Genesis 4

Offerings to God Genesis 4:3–5

³Verse 3. As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground. ⁴Verse 4. Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering, ⁵Verse 5. but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.

God Confronts Cain Genesis 4:6–7

⁶Verse 6. Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? ⁷Verse 7. If you do well, won’t it 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.”

Cain Murders Abel Genesis 4:8–10

⁸Verse 8. Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him. ⁹Verse 9. Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” ¹⁰Verse 10. Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.

God Punishes Cain Genesis 4:11–15

¹¹Verse 11. Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹²Verse 12. From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.” ¹³Verse 13. Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. ¹⁴Verse 14. Behold, you have driven me out today 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. Whoever finds me will kill me.” ¹⁵Verse 15. Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.

Cain's Lineage and Achievements Genesis 4:16–22

¹⁶Verse 16. Cain left Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. ¹⁷Verse 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. ¹⁸Verse 18. To Enoch was born Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. ¹⁹Verse 19. Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah. ²⁰Verse 20. Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.

²¹Verse 21. His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe. ²²Verse 22. Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah.

Lamech's Decrees and Seth's Birth Genesis 4:23–26

²³Verse 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. ²⁴Verse 24. If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.” ²⁵Verse 25. Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” ²⁶Verse 26. A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on Yahweh’s name.