Cain and Abel

Genesis 4

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten 1 a man with the help of the Lord." 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of u the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of v the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord w had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but x for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 y If you do well, will you not be accepted? 2 And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. z Its desire is for 3 you, but you must rule over it."

8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. 4 And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and a killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, b "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" 10 And the Lord said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood c is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now d you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." 13 Cain said to the Lord, "My e punishment is greater than I can bear. 5 14 Behold, f you have driven me today away from the ground, and g from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, h and whoever finds me will kill me." 15 Then the Lord said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him i sevenfold." And the Lord j put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, 6 east of Eden.

17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives:
"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
 24 k If Cain's revenge is sevenfold,
then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold."

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed 7 for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him." 26 To l Seth also a son was born, and he called his name m Enosh. At that time people began n to call upon the name of the Lord.

  1. Cross References
    Leviticus 2:12
    As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to the Lord, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma.
    Numbers 18:12
    All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the firstfruits of what they give to the Lord, I give to you.
  2. Cross References
    Exodus 13:12
    You shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord 's.
    Numbers 18:17
    But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall burn their fat as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
    Proverbs 3:9
    Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.
  3. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:4
    By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
  4. Cross References
    Proverbs 21:27
    The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
  5. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 8:12 - 13
    Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.
    Isaiah 3:10 - 11
    Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
    Romans 2:6 - 11
    He will render to each one according to his works:
  6. Cross References
    Genesis 3:16
    To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.
  7. Cross References
    Matthew 23:35
    So that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
    Hebrews 12:24
    And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
    1 John 3:12
    We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.
    Jude 1:11
    Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.
  8. Cross References
    John 8:44
    You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
  9. Cross References
    Hebrews 12:24
    And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
    Revelation 6:10
    They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?
  10. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 27:24
    "'Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
    Numbers 35:33
    You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 19:15
    As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.
  12. Cross References
    Job 15:20 - 24
    The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.
  13. Cross References
    2 Kings 24:20
    For because of the anger of the Lord it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
    Psalms 51:11
    Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
    Psalms 143:7
    Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
    Jeremiah 52:3
    For because of the anger of the Lord things came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
  14. Cross References
    Genesis 9:6
    Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
    Numbers 35:19
    The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 79:12
    Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
  16. Cross References
    Ezekiel 9:4
    And the Lord said to him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.
    Ezekiel 9:6
    Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the house.
    Revelation 14:9
    And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand.
    Revelation 14:11
    And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.
  17. Cross References
    Genesis 4:15
    Then the Lord said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
  18. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 1:1
    Adam, Seth, Enosh.
    Luke 3:38
    The son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 5:6
    When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 116:17
    I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.
    Zephaniah 3:9
    For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.
    Zechariah 13:9
    And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The Lord is my God.'
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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