The First Book of Moses: Genesis

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 4 -

(Hebrews 11:4)

And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain.(a) “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.

Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.

So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,

while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.

“Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen?

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you,(b) but you must master it.”

Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” (c) And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.

Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment

(d)

is greater than I can bear.

Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

“Not so!”(e) replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.

So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod,(f) east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

And Cain had relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch.

Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methusael, and Methusael was the father of Lamech.

And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.

Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.

And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.

And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

Then Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. For I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.

If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”(g)

Seth and Enosh

And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,(h) saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to call upon

(i)

the name of the LORD.

Footnotes

(a)4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for acquired or brought forth.

(b)4:7 Or it desires to control you

(d)4:13 Or guilt or sin

(e)4:15 LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac; Hebrew “Very well!” or “Therefore:”

(f)4:16 Nod means wandering.

(g)4:24 Hebrew; LXX can be translated as either seventy times seven or seventy-sevenfold; see also Matthew 18:22.

(h)4:25 Seth probably means granted or appointed.

(i)4:26 Or to proclaim; some translators to invoke or to call themselves by or to profane

(Hebrews 11:4)

The man knew

(a)

Eve his wife. She conceived,(b) and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with the LORD’s help.”

Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

As time passed, Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground.

Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. The LORD respected Abel and his offering,

but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.

The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?

If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”

Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.

The LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

The LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.

Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”

Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. Whoever finds me will kill me.”

The LORD said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” The LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.

Cain left the LORD’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

Irad was born to Enoch. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.

Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah.

Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.

His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah.

Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me.

If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”

Seth and Enosh

Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”

A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the LORD’s name.

Footnotes

(a)4:1 or, lay with, or, had relations with

(b)4:1 or, became pregnant