Genesis 4:8

Genesis 4:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now 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 killed him.

Context of Genesis 4:8

6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy? 7If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10Then He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground.

Genesis 4:8 word by word

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר קַ֖יִן אֶל־הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יו נֵלְכָה הַשָּׂדֶה וַֽיְהִי֙ בִּהְיוֹתָ֣ם בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה וַיָּ֥קָם קַ֛יִן אֶל־הֶ֥בֶל אָחִ֖יו וַיַּהַרְגֵֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear

• Cainקַ֫יִןqayin · CainH7014
• talkedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to his brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
• Abelהֶ֫בֶלhebel · AbelH1893
• and it happenedהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• that when they were in the fieldשָׂדַיώâdeh ώâday · SirionH7704
• roseקָמָיqûm · (Leb)-kamaiH6965
• againstאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• killedהָרַגhârag · to killH2026

Cross-references for Genesis 4:8

• 2 Samuel 3:27So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel.
• 2 Samuel 13:26Then Absalom said, “If not, please have my brother Amnon go with us.” But the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
• 2 Samuel 20:9And Joab said to Amasa, “Is it going well for you, my brother?” And Joab took hold of Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
• Nehemiah 6:2Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let’s meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were plotting to harm me.
• Psalms 36:3The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
• Psalms 55:21His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
• Proverbs 26:24One who hates disguises it with his lips, But he harbors deceit in his heart.
• Micah 7:6For son disavows father, Daughter rises up against her mother, Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; A person’s enemies are the people of his own household.
• Luke 22:48But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
• 2 Samuel 14:6And your servant had two sons, but the two of them fought in the field, and there was no one to save them from each other, so one struck the other and killed him.
• Job 11:15Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral blemish, And you would be firmly established and not fear.
• Psalms 24:3Who may ascend onto the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place?
• Psalms 139:19If only You would put the wicked to death, God; Leave me, you men of bloodshed.
• Matthew 23:35so that upon you will fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
• Luke 11:51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.’
• 1 John 3:12not as Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And for what reason did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.

Commentaries on Genesis 4:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Cain talked with Abel his brother - קין ויאמר vaiyomer Kayin, and Cain said, etc.; not talked, for this construction the word cannot bear without great violence to analogy and grammatical accuracy. But why should it be thus translated? Because our translators could not find that any thing was spoken on the occasion; and therefore they ventured to intimate that there was a conversation, indefinitely. In the most correct editions of the Hebrew Bible there…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. 8The impact of the sin on human relationships is tragically shown in the first murder. The word brother appears seven times in 4:2–11, emphasizing Cain's act of killing his brother despite responsibility to one's family.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. And Cain talked with Abel his brother--Under the guise of brotherly familiarity, he concealed his premeditated purpose till a convenient time and place occurred for the murder (1Jo 3:12; Jude 11).Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 4:8

• Abel
• Anger
• Cain
• Envy
• Fratricide
• Homicide
• Intolerance, Religious
• Jealousy
• Malice
• Martyrdom
• Persecution
• Religion
• Types
• Will

In the dictionaries

• Abel
• Cain
• Adam
• Blood
• Call
• Cursed
• Fall
• Fat
• Field
• Hurt

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