GEN 4:15 Parallel View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. This view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on the version abbreviation to see the verse in more of its context.

OET (OET-RV) “Very well,”, replied Yahweh and declared, “If anyone kills Kayin, then that person will receive a seven times greater sentence.” Then Yahweh marked Kayin so that no one who found him would kill him,

Key: yellow:verbs, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Then Yahweh said to him, “For that reason, anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over!” Then Yahweh put a mark on Cain so that everyone who found him would not strike him.

UST Yahweh replied to him, “So then, I will warn everyone that I will take vengeance on whoever kills you and punish him seven times more severely than I am punishing you!” Then he put a mark on Cain to warn everyone who met him not to kill him.

BSB § “Not so!”[fn] 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.

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

OEB But the Lord said to him, ‘If any one kills you, the crime shall be avenged sevenfold.’ So the Lord placed a distinctive mark on Cain, to keep any one who found him from killing him.

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

WMB 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.

NET But the Lord said to him, “All right then, if anyone kills Cain, Cain will be avenged seven times as much.” Then the Lord put a special mark on Cain so that no one who found him would strike him down.

LSV And YHWH says to him, “Therefore, of any slayer of Cain it is required sevenfold”; and YHWH sets to Cain a token that none finding him will slay him.

FBV But the Lord replied, “No, Cain. Anyone who kills you will be punished seven times over.” The Lord placed a mark on Cain so that no one who came across him would kill him.

T4T But Yahweh said to him, “No, that will not happen. I will put a mark on you to warn anyone who sees you that I will punish him severely if he kills you. I will punish that person seven times as severely as I am punishing you.” Then Yahweh put a mark on Cain’s forehead.

LEB Then[fn] Yahweh said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” Then[fn] Yahweh put a sign on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him.

?:? Or “And”

BBE And the Lord said, Truly, if Cain is put to death, seven lives will be taken for his. And the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one might put him to death.

MOF No MOF GEN book available

JPS And the LORD said unto him: 'Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD set a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.

ASV And Jehovah said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Jehovah appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.

DRA And the Lord said to him: No, it shall not be so: but whosoever shall kill Cain, shall be punished sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, that whosoever found him should not kill him.

YLT And Jehovah saith to him, 'Therefore — of any slayer of Cain sevenfold it is required;' and Jehovah setteth to Cain a token that none finding him doth slay him.

DBY And Jehovah said to him, Therefore, whoever slayeth Cain, it shall be revenged sevenfold. And Jehovah set a mark on Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.

RV And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.

WBS And the LORD said to him, Therefore whoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven-fold. And the lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

KJB 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.

BB And the Lorde said vnto him: Uerely whosoeuer slayeth Cain, he shalbe punished seuen folde. And the Lorde set a marke vpon Cain, lest any man fyndyng hym shoulde kyll hym.
(And the Lord said unto him: Uerely whosoever slayeth Cain, he shall be punished seven folde. And the Lord set a marke upon Cain, lest any man fyndyng him should kyll him.)

GNV Then the Lord said vnto him, Doubtlesse whosoeuer slayeth Kain, he shalbe punished seue folde. And the Lord set a marke vpon Kain, lest any man finding him should kill him.
(Then the Lord said unto him, Doubtlesse whosoever slayeth Kain, he shall be punished seven folde. And the Lord set a marke upon Kain, lest any man finding him should kill him. )

CB But the LORDE sayde thus vnto him: Who so euer slayeth Cain, it shalbe auenged seuenfolde. And the LORDE put a marck vpon Cain, that no man which founde him, shulde kyll him.
(But the LORD said thus unto him: Who so ever slayeth Cain, it shall be auenged seuenfolde. And the LORD put a marck upon Cain, that no man which found him, should kyll him.)

WYC And the Lord seide to hym, It schal not be don so, but ech man that schal slee Cayn shal be punyschid seuenfold. And the Lord settide a signe in Cayn, that ech man that schulde fynde hym schulde not slee hym.
(And the Lord said to him, It shall not be done so, but each man that shall slee Cayn shall be punyschid seuenfold. And the Lord settide a sign in Cayn, that each man that should find him should not slee him.)

LUT Aber der HErr sprach zu ihm: Nein, sondern wer Kain totschlägt, das soll siebenfältig gerochen werden. Und der HErr machte ein Zeichen an Kain, daß ihn niemand erschlüge, wer ihn fände.
(But the LORD spoke to ihm: Nein, rather wer Kain totschlägt, the should siebenfältig gerochen become. And the LORD made a sign at Kain, that him/it niemand erschlüge, wer him/it fände.)

CLV Dixitque ei Dominus: Nequaquam ita fiet: sed omnis qui occiderit Cain, septuplum punietur. Posuitque Dominus Cain signum, ut non interficeret eum omnis qui invenisset eum.[fn]
(And_he_said to_him Master: Nequaquam ita fiet: but everyone who occiderit Cain, septuplum punietur. Posuitque Master Cain signum, as not/no interficeret him everyone who invenisset him.)

4.15 Nequaquam ita fiet. Id est, non morieris cito sicut tu vis, pro remedio tui cruciatus, sed punietur impersonaliter: id est, punitio fiet de te septuplum, quia vives in cruciatu usque ad septimam generationem, in qua a Lamech occideris; ergo omnis qui occiderit, subaudi, liberabit te ab illo cruciatu malæ conscientiæ. Hic sensus evidentius patet. Secundum 70. Omnis qui occiderit Cain septem vindictas exsolvet, id est, quicunque te in septima generatione occiderit, exsolvet te a cruciatu per mortem, qui usque ad tempus illud reservandus es in vita, tantum ad pœnam, quæ pœna cito finiretur, si cito interfectus esses. Ita qui Judæos visibili morte puniret, septem vindictas ab eis auferret, quibus obligati sunt propter reatum occisi Christi, quia miserias et dispersiones eorum leviaret quas patiuntur. Omnis qui occiderit Cain, etc. LXX: Septem vindictas exsolvet. Aquila, septempliciter; Symmachus, septuplum; Theodotion, per hebdomadem interpretantur, in quo significatur quia diu et perfecte punietur, ne quis homicidium audeat iterare. Qui occiderit Cain, etc. HIERON., epist. ad Damas. Si quis te interfecerit septuplum punietur, id est, gravissima ultione punietur: non debuit homo occidere eum cui Deus reservavit vitam, vel ad pœnam ipsius, vel ad correctionem aliorum. Sed omnis qui occiderit Cain. ISID., ubi supra. Per eclipsim legendum, etc., usque ad et impletur illud: Disperge illos in virtute tua Psal. 53. HIER., ubi supra. Quod Aquila posuit septempliciter, etc., usque ad et absolvi mereretur. Posuitque Dominus Cain signum, etc. ISID., Quæst. in Gen., tom. 5 Cum omnes gentes a Romanis subjugatæ transierunt in ritus eorum, gens Judæa, sive sub gentibus sive sub Christianis regibus, non reliquit signum circumcisionis, et carnalis observantiæ, etc., usque ad ubi plantatus est paradisus. Habitavit in terra ad orientalem plagam Eden. HIER., ubi supra. LXX: Habitavit in terra Naid, in Hebræo nod dicitur, id est, instabilis et fluctuans, et incertæ sedis. Non est terra Naid, ut vulgus nostrum putat, sed expletur sententia Domini, dum huc atque illuc profugus aberrat.

4.15 Nequaquam ita fiet. Id it_is, not/no morieris cito sicut tu vis, pro remedio yours cruciatus, but punietur impersonaliter: id it_is, punitio fiet about you(sg) septuplum, because vives in cruciatu usque to septimam generationem, in which a Lamech occideris; ergo everyone who occiderit, subaudi, liberabit you(sg) away illo cruciatu malæ conscientiæ. Hic sensus evidentius patet. Secundum 70. Omnis who occiderit Cain seven vindictas exsolvet, id it_is, quicunque you(sg) in septima generatione occiderit, exsolvet you(sg) a cruciatu per mortem, who usque to tempus illud reservandus you_are in vita, tantum to pœnam, which pœna cito finiretur, when/but_if cito interfectus esses. Ita who Yudæos visibili morte puniret, seven vindictas away eis auferret, to_whom obligati are propter reatum occisi Christi, because miserias and dispersiones eorum leviaret quas patiuntur. Omnis who occiderit Cain, etc. LXX: Septem vindictas exsolvet. Aquila, septempliciter; Symmachus, septuplum; Theodotion, per hebdomadem interpretantur, in quo significatur because diu and perfecte punietur, ne who/any homicidium audeat iterare. Who occiderit Cain, etc. HIERON., epist. to Damas. When/But_if who/any you(sg) interfecerit septuplum punietur, id it_is, gravissima ultione punietur: not/no debuit human occidere him cui God reservavit vitam, or to pœnam ipsius, or to correctionem aliorum. Sed everyone who occiderit Cain. ISID., ubi supra. Per eclipsim legendum, etc., usque to and impletur illud: Disperge those in virtute tua Psal. 53. HIER., ubi supra. That Aquila posuit septempliciter, etc., usque to and absolvi mereretur. Posuitque Master Cain signum, etc. ISID., Quæst. in Gen., tom. 5 Since everyone gentes a Romanis subyugatæ transierunt in ritus eorum, gens Yudæa, if/or sub gentibus if/or sub Christianis regibus, not/no reliquit signum circumcisionis, and carnalis observantiæ, etc., usque to ubi plantatus it_is paradisus. Habitavit in earth/land to orientalem plagam Eden. HIER., ubi supra. LXX: Habitavit in earth/land Naid, in Hebræo nod dicitur, id it_is, instabilis and fluctuans, and incertæ sedis. Non it_is earth/land Naid, as vulgus nostrum putat, but expletur sententia Domini, dum huc atque illuc profugus aberrat.

BRN And the Lord God said to him, Not so, any one that slays Cain shall [fn]suffer seven-fold vengeance; and the Lord God set a mark upon Cain that no one that found him might slay him.

4:15 Gr. pay seven penalties.

BrLXX Καὶ εἴπεν αὐτῷ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς, οὐχ οὕτω· πᾶς ὁ ἀποκτείνας Κάϊν, ἑπτὰ ἐκδικούμενα παραλύσει. Καὶ ἔθετο Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς σημεῖον τῷ Κάϊν, τοῦ μὴ ἀνελεῖν αὐτὸν πάντα τὸν εὑρίσκοντα αὐτόν.
(Kai eipen autōi Kurios ho Theos, ouⱪ houtō; pas ho apokteinas Kain, hepta ekdikoumena paralusei. Kai etheto Kurios ho Theos saʸmeion tōi Kain, tou maʸ anelein auton panta ton heuriskonta auton. )

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

וַ⁠יֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣⁠וֹ יְהוָ֗ה

and=he/it_said to=him/it YHWH

Alternate translation: “So Yahweh said to him” or “Yahweh said to Cain,”

Note 2 topic: translate-textvariants

לָ⁠כֵן֙

for=so/thus/hence

That is what the Hebrew text has. Instead of that text, some ancient translations (such as the Septuagint) and many modern translations have: “Not so/true.” or “That will not happen because”. The textual variant that you do not use in your translation could be put in a footnote. Alternate translation: “In that case,”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

כָּל הֹרֵ֣ג קַ֔יִן & יֻקָּ֑ם

all/each/any/every killing_of Qayin/(Cain) & he/it_will_be_avenged/punished

What God says here implies that he will do something to prevent people from killing Cain; he is not just talking about punishing them if they kill him. If necessary, you could make that explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “I will warn everyone that if anyone kills you, I will take revenge on him for you” or “I will make it clear to everyone that I will take revenge on anyone who kills you”

וַ⁠יָּ֨שֶׂם יְהוָ֤ה לְ⁠קַ֨יִן֙ א֔וֹת

and=he/it_assigned YHWH to/for=Qayin/(Cain) sign/signal/evidence

We do not know exactly how Yahweh marked Cain, so keep your translation of this clause general (like the Hebrew text is). Alternate translation: “Then he put a special symbol on Cain” or “Then he marked Cain with a special mark”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

לְ⁠בִלְתִּ֥י הַכּוֹת אֹת֖⁠וֹ כָּל מֹצְאֽ⁠וֹ

to=not to_strike/beat DOM=him/it all/each/any/every finding=him/it

The phrase strike him is used here as an idiom that means “kill him”. Do what is best in your language. Alternate translation: “so that anyone who saw him would not kill him.” or “to warn everyone who saw him not to kill him.”

Parallel GEN 4:15