Cain
Before Israel Antediluvian · Creation & Patriarchs · Old Testament
- Name means
- Acquired; gotten
- Role
- Firstborn son of Adam and Eve; the first murderer
- When
- Before the Flood
What they did
A tiller of the ground whose offering God did not respect. In anger he killed his brother Abel and was sent away as a wanderer, yet God put a mark on him for protection.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
His story shows how quickly sin spread after the fall and warns against anger and envy; even so, God showed mercy to him.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? Genesis 4:9 (KJV)
Bible references
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. Genesis 4:1 (KJV)
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. Genesis 4:5-8 (KJV)
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? Genesis 4:9 (KJV)
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. And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. Genesis 4:15-16 (KJV)
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 1 John 3:12 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Adam
- Mother
- Eve
- Children
- Enoch
- Brothers / sisters
- Abel, Seth
His wife is not named. He built a city named after his son Enoch (Genesis 4:17).