Genesis 4 (NIV)

Cain and Abel

1. Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.”
2. Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.
3. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.
4. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
5. but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
7. If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
8. Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10. The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.
11. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
13. Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear.
14. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15. But the LORD said to him, “Not so ; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.
16. So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17. Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.
18. To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
19. Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
20. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.
21. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes.
22. Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.
23. Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.
24. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”
25. Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”
26. Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.

Genesis 4 recounts the story of Cain and Abel, the first children of Adam and Eve, and explores themes of jealousy, sin, and God’s justice and mercy.

1. Cain and Abel: Adam and Eve have two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain becomes a farmer, working the ground, while Abel becomes a shepherd.
2. The Offerings: Both brothers bring offerings to the Lord. Cain offers some of the fruits of the soil, while Abel offers the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. God looks with favor on Abel’s offering but not on Cain’s, which makes Cain angry and dejected.
3. God’s Warning: God warns Cain that sin is crouching at his door and urges him to master it, reminding him that he has the choice to do what is right.
4. Cain Murders Abel: Ignoring God’s warning, Cain lures Abel into the field and kills him out of jealousy and anger.
5. God Confronts Cain: God asks Cain where Abel is, to which Cain replies, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” God reveals He knows about the murder and pronounces a curse on Cain. The ground will no longer yield crops for him, and he will be a restless wanderer on the earth.
6. God’s Mercy: Despite the punishment, God shows mercy by placing a mark on Cain to protect him from being killed by others, declaring that anyone who harms Cain will suffer sevenfold vengeance.
7. Cain’s Descendants: Cain settles in the land of Nod, east of Eden, and his lineage is described. His descendants include builders of cities, musicians, and metalworkers, illustrating the growth of human civilization.
8. The Line of Seth: Adam and Eve have another son, Seth, through whom humanity continues to call on the name of the Lord. Seth’s lineage leads to the preservation of faith in God.

Genesis 4 highlights the consequences of sin, the value of sincere worship, and God’s justice tempered with mercy. It sets the stage for the ongoing struggle between sin and righteousness in humanity.

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