UST GEN Chapter 4

Cain Kills Abel — the First Murder

4:1-16

4 Then Adam had marital relations with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son they named Cain, which means “obtained.” They named him that because she said, “Yahweh has enabled me to obtain a son!” 2 Then Eve also gave birth to Cain’s brother whom they named Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, and Cain became a crop farmer. 3 As time went by, one day Cain gave some of the crops that he had grown in his fields to Yahweh as a gift to honor him. 4 Abel also gave a gift to Yahweh, but what he gave was some of the firstborn animals from his flocks, including some of their best parts. Yahweh was pleased with Abel and his gift. 5 However, he was not pleased with Cain or his gift. So Cain became extremely angry, and he frowned. 6 Then Yahweh asked him, “Why are you so angry? And why are you frowning? 7 If you do what is right, I will accept you and your offering. But if you do not do what is right, then sin is like a fierce animal that is waiting outside your door to attack you. It wants to control you, but you must control it so that you do not sin.”

8 But after that, Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field to work together.” So they went out to the field, and while they were there, Cain attacked his brother and murdered him.

9 Later Yahweh asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” Cain responded, “I don’t know where he is. Is it my job to take care of my brother?” 10 Then Yahweh said to him, “You have done a terrible thing! I see your brother’s blood on the ground, and I must punish you for killing him! 11 So from now on I am cursing you so that you will not be able to grow food from the ground, which is where your brother’s blood spilled out when you murdered him. 12 Whenever you try to farm the ground, it will no longer produce good crops for you. From now on, you will be an outcast who wanders around on the earth without a permanent home.”

13 Cain replied to Yahweh, “You are punishing me more severely than I can endure. 14 Look, you have now banished me from farming the ground, and I will be far away from you. I will be a homeless fugitive on the earth, so that whoever sees me will kill me!” 15 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. 16 Then Cain left Yahweh’s presence and lived in the region of Nod, which means “wandering,” which was east of the region of Eden.

Cain’s Descendants

4:17-24

17 Then Cain had marital relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son they named Enoch. At that time Cain was building a city, so he named the city after his son Enoch. 18 When Enoch grew up, he had a son named Irad. Then Irad had a son named Mehujael. Then Mehujael had a son named Methushael. Then Methushael had a son named Lamech.

19 When Lamech grew up, he married two wives. His first wife’s name was Adah, and his other wife’s name was Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to a son named Jabal. He grew up and became the first of all those who live in tents and raise livestock for a living. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal. He became the first of all those who play harps and flutes.

22 Lamech’s other wife Zillah also gave birth to a son named Tubal Cain. He was the first of all those who make all kinds of tools and other things out of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain had a sister whose name was Naamah.

23 One day, Lamech bragged to his two wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to what I have to say.

My wives, listen to this:

I killed a young man for wounding me!

In fact, I killed that man just because he bruised me.

24 God will avenge Cain seven times,

but I, Lamech avenge myself 77 times!”

People Start to Worship God Using His Name Yahweh

4:25-26

25 Then Adam had marital relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son, and she named him Seth, which means “given.” She named him that because when he was born, she had said, “God has given me another child to replace Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.

During that time people began to worship God by using His name Yahweh.