New American Standard Bible 2020

Genesis 4:1-16

1Now the man 1had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have obtained a male child with the help of the Lord.” 2And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now 2Abel was 3a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. 3So it came about 4in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. 4 5Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And 6the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; 5but 7for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So 8Cain became very angry and his face 9was gloomy. 6Then the Lord said to Cain, “10Why are you angry? And why is your face 11gloomy? 7 12If you do well, 13will your face not be 14cheerful? 15And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, 16but you must master it.” 8Cain 17talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and 18killed him.

9Then the Lord said to Cain, “19Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10Then He said, “What have you done? 20The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground. 11Now 21you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 22When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; 23you will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth.” 13Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to endure! 14Behold, You have 24driven me this day from the face of the ground; and I will be hidden from Your face, and 25I will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth, and 26whoever finds me will kill me.” 15So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him 27seven times as much.” And the Lord 28 29placed a mark on Cain, so that no one finding him would kill him.

16Then Cain left the presence 30of the Lord, and 31settled in the land of 32Nod, east of Eden.

Read all of Genesis 4

Notes

1. Genesis 4:1 Lit knew his ↩
2. Genesis 4:2 Luke 11:50, 51 ↩
3. Genesis 4:2 Gen 46:32; 47:3 ↩
4. Genesis 4:3 Lit at the end of days ↩
5. Genesis 4:4 Heb 11:4 ↩
6. Genesis 4:4 1 Sam 15:22 ↩
7. Genesis 4:5 1 Sam 16:7 ↩
8. Genesis 4:5 Is 3:9; Jude 11 ↩
9. Genesis 4:5 Lit fell ↩
10. Genesis 4:6 Jon 4:4 ↩
11. Genesis 4:6 Lit fallen ↩
12. Genesis 4:7 Jer 3:12; Mic 7:18 ↩
13. Genesis 4:7 Or you will certainly be accepted ↩
14. Genesis 4:7 Lit lifted up ↩
15. Genesis 4:7 Num 32:23 ↩
16. Genesis 4:7 Job 11:14, 15; Rom 6:12, 16 ↩
17. Genesis 4:8 Lit said to ↩
18. Genesis 4:8 Matt 23:35; Luke 11:51; 1 John 3:12-15; Jude 11 ↩
19. Genesis 4:9 Gen 3:9 ↩
20. Genesis 4:10 Num 35:33; Deut 21:1-9; Heb 12:24; Rev 6:9, 10 ↩
21. Genesis 4:11 Gen 3:14; Deut 28:15-20; Gal 3:10 ↩
22. Genesis 4:12 Deut 28:15-24; Joel 1:10-20 ↩
23. Genesis 4:12 Lev 26:17, 36 ↩
24. Genesis 4:14 Gen 3:24; Jer 52:3 ↩
25. Genesis 4:14 Deut 28:64-67 ↩
26. Genesis 4:14 Num 35:19 ↩
27. Genesis 4:15 Gen 4:24 ↩
28. Genesis 4:15 Or set a sign for ↩
29. Genesis 4:15 Ezek 9:4, 6 ↩
30. Genesis 4:16 2 Kin 24:20; Jer 23:39; 52:3 ↩
31. Genesis 4:16 Lit dwelt ↩
32. Genesis 4:16 I.e., wandering ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Genesis 4