Am I my brother's keeper?
Genesis 4:1 - 9
ESV - 1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten 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.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The phrase "my brother's keeper" occurs in the context of the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:1-9. After the Lord God had expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden for their disobedience, C...
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Tony Flores
Supporter
Yes, we are our bother's keeper according to Jesus. Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments as 'love God above all' and 'love thy neighbor as thy self.' Your neighbor is your brother.
Brian Ansell
Supporter
A Christian first loves himself then he can love his neighbor as himself and of course my brother is my neighbor. So unless I am to keep my neighbors I cannot be expected to keep may brothers. But I do need to love them all as I love myself.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
No, we are not responsible for our brother when he is not with us. But when he is, we are. Cain's answer to God, in the form of a question, is what I believe, to be mocking God. He was in my opinion "making a statement" showing his insensitive indifference, which is all too common through the whole course of human history. The rejection of the family bond is the negation of love; it is the spirit of murder; cf. 1 John 3:12; 1 John 3:15. Compare also Psalm 10.
Philip Davies
Supporter
The word "keeper" is found just a few verses earlier when Abel is described as "a keeper of sheep". In other words he looked after them and was responsible for them. This is the context of Cain's reply to God when he was asked where his brother was. "Am I responsible for him?" This is a rhetorical question, taking for granted the answer, "no you're not". But Cain is being deceitful by implying he doesn't know where he is. But of course he does. With all that in the background we can now answer the question. Am I my brother's keeper? Meaning am "I responsible for his whereabouts?". The answer is no. We are each responsible for our own actions for we are not like dumb animals. Cain is not wrong in implying that he doesn't follow Abel around as Abel follows his sheep. But he is deceitful in implying that he has no idea where he is.
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