Cain

Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, murdered his brother Abel and was cursed by God to be a wanderer.

The name Cain means “possession, or possessed”

MaleEarly PatriarchOld & New Testaments4 books21 verses

Summary

A man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Genesis 4:1; referred to as Cain (קַ֫יִן) or Cain (Κάϊν); son of Adam and Eve; a brother of Abel and Seth; father of Enoch.

Events

Dates are approximate

Glossary entries

Cain (Person)

Family members

Father

Adam

Mother

Eve

Siblings

Abel Seth

Children

Enoch

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 5 verses that refer to Cain without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.
  2. Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.
  3. So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,
  4. …but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
  5. “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen?
  6. Genesis 4:7Referred to, not named
    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, but you must master it.”
  7. Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
  8. And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
  9. Genesis 4:10Referred to, not named
    “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
  10. Genesis 4:11Referred to, not named
    Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
  11. Genesis 4:12Referred to, not named
    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.”
  12. But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
  13. Genesis 4:14Referred to, not named
    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.”
  14. “Not so!” 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.
  15. So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
  16. 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.
  17. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
  18. And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”
  19. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
  20. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
  21. Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed for profit into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.