Genesis 4: Cain, Abel and Seth
Sin spreads from murder to vengeance, but God gives another seed, Seth, and men call on the LORD.
Where Genesis 4 sits
- In the story
- Act II, Fall: Genesis 3–11
- In the Bible
- Old Testament · The Law · chapter 4 of 50 in Genesis
- In Genesis
- Heavens and earth: Eden lost, 2:4–4:26 · part of All humanity
- Before
- Genesis 3: The fall and the promise
- After
- Genesis 5: And then he died
Genesis 4 summary
The LORD accepts Abel and his offering but not Cain's, and warns Cain that sin crouches at his door. Cain kills Abel, is cursed to wander, yet is marked for protection, and goes out from the LORD's presence. His line builds a city and develops herding, music and metalwork, ending in Lamech's boast of vengeance; then Eve bears Seth, “another seed,” and worship of the LORD begins in his line.
Genesis 4 in context
- Speaking
- Moses, narrating; the LORD questions Cain, and Lamech sings his boast
- Written for
- Israel, called to worship by faith and to refuse the way of Cain
- Around it
- Follows the fall and the promise of 3:15; the genealogy of Adam through Seth follows (ch. 5)
How Genesis 4 points to Christ
Abel offered by faith a better sacrifice (Heb 11:4); his blood cried from the ground, but Jesus' blood speaks a better word (Heb 12:24)
The sections of Genesis 4
- Two offerings4:1–7
The LORD accepts Abel's offering but not Cain's, and warns the angry Cain that sin crouches at his door.
- Abel's blood cries out4:8–16
Cain kills Abel and denies responsibility; the LORD curses him to wander but marks him for protection.
- Cain's city and line4:17–24
Cain builds a city; his line develops herding, music and metalwork, and Lamech boasts of seventy-sevenfold vengeance.
- Another seed4:25–26
Eve bears Seth, “another seed in place of Abel,” and in the days of his son Enosh men begin to call upon the name of the LORD.
Read Genesis 4
Cain and Abel
1And 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.
2Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel.
Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil. 3So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD, 4while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock.
And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
6“Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? 7If 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.”
8Then 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.
9And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
13But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14Behold, 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.”
15“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.
16So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
The Descendants of Cain
17And 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.
18Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methusael, and Methusael was the father of Lamech. 19And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock. 21And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.
22And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23Then Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
wives of Lamech, listen to my speech.
For I have slain a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24If Cain is avenged sevenfold,
then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
Seth and Enosh
25And 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.”
26And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh.
At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible, 26 verses. The BSB is in the public domain.
Around Genesis 4
Also in Heavens and earth: Eden lost
Places
- Nod
Read alongside
- Genesis 3:9 “Where are you?” is echoed in “Where is your brother Abel?” (4:9).
- Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice.
- 1 John 3:12 Cain belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother.
- Matthew 23:35 From the blood of righteous Abel: the first martyr.
- Jude 1:11 The path of Cain.
Chapters that point here
- Matthew 18
How Genesis 4 connects
- The Seed Line · Genesis 4:8 · Cain “belonged to the evil one”: the serpent's seed against the woman's, as 3:15 foretold. (1 John 3:12)
- The Seed Line · Genesis 4:25 · Eve calls Seth “another seed,” using the word of 3:15; the promised line goes on.
- The Lamb Line · Genesis 4:4 · Abel brings the firstborn of his flock and by faith offers a better sacrifice. (Hebrews 11:4)
- Faith · Genesis 4:4 (Hebrews 11:4)
- Type · Abel's blood crying from the ground pictures Jesus' blood, which speaks a better word than Abel's (Hebrews 12:24)
Doctrines Genesis 4 teaches
- Worship and the Lord's Day · Genesis 4:3–5; Genesis 4:26; Hebrews 11:4
- Saving faith · Hebrews 11:4
- The last judgment · Genesis 4:10–12
Questions on Genesis 4
Which question in 4:9 echoes God's question to Adam in 3:9?
Show the answer
The LORD asks Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” (4:9), as He had asked Adam, “Where are you?” (3:9). Again God comes to the sinner with a question after the deed, and again the answer dodges the guilt.
How does Eve's word about Seth (4:25) recall the promise of 3:15?
Show the answer
Eve says God has granted her “another seed in place of Abel” (4:25). The word recalls the woman’s seed promised in 3:15: though Cain killed Abel, God keeps the line of promise alive.
What begins in the days of Seth's son Enosh (4:26)?
Show the answer
Men begin to call upon the name of the LORD (4:26). After Cain’s line ends in Lamech’s boast of vengeance, worship of the LORD begins in Seth’s line.
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