Genesis 4

1: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.  

Adam and Eve, the first human beings, had a son named Cain. Eve acknowledged that she had conceived and given birth to Cain, and she attributed his birth to the Lord. 

2: And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  

Eve gave birth to another son named Abel, who became a shepherd, taking care of sheep. On the other hand, Cain became a farmer, working the land. 

3: And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  

As time passed, Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the produce of his agricultural work. This suggests that he brought fruits or crops as an offering to God after sometime, not his first harvest. 

4: 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:  

Similarly, Abel also brought an offering to the Lord, but his offering consisted of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord looked favorably upon Abel’s offering. 

5: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.  

In contrast to Abel, the Lord did not regard Cain’s offering with favor. This made Cain angry and downcast. 

6: And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?  

The Lord questioned Cain, asking him why he was angry and upset. 

7: 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.  

The Lord explained to Cain that if he did what was right, his offering would be accepted. However, if he continued to do wrong, sin would be waiting at his door, ready to overtake him. The phrase “And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him” is often interpreted as a warning about the potential for sin to control or master Cain if he didn’t resist it. Emphasizing the importance of self-control and sound mind. 

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. 

While the brothers were in the field, Cain attacked and killed Abel, committing the first murder in human history. 

9: And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?  

The Lord approached Cain and asked him where Abel was. Cain responded with a lie, saying he didn’t know and questioning whether he was responsible for his brother’s whereabouts. 

10: And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.  

The Lord confronted Cain about his deed, emphasizing the severity of his actions. The voice of Abel’s blood, reached the Lord from the ground, indicating that his murder had not gone unnoticed. 

11: And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;  

12: 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.  

As a consequence of his heinous act, the Lord pronounced a curse upon Cain. The ground would no longer yield its full strength to Cain’s farming efforts. Additionally, Cain was destined to be a wanderer, a restless and nomadic existence, moving about the earth with no settled place to call his own. 

13: And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.  

Cain, realizing the severity of his punishment, expressed to the Lord that the weight of his penalty was too much for him to endure. 

14: 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.  

Cain lamented his fate, acknowledging that he was banished from the presence of the Lord and exiled from the face of the earth. He feared that as a wanderer, anyone who came across him would seek to kill him. 

15: 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. 

In response to Cain’s concern, the Lord assured him that anyone who harmed him would face severe consequences, as vengeance would be taken on the perpetrator sevenfold. Additionally, to protect Cain from being slain, the Lord placed a mark on him, a sign or symbol that would identify him and deter others from harming him. 

16: And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.  

After this conversation with the Lord, Cain departed from God’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, located to the east of Eden. The name “Nod” means “wandering” or “exile,” further reflecting Cain’s restless existence. 

17: 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.  

Cain found a wife, and they had a son named Enoch. Cain became the founder of a city and named it after his son, Enoch. 

18: And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. 

19: And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.  

20: And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.  

21: And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.  

22: And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.  

23: 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. 

24: If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. 

Lamech boasts to his wives about killing a man who wounded him, claiming that if Cain was avenged sevenfold, his own vengeance would be seventy-sevenfold. 

25: 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.  

Adam and Eve had another son named Seth. Eve regarded Seth as a replacement for Abel, whom Cain had killed. The name Seth means “appointed” or “granted.” 

26: 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. 

Seth had a son named Enos. It is mentioned that during Enos’ time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord. This implies the development of a spiritual practice or worship of God among Seth’s descendants. 

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Overall Insights 

 Genesis Chapter 4 provides an account of the immediate consequences of Cain and Abel’s actions and the subsequent lineage of Cain. It illustrates the consequences of Cain’s jealousy and murderous act, as well as the mercy and protection extended to him by God. The chapter also introduces the lineage of Seth, through whom the Godly line continues. 

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