1The birth, occupation, and religious behaviour of Cain and Abel. 8The murder of Abel, and the indictment, and curse of Cain for it. 17Enoch born; the first city built; the generations of Cain. 19Lamech and his two wives. 25The birth of Seth and Enos.
1AND Adam 1knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare 2Cain, and said, I have gottena a 3man 4from the LORD.
1 Understand hereby the communion that is between man and wife, for the propagating of children, see verses 17, 25. Likewise Gen. 19:8; 24:16. 1 Sam. 1:19; Mat. 1:25.
2 Hebr. Kajin: that is, gotten.
a got, obtained*
3 That is, a son.
4 The Hebrew particle eth, is sometimes taken for meëth, that is, of, or from, out of; whereof see Jer. 51 on verse 59. Other, with the Lord, that is, through the grace and help of the LORD. Other, the Lord, as if Eve had supposed she had gotten the promised Messiah now.
2And she again bare his brother Abel. And 5Abel was a 6keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
5 Hebr. Hebel.
6 Hebr. a shepherd of small cattle, such as sheep and goats. For, the Hebrew word signifies both alike. Also verse 4; Gen. 13:5; 26:14, etc.
3And 7in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an 8offering unto the LORD.
7 Hebr. from the end of days, that is, after some time of days. The word days taken by itself is sometimes in Holy Writ to signify some days, as Gen. 24:55; 40:4; Judges 14:8; Mark 2:1.
8 Hebr. mincha, that is, a gift, present, or meat offering. See Lev. 2 on verse 1.
4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlingsb of his flock and of 9the fat thereof. Andc the LORD 10had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
b first offspring*
9 Hebr. their fatnesses. Understand hereby, that Abel offered not only the fat, but also the very best of his flock, and (as it seems) a good number of them. Fat, means often the best in the Holy Scripture, as Num. 18:12, etc.
c Heb. 11:4.
10 That is, the person and offering of Abel was acceptable to God because of his faith, looking on the offering of the promised Messiah. See Heb. 11:4.
511But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain 12was very wroth, and 13his countenance fell.
11 This the apostle explains in Heb. 11:4, speaking of the testimony which God gave over Abel’s gifts, whether it was by words or by fire from heaven, or by any other sign. Compare Lev. 9:24; Judges 6:21; 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Chron. 21:26; 2 Chron. 7:1.
12 Hebr. And (it) incensed Cain, namely, wrathfulness; and so in the next verse. See the like manner of speaking the word anger being added to it, Gen. 39:19; Exod. 32:10, 11.
13 That is, the aspect and favor of his countenance changed.
6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be 14accepted? and if thou doest not well, 15sin 16lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be 17his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
14 That is, shalt not thou (as the firstborn) remain exalted and lifted up above thy brother? Other, shouldst not thou lift up thy head or countenance freely?, instead of being cast down or dejected now in this manner. Some have accepting, acceptableness, or forgiving, according to the various signification of the Hebrew word.
15 That is, the punishment of sin; also Gen. 19:15; Lev. 5:1; Num. 18:1. See the annotation on verse 13.
16 That is, very near, and ready at hand, so that there can be no doubt of its arrival. Compare Mat. 24:33; James 5:9.
17 This is to be understood of Abel, Cain’s brother; as if God said: But as for thy brother, thou hast no reason to be incensed against him, he being well affected to thee, and content that thou shalt be preferred before him as the firstborn. Compare Gen. 3:16.
8And 18Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, andd slew him.
18 That, namely, (as some perceive) by a pleasing look and friendly words, he might allure him forth into the field alone, his heart harboring the while nothing but hate and murder against him. Hebr. said to his brother, namely, as some understand it, that which passed between God and him, so that it would be a discourse which is broken off.
d Mat. 23:35; 1 John 3:12; Jude verse 11.
9¶And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, 19I know not: 20Am I my brother's keeper?
19 An impudent lie.
20 A presumptuous arrogance.
10And 21he said, What hast thou done? thee voice of thy brother’s 22blood 23crieth unto me from the ground.
21 Namely, the Lord.
e Heb. 12:24.
22 Hebr. bloods, in the plural. So the Scripture speaks of murder and manslaughter, because of the abundance of blood that is shed thereby.
23 Hebr. which are crying, in the plural. Murder is one of those sins that cry for vengeance; whereof see likewise Gen. 18:20; 19:13.
11And now art thou cursed 24from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
24 Or, by reason of. See Gen. 5:29. As if He would say: The earth, which was created for thy blessing and service, shall execute this curse against thee in vengeance, not yielding thee the fruits, which otherwise it would have done, as is expressed verse 12.
12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth 25yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabondf26shalt thoug be in the earth.
25 Hebr. it shall not go on to give thee its ability.
f fugitive, wandering*
26 On account of a two-fold uneasiness: one bodily, he being to wander from one country to another; the other spiritual, his conscience, which ever followed him, not suffering him to enjoy any rest, but keeping him in perpetual fear of vengeance.
g Prov. 28:17.
13And Cain said unto the LORD, 27My punishment is greater than I can bear.
27 Or, misdeed or iniquity; these words are taken by many for the punishment thereof; see Lev. 5 on verse 1, and in this sense the text should be read thus: My punishment is greater than I can bear, where Cain is represented as complaining, verse 14.
14Behold, 28thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the 29earth; and from thy face shall 30I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and ith shall come to pass, that 31every one that findeth me shall slay me.
28 Namely, by Thy sentence, which is as firm and sure as if it were executed already.
29 Hebr. from the face of the ground.
30 This can be understood of Cain’s banishment from God’s grace and favor, and together from the communion of His church and people.
h Job 15:20, 21, etc.
31 Other, all what finds me.
15And the LORD said unto him, 32Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him 33sevenfold. And the LORD set a 34mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
32 That is, in order that Cain, wandering a long time from country to country, might be an example to others to beware of shedding blood, and have the more time for repentance, seeing that hitherto he was only troubled at the punishment.
33 That is, a manifold one; according to the usual expression of Holy Writ, Psalm 12:6; 79:12.
34 What kind of mark it was is unknown, but it made him known who he was and what he had done, and that none should adventure to kill him.
16¶And Cain went out 35from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of 36Nod, on the east of Eden.
35 See verse 14.
36 This land is so called in regard of the punishment God laid upon Cain, verse 12, for the Hebrew word used both here and there, signifies, to wander about.
17And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare 37Enoch: and 38he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
37 Hebr. Chanoch.
38 Hebr. he was building, that is, he busied himself with building a city for his security, his conscience still terrifying him. The pious patriarchs dwelt for the most part in tents, not in cities, Heb. 11:9, 10.
18And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
19¶And 39Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
39 This Lamech is the first man recorded to have had two wives at the same time, directly against God’s ordinance, Gen. 2:24; Mal. 2:15.
20And Adah bare Jabal: he was the 40father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have 41cattle.
40 That is, he was the first inventor of making and using of tents, for the tending and keeping of cattle, as the following word seems to imply.
41 The Hebrew word signifies cattle, and also possession, goods and property.
21And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the 42harp and organ.
42 Or, cither, Hebr. him who handles the harp and organ, that is, such as are conversant about the same. What manner of musical instruments they had in those days is uncertain. The words are rendered here according to the opinion most current among the learned.
22And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an 43instructer of every artificeri in 44brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
43 The Hebrew word does really signify a grinder, one who sharpens, and so by comparison an instructor, or teacher.
i skilled craftsman, inventor*
44 Hebr. of the brass and iron.
23And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: 45for I have slain a man to 46my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
45 Lamech seems with this presumptuous boasting and bragging to have regard to some of those arts invented by his sons, as being better able now by that means to avenge himself, or injure his neighbor than any other.
46 That is, if any would but offer to wound me, or to strike me sore, I would both well dare, and be as able to kill him outright.
24If 47Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,j truly Lamech 48seventy and sevenfold.
47 See the annotation on verse 15.
j verse 15.
48 Christ uses this same kind of speaking, Mat. 18:22.
25¶And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and 49called his name 50Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another 51seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
49 Namely, with the consent of her husband, as appears in Gen. 5:3, where this giving of the name is attributed to Adam.
50 Hebr. Scheth, that is, setting.
51 That is, has given me another son. Also Gen. 21:13; 38:8; Mat. 22:24, 25.
26And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: 52then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
52 The manner of speaking used in the Hebrew text here, is taken in several places for the calling upon the Name of the Lord, as 1 Kings 18:24, 25, 26; 2 Kings 5:11; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13. So it is taken here likewise, comprehending nevertheless thereby, as appears by some other places, as Gen. 12:8; 26:25, the exercise of the whole worship of God, so that the sense here is, that they began to settle and establish the Worship of God more openly, more solemnly and frequently; the same having formerly for a time been much corrupted and falsified by Cain and his progeny. Other, Then men began to call after the name of the LORD, that is, then begun the true children of God to separate themselves from the rest, and called themselves the people or children of God. This same kind of speaking does likewise elsewhere signify, to proclaim the LORD by name, as Exod. 33:19; 34:5.