Genesis 4

1 Adam[a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[b] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[c] 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 Lordlooked 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.”[d] 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[e]; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeanceseven 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,[f] 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[g] 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,[h] 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[i] the name of the Lord.

Footnotes:

1. Genesis 4:1 Or The man
2. Genesis 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for brought forth or acquired.
3. Genesis 4:1 Or have acquired
4. Genesis 4:8 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text does not have “Let’s go out to the field.”
5. Genesis 4:15 Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew Very well
6. Genesis 4:16 Nod means wandering (see verses 12 and 14).
7. Genesis 4:22 Or who instructed all who work in
8. Genesis 4:25 Seth probably means granted.
9. Genesis 4:26 Or to proclaim

Observation Questions

What did Eve say after she gave birth to Cain? (verse 1)

Did Abel keep flocks? (verse 2)

Did Cain work the soil? (verse 2)

Where did the Lord look with favor? (verse 3-5)

What kind of portions did Abel bring? (verse 4)

Was Cain warned by God? (verse 7)

Who brought Abel into the field? (verse 8)

What did the Lord say to Cain after Cain had killed Abel? (verse 9)

Who said "Am I my brother's keeper?" (verse 9)

What cried out to God from the ground? (verse 10)

What was the curse that Cain was under? (verse 9-12)

When did the Lord put a mark on Cain? (verse 13-15)

What was the purpose of the mark? (verse 15)

Where did Cain when he went out from the Lord's presence? (verse 16)

Who did Cain name the city he was building after? (verse 17)

What is said about Lamech and his family? (verse 18-24)

Who is the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock? (verse 20)

Who was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes? (verse 21)

What did Eve say when she gave birth to Seth? (verse 25)

Who's name did people begin to call on? (verse 26)

Interpretation Questions

What does this chapter say about God?

What does this chapter say about us?

What is right to offer before the Lord? (verse 3-7)

Thoughts

 “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 

With the help of the Lord I have _______. 

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.
 If Cain is avenged seven times,
    then Lamech seventy-seven times.” - verse 23-24

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 

- Matthew 18:21-22

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.  - verse 15

 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 

 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." - Exodus 12:12-13