1
Now the man had relations with Eve his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a man-child with the help of the LORD.”
2
Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of flocks, but Cain became a tiller of the ground.
3
So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.
4
Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering;
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but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
6
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
7
If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
8
Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
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Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10
He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.
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Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12
When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.”
13
Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is too great to bear!
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Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15
So the LORD said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.
16
Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17
Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and Cain built a city, and named the city Enoch, after the name of his son.
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Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael became the father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech.
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Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.
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Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
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His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
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As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
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Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice,
You wives of Lamech, give heed to my speech,
For I have killed a man for wounding me;
a boy for striking me;
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If Cain is avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
25
Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.”
26
To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD.
🔪 Summary of Genesis 4
Genesis 4 records the story of the children of Adam and Eve, namely Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer, and Abel was a shepherd. Both brought offerings to God, but God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s offering, because Cain’s heart and attitude were not right.
Cain became angry and killed Abel, his own brother. The LORD punished Cain by making him a fugitive and a wanderer, yet He still gave him a mark to protect him from being killed by others.
After that, Cain built a city. The chapter also mentions Cain’s descendants and the rise of various skills such as music, livestock keeping, and metalworking. The chapter ends with the birth of Seth, another son of Adam and Eve, who became the godly line.
📖 Main Lessons
- Worship must come from a right heart – God looks at the attitude of the heart, not only the outward offering.
- Jealousy and envy can lead to destruction – Cain allowed anger to control him.
- God gives warning before someone falls into sin – The LORD rebuked Cain before he killed.
- The LORD is just but also full of mercy – Cain was punished but also protected.
- Sin grows quickly if it is not controlled – Lamech, a descendant of Cain, even boasted of violence.
✨ Spiritual Meaning
- Sin is not only personal, but also damages social and family relationships.
- A wrong heart cannot be covered by outward offerings.
- God pays attention to motives, not only actions.
- God’s grace remains even in the midst of judgment.
