English Standard Version
Genesis 4:14
14Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
Genesis 4:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
Context of Genesis 4:14
12When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." 13Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." 15Then the Lord said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Read all of Genesis 4Genesis 4:14 word by word
הֵן֩ גֵּרַ֨שְׁתָּ אֹתִ֜י הַיּ֗וֹם מֵעַל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה וּמִפָּנֶ֖יךָ אֶסָּתֵ֑ר וְהָיִ֜יתִי נָ֤ע וָנָד֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וְהָיָ֥ה כָל־מֹצְאִ֖י יַֽהַרְגֵֽנִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Behold, thou hast driven me outגָּרַשׁgârash · to drive out: drive outH1644
- this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- from the faceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: surfaceH6440
- of the earthאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: soilH127
- and fromעַל‛al · uponH5921
- thy faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- shall I be hidסָתַרsâthar · to hideH5641
- and I shall be a fugitiveנוּעַnûa‛ · to shakeH5128
- and a vagabondנוּדnûd · to wanderH5110
- in the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- and it shall come to passהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- every one that findeth meמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- shall slay meהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
Cross-references for Genesis 4:14
- Job 15:20The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.
- Proverbs 14:32The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.
- Proverbs 28:1The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
- Isaiah 8:22And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.
- Hosea 13:3Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes early away, like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window.
- Genesis 4:16Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
- Job 21:14They say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.
- Psalms 51:11Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
- Psalms 143:7Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
- Matthew 25:41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:9They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
- Deuteronomy 28:65And among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul.
- Psalms 109:10May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
- Genesis 4:12When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."
- Genesis 4:15Then the Lord said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
- Genesis 9:5And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.
Commentaries on Genesis 4:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Behold, thou hast driven me out - In Genesis 4:11, Genesis 4:12, God states two parts of Cain's punishment: The ground was cursed, so that it was not to yield any adequate recompense for his most careful tillage. He was to be a fugitive and a vagabond having no place in which he could dwell with comfort or security. To these Cain himself adds others. His being hidden from the face of God; which appears to signify his being expelled from that particular…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-16Verses 1-16 - Section IV - The Family of Adam - Cain and Abel 1. קין qayı̂n Qain (Cain), “spear-shaft,” and קנה qānah “set up, establish, gain, buy,” contain the biliteral root קן qan “set up, erect, gain.” The relations of root words are not confined to the narrow rules of our common etymology, but really extend to such instinctive usages as the unlettered speaker will invent or employ. A full examination of the Hebrew tongue leads to the conclusion…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-15Verses 8-15 Malice in the heart ends in murder by the hands. Cain slew Abel, his own brother, his own mother's son, whom he ought to have loved; his younger brother, whom he ought to have protected; a good brother, who had never done him any wrong. What fatal effects were these of our first parents' sin, and how must their hearts have been filled with anguish! Observe the pride, unbelief, and impenitence of Cain. He denies the crime, as if he could…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-14For Cain, being driven from the land (the place where he worked as a farmer; see 4:2; compare 3:23) meant being separated from God’s presence. God warned the Israelites to remain faithful to the Sinai covenant. If not, he would force them to leave the promised land. This would also mean separation from God's presence in the temple (see, for example, Leviticus 26:27–32).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1413-14. And Cain said ... My punishment is greater than I can bear--What an overwhelming sense of misery; but no sign of penitence, nor cry for pardon.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 4:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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