Genesis 4:1-26

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

The First Two Children

• The lives of Cain and Abel. The hostility that would exist down through the ages, between the the "wicked offspring" and the "righteous offspring" (prophesied about in Genesis 3:15), would be demonstrated in a very graphic manner.

• The physical offspring of Cain - a highly-developed civilization living in rebellion against God.

• The development of technology.

• A replacement for Abel, the righteous offspring.

Details and Comments

This chapter concludes the first historical "eyewitness" account in Genesis (which began in Genesis 2:4). It includes events in the lives of Cain and Abel (the first two offspring), along with their descendants. Since Abel had no descendants, the account ends with a few comments about Seth, who would take his place in the family line.

Where did Cain get his wife? Chapter 5 (the first part of the next historical account) tells us that Adam and Eve had other sons and daughters. At that point in the early history of the human race, while the human "gene pool" was still essentially pure (unaffected by harmful mutations), marriage within the family was not a problem. (Today, it would be genetically devastating.)

• The births of Cain and Abel.

• Cain's rebellion and the death of Abel. (By this time, they were grown men. At least Cain had a wife.)

• Cain's offspring, a highly-developed civilization.

• Abel's offspring - none. (Seth is born as his replacement.)

Scripture

Genesis 4:1-26 - The first two children and their offspring. (The death of the one; a substitute provided.)

See also: The Concept of Two "Races" or Two "Offspring". (It applies both with Cain vs. Abel, as well as with Cain's offspring vs. Seth's offspring.)

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Gen 4:1 The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, "I have gotten a man with Yahweh's help." Gen 4:2 Again she gave birth, to Cain's brother Abel. ...	Another expression of trust in God. The first experience of the pains of childbirth. Other children would also be born (compare with Genesis 5:4).
... Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Gen 4:3 As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground. Gen 4:4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering, Gen 4:5 but he didn't respect Cain and his offering. ...	Each had a legitimate occupation. The offerings were thank offerings, which were intended to express the gratitude of the giver, for blessings received. Such offerings could be either animal or vegetable. The text does not claim that they offered these things as burnt offerings on an altar. (The first definite reference to a burnt offering is in Genesis 8:20!) Since they were living near the Garden of Eden (not "out of God's presence" - compare to Genesis 4:16), they could have been offering these things personally to God - the same God who in the past had walked in the garden with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8). People Meeting with God The problem was Cain's heart - that's why the offering wasn't accepted.
... Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell. Gen 4:6 Yahweh said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? Gen 4:7 If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it."	God's warning (and gracious offering of an opportunity): Cain needs to "do well." The phrase "will it not be lifted up" - may refer to his countenance having a reason to be joyful, or to his offering being accepted. Asking Cain "WHY" his demeanor has changed is not because God didn't know why! It was an opportunity for Cain to know why! How God Interacts with Humans "Desire" and "rule" - the same two words found in Genesis 3:16, in reference to the relationship between the woman and her husband. Obviously a different context!
Gen 4:8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." It happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him. Gen 4:9 Yahweh said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?" He said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?"	Cain's reply: Did Cain have to "keep" Abel the same way Able "kept" sheep?
Gen 4:10 Yahweh said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground. Gen 4:11 Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. Gen 4:12 From now on, when you till the ground, it won't yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth."	The curse pronounced on Adam (Genesis 3:17-19) is intensified for Cain. Yet even here there is mercy. (See the next verse.) Curses (and Their Nature)
Gen 4:13 Cain said to Yahweh, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Gen 4:14 Behold, you have driven me out this day from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me." Gen 4:15 Yahweh said to him, "Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold." Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should strike him.	Did Cain really care about being "hidden from God's face"? (Probably not!) He's still unrepentant and complains about his punishment! But God shows mercy and kindness to Cain (who, even after all this, will continue to remain unrepentant). God's Kindness and Grace Even though capital punishment has not been commanded by God (that comes in Genesis 9), Cain knew that he deserved death. Capital Punishment
Gen 4:16 Cain went out from Yahweh's presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Gen 4:17 Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.	Since Cain's rebellious heart would not change, this departure from God's presence symbolized his spiritual condition. God's Presence Cain's wife was a sister. Marriage and Genetics Trivial Questions about the Bible This is the first reference to a city, and it is built in rebellion to God. It would be a pattern for future cities built in rebellion (such as Babel). The Concept of "City"
Gen 4:18 To Enoch was born Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.
Gen 4:19 Lamech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. Gen 4:20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. Gen 4:21 His brother's name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe. Gen 4:22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron. Tubal Cain's sister was Naamah.	First recorded instance of a distortion of marriage. Breakdown of the Family The first reference to technology, some of which would be used for evil purposes. (Note: No technology is mentioned in the line of Abel, because Abel was dead. Seth's line (Abel's substitute) is described in a different historical account, and it was written for a different purpose.) Natural Resources Technology
Gen 4:23 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 for wounding me, a young man for bruising me. Gen 4:24 If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times."	The probable means of murder was one of the "cutting instruments" that his son had invented (v. 22). This line concludes with an emphasis on the tendency for increasing ungodliness and evil - moral decay, the breakdown of the family unit, murder, etc. There may have been some godly people in this line (at least some of the names end with "-el," which was a reference to deity). But the general trend was ungodliness.
Gen 4:25 Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, "for God has appointed me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him." Gen 4:26 There was also born a son to Seth, and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on Yahweh's name.	Two Genealogical Lines (Theme) In the days of Enosh, people begin to worship God (probably a reference to corporate worship). Worship At this point, we have two parallel "races" of people: Cain's line, people who lived out from God's presence (though some of the names - in Hebrew - suggest that some were religious). Seth's line, people who were "calling" on God - possibly an indication of corporate worship; at least emphasizing that this line trusted/relied on God. (The distinction breaks down by Genesis 6.)

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—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.