his son, Enoch. There are several more generations described in this chapter, beginning with Cain’s lineage and ending with Lamech, who had two wives, Adah and Zillah. His children were notable people, as the text describes them as pioneers. His son Jabal was the first to live in tents and raise livestock. His brother Jubal was the first musician, forging the harp and the flute. Tubal-Cain was a metalworker, making bronze and iron implements.
Lamech was a violent man, as demonstrated by his boastful song for his wives concerning the killing of a man, which seems similar to how Cain had boasted of his crime immediately after committing it. Lamech states that he had killed a man for wounding his son and that he would be due for a seventy-sevenfold retaliation for this, comparing it to Cain’s punishment.
The chapter ends with Adam and Eve having another son, Seth, whom Eve considers to be a replacement for Abel, who was murdered, and that he was born when she said to God, “Bring us another son.”
Seth grows up and has a son named Enosh, and it is here that the chapter ends with the statement that men began calling out to the name of the Lord.
The chapter is significant in that it shows that sin never stays confined to one person or event, as shown by the proliferation of it in the descendants of Cain and subsequently in Adam’s other sons. It begins with Abel murdering his brother, and ends with the descendants of Seth worshipping the Lord. It shows the corruption of humanity and the consequences of sin, but also the redemption that can be found in God. Even before the flood described in Genesis 7, the culture of humanity has already largely turned towards sin, with people becoming proud, boastful, and violent. However, this is balanced with God’s continual mercy and the faith of people such as Seth turning back to God.
It starts with Eve conceiving and subsequently birthing Cain, and later having another son, Abel. The two grow up and lead very different lives, with Cain working the land and tending to it, and Abel going into animal husbandry and taking care of his flock. When the time comes for offerings to the Lord, Cain offers the fruits of the land, while Abel offers the firstborn of his flock and their fatty portions, which are described as a pleasing aroma to God. God rejects Cain’s offering, but it is unclear why, as the text only mentions Abel’s offering being made with the best parts. Cain’s response to this perceived injustice was anger and frustration, his countenance falling, as the text describes it.
God reproaches Cain, asking him why he is angry and subsequently warns him that sin is waiting to ambush him, like a predator at the door, but that he will have power over it. This warning from God is important, as it demonstrates the spiritual stakes of this confrontation with Cain.
Cain, being unsatisfied with God’s response, invites his brother out to the field. There, Cain kills Abel, becoming the first murderer in the Bible.
God asks Cain where Abel is, and Cain responds that he does not know, saying that he is not responsible for his brother’s life. God tells Cain that Abel’s blood cries out from the earth, and that the land has been contaminated by it, which will make it barren in the future.
As punishment for his crime, Cain is sentenced to be a wanderer on the face of the earth, but he is disappointed at this penalty, claiming that his punishment is too severe, that any man finding him will kill him. God places a mark over Cain, promising that no man may kill him and that those who do will suffer a seventy-sevenfold retribution. Even when committing such a horrendous crime, Cain was shown mercy by God, who warned him not to kill his brother.
Cain leaves the land of Eden, wandering to the east of it, where he finds a settlement in a land called Nod, where he proceeds to have numerous children with his wife and found a city named after his son, Enoch. There are several more generations described in this chapter, beginning with Cain’s lineage and ending with Lamech, who had two wives, Adah and Zillah. His children were notable people, as the text describes them as pioneers. His son Jabal was the first to live in tents and raise livestock. His brother Jubal was the first musician, forging the harp and the flute. Tubal-Cain was a metalworker, making bronze and iron implements.
Lamech was a violent man, as demonstrated by his boastful song for his wives concerning the killing of a man, which seems similar to how Cain had boasted of his crime immediately after committing it. Lamech states that he had killed a man for wounding his son and that he would be due for a seventy-sevenfold retaliation for this, comparing it to Cain’s punishment.
The chapter ends with Adam and Eve having another son, Seth, whom Eve considers to be a replacement for Abel, who was murdered, and that he was born when she said to God, “Bring us another son.”
Seth grows up and has a son named Enosh, and it is here that the chapter ends with the statement that men began calling out to the name of the Lord.
The chapter is significant in that it shows that sin never stays confined to one person or event, as shown by the proliferation of it in the descendants of Cain and subsequently in Adam’s other sons. It begins with Abel murdering his brother, and ends with the descendants of Seth worshipping the Lord. It shows the corruption of humanity and the consequences of sin, but also the redemption that can be found in God. Even before the flood described in Genesis 7, the culture of humanity has already largely turned towards sin, with people becoming proud, boastful, and violent. However, this is balanced with God’s continual mercy and the faith of people such as Seth turning back to God.