Genesis 4:1-9

Cain and Abel

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?"

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.