Wayfinding Bible - Flipbook - Page 16
10
Genesis 4
PG 8
DIRECT
PG 8
SCENIC
4:1-16
4:1-26
4
4
CAIN AND ABEL
In the wake of the Fall, Adam and Eve’s family begins. In sixteen verses we cover
the events that transpire over several years—the concise history of a generation.
No lovely recollection of the pregnancies and birth experiences, no talk about
first steps, first smiles, or first words. It’s a summary that penetrates to the heart
of the story: sin’s horrible consequences of anger, jealousy, murder, and death.
Gen 4:17
THE CITY OF ENOCH
Cain might have built this city in order to
defy God’s punishment—the curse that
Cain would always be wandering. Or God
may have used the city to protect Cain as
he promised. Walls surrounded the city
to protect its inhabitants. The city, named
after Cain’s firstborn son, Enoch, is the
first city mentioned in the Bible. This Enoch
is a completely different person than the
one who walked with God and never died
(Genesis 5:22-24).
CAIN AND ABEL
4
Now Adam* had sexual relations with his
wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When
she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s
help, I have produced* a man!” 2 Later she gave
birth to his brother and named him Abel.
When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3 When
it was time for the harvest, Cain presented
some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel
also brought a gift—the best portions of the
firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept
Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry,
and he looked dejected.
6
“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked
Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will
be accepted if you do what is right. But if you
refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin
is crouching at the door, eager to control you.
But you must subdue it and be its master.”
8
One day Cain suggested to his brother,
“Let’s go out into the fields.”* And while they
were in the field, Cain attacked his brother,
Abel, and killed him.
9
Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is
your brother? Where is Abel?”
“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my
brother’s guardian?”
10
But the Lord said, “What have you done?
Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me
from the ground! 11 Now you are cursed and
banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. 12 No longer will
the ground yield good crops for you, no matter
how hard you work! From now on you will be
a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
13
Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment* is too great for me to bear! 14 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!”
15
The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a seven
fold punishment to anyone who kills you.”
Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn
anyone who might try to kill him. 16 So Cain left
the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of
Nod,* east of Eden.
THE DESCENDANTS OF CAIN
Cain had sexual relations with his wife, and
she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch.
Then Cain founded a city, which he named
Enoch, after his son. 18 Enoch had a son named
Irad. Irad became the father of* Mehujael. Me
hujael became the father of Methushael. Me
thushael became the father of Lamech.
19
Lamech married two women. The first
was named Adah, and the second was Zillah.
20
Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the first of
those who raise livestock and live in tents. 21 His
17
4:1a Or the man; also in 4:25. 4:1b Or I have acquired. Cain sounds
like a Hebrew term that can mean “produce” or “acquire.” 4:8 As
in Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek and Syriac versions, and Latin
Vulgate; Masoretic Text lacks “Let’s go out into the fields.” 4:13 Or
My sin. 4:16 Nod means “wandering.” 4:18 Or the ancestor of,
and so throughout the verse.
