Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 4

75 Free Online Commentaries

Introduction

1  The birth, occupation, and offering of Cain and Abel.
8  Cain murders his brother Abel.
11  The curse of Cain.
17  Has a son called Enoch, and builds a city, which he calls after his name.
18  His descendants, with Lamech and his two wives.
25  The birth of Seth,
26  and Enos.
Verse 1

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
knew
Numbers 31:17
Cain
That is, gotten or acquired.
I have
25, 3:15, 5:29, 1 John 3:12
Verse 2

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Abel
Heb. Hebel. And Abel.
30:29-31, 37:13, 46:32-34, 47:3, Exodus 3:1, Psalms 78:70-72, Amos 7:15
a keeper
Heb. a feeder.
25,26, Psalms 127:3, John 8:44, 1 John 3:10,12,15
tiller
3:23, 9:20
Verse 3

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
A. M. 129. B.C. 3875. in process of time. Heb. at the end of days. Either at the end of the year, or of the week, i.e., on the Sabbath
1 Kings 17:7, Nehemiah 13:6
the fruit
Leviticus 2:1-11, Numbers 18:12
Verse 4

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
the firstlings
Exodus 13:12, Numbers 18:12,17, Proverbs 3:9, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:19,20, Revelation 13:8
flock
Heb. sheep, or, goats. fat.
Leviticus 3:16,17
had
15:17, Leviticus 9:24, Numbers 16:35, Judges 6:21, 1 Kings 18:24,38, 1 Chronicles 21:26, 2 Chronicles 7:1, Psalms 20:3; *marg:; Hebrews 11:4
Verse 5

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
But
Numbers 16:15, Hebrews 11:4
wroth
31:2,5, Job 5:2, Psalms 20:3, Isaiah 3:10,11, Matthew 20:15, Luke 15:28-30, Acts 13:45
Verse 6

And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
1 Chronicles 13:11-13, Job 5:2, Isaiah 1:18, Jeremiah 2:5,31, John 4:1-4,8-11, Micah 6:3-5, Matthew 20:15, Luke 15:31,32
Verse 7

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
If thou doest well
19:21, 2 Samuel 24:23, 2 Kings 8:28, Job 42:8, Proverbs 18:5, Ecclesiastes 8:12,13, Isaiah 3:10,11, Jeremiah 6:20, Malachi 1:8,10,13, Acts 10:35, Romans 2:7-10, 12:1, Romans 14:18, 15:16, Ephesians 1:6, 1 Timothy 5:4, 1 Peter 2:5
be accepted
or, have the excellency.
Job 29:4, Proverbs 21:27, Hebrews 11:4
sin
8-13, Romans 7:8,9, James 1:15
unto thee, or, subject unto thee
3:16; *marg:
Verse 8

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
talked
2 Samuel 3:27, 13:26-28, 20:9,10, Nehemiah 6:2, Psalms 36:3, 55:21, Proverbs 26:24-26, Micah 7:6, Luke 22:48
Cain rose
2 Samuel 14:6, Job 11:15, Psalms 24:3-6, 139:19, Matthew 23:35, Luke 11:51, 1 John 3:12-15, Jude 1:11
Verse 9

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
Where is
3:9-11, Psalms 9:12
I know
37:32, Job 22:13,14, Psalms 10:13,14, Proverbs 28:13, John 8:44, Acts 5:4-9
Verse 10

And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
What
3:13, Joshua 7:19, Psalms 50:21
blood
Heb. bloods. crieth.
18:20, Exodus 3:7, 2 Kings 9:26, Job 16:18, 24:12, 31:38,39, Psalms 9:12, 72:14, Isaiah 5:7, Acts 5:3,9, Hebrews 11:4, 12:24, James 5:4, Revelation 6:10
Verse 11

And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
14, 3:14, Deuteronomy 27:16-26, 28:15-20, 29:19-21, Galatians 3:10
opened
Job 16:18, 31:38-40, Isaiah 26:21, Revelation 12:16
Verse 12

When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
it
3:17,18, Leviticus 26:20, Deuteronomy 28:23,24, Romans 8:20
a fugitive
14, Leviticus 26:36, Deuteronomy 28:65,66, Psalms 109:10, Jeremiah 20:3,4, Hosea 9:17
Verse 13

And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Job 15:22, Revelation 16:9,11,21
Verse 14

Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
driven
Job 15:20-24, Proverbs 14:32, 28:1, Isaiah 8:22, Hosea 13:3
from thy
16, Job 21:14,15, Psalms 51:11-14, 143:7, Matthew 25:41,46, 2 Thessalonians 1:9
fugitive
Deuteronomy 28:65, Psalms 109:10, 12
that
15, 9:5,6, Leviticus 26:17,36, Numbers 17:12,13, 35:19,21,27, 2 Samuel 14:7, Job 15:20-24, Proverbs 28:1
Verse 15

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Therefore
1 Kings 16:7, Psalms 59:11, Hosea 1:4, Matthew 26:52
sevenfold
24, Leviticus 26:18,21,24,28, Psalms 79:12, Proverbs 6:31
set a mark, etc
Or, rather, "gave a sign or token to Cain, that those who found him should not kill him."
Ezekiel 9:4,6, Revelation 14:9,11
Verse 16

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
went
14, 3:8, Exodus 20:18, 2 Kings 13:23, 24:20, Job 1:12, 2:7, 20:17, Psalms 5:11, Psalms 68:2, Jeremiah 23:39, 52:3, John 1:3,10, Matthew 18:20, Luke 13:26, 1 Thessalonians 1:9
Nod
So called from nad, "a vagabond," which Cain is termed in ver. 12.
Verse 17

And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
Enoch
5:18,22
and he
11:4, Ecclesiastes 2:4-11, Daniel 4:30, Luke 17:28,29
the name
2 Samuel 18:18, Psalms 49:11
Verse 18

And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
A. M. cir. 194. B.C. cir. 3810. Lamech
5:21, 36:2
Verse 19

And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
two wives
2:18,24, Matthew 19:4-6,8
Verse 20

And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
the
21, 1 Chronicles 2:50-52, 4:4,5, John 8:44, Romans 4:11,12
father
The inventor or teacher, 1 Sa 10:12.
dwell
2, 25:27, Jeremiah 35:9,10, Hebrews 11:9
Verse 21

And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
A. M. cir. 500. B.C. cir. 3504. father
Romans 4:11,12
the harp
31:27, Job 21:12, Isaiah 5:12, Amos 6:5
Verse 22

And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
instructer
Heb. whetter. brass.
Exodus 25:3, Numbers 31:22, Deuteronomy 8:9, 33:25, 2 Chronicles 2:7
Verse 23

And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
hear
Numbers 23:18, Judges 9:7; I have slain a man to my wounding. or, I would slay a man in my wound, etc.; 49:6
to my hurt
or, in my hurt.
Verse 24

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
if
seventy
Matthew 18:22
Verse 25

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
A. M. 130. B.C. 3874. and called
5:3,4, 1 Chronicles 1:1, Luke 3:38
Seth
Heb. Sheth; i.e., appointed, or put. God.
1-3,8,10,11
Verse 26

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
A. M. 235. B.C. 3769. To him
Enos
Heb. Enosh. to call upon the name of the Lord. or, call themselves by the name of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 26:17,18, 1 Kings 18:24, Psalms 116:17, Isaiah 44:5, 48:1, 63:19, Jeremiah 33:16, Joel 2:32, Zephaniah 3:9, Acts 2:21, 11:26, Romans 10:13, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 3:14,15

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