Genesis Chapter 4

Synopsis:

In this chapter we have both the world and the church in a

family, in a little family, in Adam's family, and a specimen

given of the character and state of both in after-ages, nay, in

all ages, to the end of time. As all mankind were represented

in Adam, so that great distinction of mankind into saints and

sinners, godly and wicked, the children of God and the

children of the wicked one, was here represented in Cain

and Abel, and an early instance is given of the enmity which

was lately put between the seed of the woman and the seed

of the serpent. We have here, I. The birth, names, and

callings, of Cain and Abel (v. 1, 2). II. Their religion, and

different success in it (v. 3, 4 and part of v. 5). III. Cain's

anger at God and the reproof of him for that anger (v. 5-7).

IV. Cain's murder of his brother, and the process against him

for that murder. The murder committed (v. 8). The

proceedings against him. 1. His arraignment (v. 9, former

part). 2. His plea (v. 9, latter part). 3. His conviction (v. 10).

4. The sentence passed upon him (v. 11, 12). 5. His

complaint against the sentence (v. 13, 14). 6. The ratification

of the sentence (v. 15). 7. The execution of the sentence (v.

15, 16). V. The family and posterity of Cain (v. 17-24). VI.

The birth of another son and grandson of Adam (v. 25, 26). Mathew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary

Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she

conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from

the LORD.

In Genesis Chapter 3 we have the root of sin being

established on the earth. In Chapter 4 we have the fruit of

sin. Adam has given us (his decedents) his nature which

Genesis Chapter 4

now is a nature prone to sin. It is a very bad nature and will

manifest itself in the world very quickly. It will personify the

struggle that is to come between those that are followers of

God, and those who are not. It will be a vicious struggle that

will not end until the true Messiah comes into the world to

destroy the works of the Devil and his children.

However, we see here that Eve, and perhaps Adam also, did

not anticipate the struggle to be a long one. Eve said, “I

have gotten a man from God.” Thus indicating that she

believed Cain was the promised Messiah.

The name Cain means possession. Easton’s Bible Dictionary

Genesis 4:2-5 And she again bare his brother Abel. And

Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the

ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain

brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of

the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to

his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not

respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

The naming of this second child Abel will prove to be

prophetic. The name means breath or vapor, probably so

called from the shortness of his life. Smith’s Bible Dictionary

James 4:14 …… For what is your life? It is even a

vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then

vanisheth away.

Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters, ch. 5:4. But

Cain and Abel seem to have been the two eldest.

Some believe that Cain and Abel were twins, but the

scripture clearly indicates that Cain was the first born and

later, at least 9 months later, Abel was born. Some have

Genesis Chapter 4

said that, in all actuality, Cain and Able were closer than

twins because they had none of the dilution of the seed of

Adam that would come with the passing of each generation.

These boys were, perhaps, closer to each other as the first

two children of Adam than any two children born after this,

even twins, but in spirit, they were as far apart from each

other as the East is from the West. This will be clearly seen

in the spirit with which they offered sacrifices to God.

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more

excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained

witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his

gifts:

Here, when the verse says: in process of time, it is

generally taken to mean, on the Sabbath Day.

Numbers 28:9-10 And on the sabbath day two lambs of

the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour

for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink

offering thereof: This is the burnt offering of every

sabbath,

This must have been a direct communication from God.

They were to bring the offerings on the Sabbath Day as a

part of the worship service, which, no doubt, was conducted

by Adam.

Deuteronomy 5:12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it,

as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.

Cain brought the first and the best of the fruit of the ground,

and Able brought the first and the best of his flocks.

Deuteronomy 18:4 The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy

wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy

sheep, shalt thou give him.

I believe this was all done just as it was given by God to

Moses when the Lord gave him the commandments of the

Genesis Chapter 4

sacrifices. In like manner, God gave it to Adam, and he

commanded his sons that thus it must be.

God had respect unto Abel’s offering, that is, his offering was

accepted by God.

Cain’s offering was not accepted, because it was not offered

in faith, but in the pride of life. He, in his spirit and thoughts,

denied that man could not offer works to God. He came with

his offering believing everything was alright between him and

God, and, therefore, he could come to God by his own

righteousness. In other words, he was a liberal. He believe

in the basic goodness of man, especially himself. As a result,

he did not believe he needed salvation or a savior. He could

save himself. That is still the religion of many today.

Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the

way of Cain,

Neither of the offerings of these two boys was a sin. At this

time, they had no knowledge of sin. They had been born

into this fallen world and had no knowledge of the world

before. Sin in the Garden of Eden was disobedience to

God’s word. They had not heard from God concerning these

things, and they were unaware that they were already lost to

the Kingdom of God. There was a flaming sword, the

righteousness of God, which would now prevent them from

entering in.

No sin offering would come until the law was given to Moses

as written in the Book of Leviticus.

Romans 3:20 for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Abel had faith because he believed what his father Adam

had told him about God.

Cain had faith in himself, and when his offering was rejected,

he was prideful, angry, jealous, and full of hate for his

brother, and for God.

Genesis Chapter 4

1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his

brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother

whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath

not seen?

All these things reveal in Cain a spirit which is not of God,

but of the father of lies and murder, Satan.

Genesis 4:6-7 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.

Cain’s religion had as its doctrine, works. God answers him

accordingly. Good works would be accepted, but

righteousness will be defined by God.

Romans 13:3 ……..do that which is good, and thou

shalt have praise of the same:

Cain’s heart was not right with God.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Cain was so puffed up with pride that he could not humble

himself to God.

Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his

countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all

his thoughts.

His mother thought he was the Messiah. He was his father’s

first born, which meant he was to have preeminence over all

his siblings. What, then, was wrong with God that He would

not accept his offering? Here is the first hardened heart in

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scripture, and God is not about to accept anything from this

man. Nor is Cain about to change or amend his ways.

Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or

the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that

are accustomed to do evil.

He had no knowledge of his own sin, though he might have

been taught by Adam to obey God. He could not even

countenance the fact that he could be disobedient to Him,

because sin, especially his own, was not fully defined in him.

But sin was there waiting at the door to consume him, and to

make him his first born.

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain

God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a

reprobate mind, to do those things which are not

convenient;

Genesis 4:8-12 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. And the LORD said

unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know

not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou

done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from

the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which

hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from

thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not

henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a

vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

Sin would not be a transgression until the law was given.

Romans 4:15 …….. for where no law is, there is no

transgression.

Genesis Chapter 4

Therefore, Cain was not fully judged at this time. There was

no law against murder. God testifies of His disdain by

proclaiming a curse against it.

Psalms 9:16 The LORD is known by the judgment which

he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his

own hands.

The first sin in the Bible was committed by Satan. Now, his

child is following his lead. Just as Satan’s sin is deferred in

judgment until the last days, so Cain’s would be deferred

until God would see the full manifestation of his wickedness

in his generation and children. God does not need to give

the law to mankind as written in stone. His word is law, and

the keeping of God’s word is righteousness. He judges out

of His own righteousness, therefore, judgment against the

unrighteousness of Cain would wait until the fullness of his

iniquity would be realized. The sentence against him is

death, but, for now, it would be separation from God and His

blessings. He would inherit the thorns and thistles of the

earth and the unfertile ground.

Romans 2:11-12 For there is no respect of persons with

God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also

perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the

law shall be judged by the law;

When God asked Cain where his brother was, he answered

Him very impotently with lies and innuendo, showing that he

had no remorse and no respect for God.

1 John 3:12 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.

Abel’s blood speaks of murder committed and Christ’s

redemption.

Genesis Chapter 4

Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new

covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh

better things than that of Abel.

Cain is to be hidden from the face of God. He is now a

fugitive running from the judgment of God, and a vagabond

(wandering; moving from place to place without any settled

habitation KJV Dictionary).

Genesis 4:13-15 And Cain said unto the LORD, My

punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast

driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from

thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond

in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that

findeth me shall slay me. 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 said . . . My punishment is greater than I can

bear--What an overwhelming sense of misery; but no sign of

penitence, nor cry for pardon. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

He burdens God as a cruel judge because he punished him

so severely. Geneva Bible Footnotes

It is strange God would protect him. He simply waits for the

time Romans 7:13 ……that sin by the commandment

might become exceeding sinful.

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 Though a sinner do evil an

hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I

know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which

fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked,

Genesis Chapter 4

neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a

shadow; because he feareth not before God.

The law for murder would come.

Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall

his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he

man.

But, for now, deferred adjudication is God’s method.

God also protected Cain by placing a mark on him as a sign

Deuteronomy 19:6 Lest the avenger of the blood pursue

the slayer, and should find him and kill him.

The avenger could only be Adam or some of Cain’s own

siblings.

Set a mark upon Cain; more literally, appointed to Cain a

sign, that is, some miraculous token. He was to live a

vagabond, as a monument of the guilt of murder and of the

wrath of God against it. Family Bilble Notes

whosoever slayeth Cain--By a special act of divine

forbearance, the life of Cain was to be spared in the then

small state of the human race.

set a mark--not any visible mark or brand on his forehead,

but some sign or token of assurance that his life would be

preserved. This sign is thought by the best writers to have

been a wild ferocity of aspect that rendered him an object of

universal horror and avoidance. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Whatever this mark was, it most assuredly was the same

mark as the one called the mark of the beast, in

Revelation 16:2.

This is the beginning of the separation of the sons of Adam.

Deuteronomy 32:8 When the most High divided to the

nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of

Adam,

Genesis Chapter 4

The separation is made between the children of the Devil

and the children of God.

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest,

and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not

righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not

his brother. Cain and Abel were both legitimate children of Adam, but

spiritually they were of two different families. Traditionally,

families have a seal, or crest, that is unique to their name.

The family of God has one, 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless

the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one

that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. The

family of the devil has one, too. Revelation 13:16 And he

causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and

bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their

foreheads:

Genesis 4:16-18 And Cain went out from the presence of

the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch:

and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after

the name of his son, Enoch. And unto Enoch was born Irad:

and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and

Methusael begat Lamech.

Communion with God was broken and lost forever, and Cain

went out to establish a Godless society. He first went to a

place called the land of Nod, which means exile, wandering,

vagrancy Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary.

Then the Scripture says: And Cain knew his wife. Some

have used this to say the Bible contradicts itself because it

Genesis Chapter 4

says Cain got a wife from the land of Nod meaning there

were other people on the earth other than just the family of

Adam. Of course, the Scripture does not say that at all, nor

does it give any indication of that being the case. Adam and

Eve had many children besides Cain and Abel, both sons

and daughters. One of their daughters was the wife of Cain,

and he took her with him to the land of Nod.

His wife; it is supposed that Cain was married before he

murdered Abel. Family Bible Notes

Verse 17. And he builded a city - In token of a settled

separation from the church of God. And here is an account

of his posterity, at least the heirs of his family, for seven

generations. His son was Enoch, of the same name, but not

of the same character with that holy man that walked with

God. The names of more of his posterity are mentioned, and

but just mentioned, as those of the holy seed, chap. v, 1-32.

They are numbered in haste, as not valued or delighted in, in

comparison with God's children. John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible

This is the beginning of urban life, and the beginning of all

the troubles and problems associated with it. We see today

in our cities, and in all the large cities of the world, the great

worry, stress, and agitation that consumes urbanites.

Genesis 4:19-24 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the

name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in

tents, and of such as have cattle. And his brother's name was

Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and

organ. And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of

every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain

was Naamah. And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and

Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my

Genesis Chapter 4

speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young

man to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly

Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

And Lamech took unto him two wives. This is the first

incidence of polygamy. It is a part of the degradation of

Cain’s decedents. God never condoned it. In the beginning,

it was one man and one woman, and that’s the way God

intended it to remain. But, in Cain’s society, they did not

operate under God’s rule and authority.

It was one of the degenerate race of Cain who first

transgressed that original law of marriage, that two only

should be one flesh. John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible

As the family of Cain increases, we see the beginning of

civilization. You have commerce, farming, ranching, music,

metallurgy, and art. This society was becoming quite

sophisticated and creative.

Then murder rears its ugly head again. Lamech kills a

young man. He seems to claim it was self-defense, and that

he was wounded, but he is afraid of retribution from the

young man’s family, and claims, not only the protection of

the mark of Cain, but seventy fold more. In other words, if

Cain can get by with it, I can get by with it.

Lamech said unto his wives--This speech is in a poetical

form, probably the fragment of an old poem, transmitted to

the time of Moses. It seems to indicate that Lamech had

slain a man in self-defense, and its drift is to assure his

wives, by the preservation of Cain, that an unintentional

homicide, as he was, could be in no danger. Jamieson-Fausset-

Brown Commentary

to my wounding. Or, who wounded me. Cain had slain an

unoffending man and yet was protected by Jehovah; how

Genesis Chapter 4

much more Lamech, who had slain in self-defence. Scofield’s

Reference Bible Notes

Genesis 4:25-26 And Adam knew his wife again; and she

bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath

appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called

his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the

LORD.

Verse 25. This is the first mention of Adam in the story of this

chapter. No question the murder of Abel, and the

impenitency and apostacy of Cain, were a very great grief to

him and Eve, and the more because their own wickedness

did now correct them, and their backsliding did reprove

them. Their folly had given sin and death entrance into the

world, and now they smarted by it, being by means thereof

deprived of both their sons in one day, chap. xxvii, 45. When

parents are grieved by their children's wickedness, they

should take occasion from thence to lament that corruption

of nature which was derived from them, and which is the root

of bitterness. But here we have that which was a relief to our

first parents in their affliction, namely, God gave them to see

the rebuilding of their family which was sorely shaken and

weakened by that sad event. For, they saw their seed,

another instead of Abel. And Adam called his name Seth -

That is, Set, settled or placed, because in his seed mankind

should continue to the end of time. John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible

Seth: put; who puts; fixed. Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary

Sheth shayth: put, i.e. substituted. Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary

Eve still had within her Daniel 11:37 ……the desire of

women, that is, she still hoped and believed she would be

Genesis Chapter 4

the mother of the Messiah that God had promised would

come, and, up until the time of Mary, mother of Jesus Christ,

every woman that was of the seed of God would desire the

same. By saying she had gotten another, or substitute,

seed instead of Abel, she was acknowledging the

difference between the seed of Abel and Seth and the seed

of Cain. God had said there would be constant warfare

between the seed of Satan and the seed of the woman.

Adam and Eve had certainly seen the beginnings of it, to the

point that Eve was convinced of the difference God had

placed between the two. She hoped Seth would be the

Messiah, but God had said He would come through the seed

of the woman but not the man. She had heard what God

had said, but obviously did not believe it. Neither did Mary

when the Angel proclaimed it again to her for she said, Luke

1:34 ……. How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

One thing Eve knew in her heart, this was a child who at

least was of the seed royal, in the Messianic line.

then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

The worshippers of God began to stir up themselves to do

more in religion than they had done; perhaps not more than

had been done at first, but more than had been done since

the defection of Cain. Now men began to worship God, not

only in their closets and families, but in public and solemn

assemblies. John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible

They saw their seed's seed, Ge 4:26. To Seth was born a

son called Enos, that general name for all men, which

bespeaks the weakness, frailty, and misery, of man's state.

The best men are most sensible of these, both in themselves

and their children. We are never so settled but we must

remind ourselves that we are frail. Mathew Henry’s Whole Bible

Commentary

Genesis Chapter 4

The worshippers of God began to distinguish themselves: so

the margin reads it. Then began men to be called by the

name of the Lord, or, to call themselves by it. Now Cain and

those that had deserted religion had built a city, and begun

to declare for irreligion, and called themselves the sons of

men. Those that adhered to God began to declare for him

and his worship, and called themselves the sons of God. John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible

If we are the children of God, surely He has given us his

name. Today a believer is called a Christian. That means

he or she is of the family and household of Jesus Christ.

That, in effect, is our surname. We call upon the name of

Christ because we belong to him and to his family. Likewise,

we see here that men began to call upon, or be called by,

the name of God thus testifying that they were of the

household and family of God. God’s family must be kept

separate from the family of Satan 2 Corinthians 6:14-15

….. for what fellowship hath righteousness with

unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with

darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or

what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among

them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not

the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a

Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and

daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The children of God hear God’s word and obey it. They are

predisposed to follow it, and they 2 Corinthians 8:11

…..perform the doing of it with the zeal of joy.

Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat

them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of

mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of

hosts.

Genesis Chapter 4

The people of God are distinguished from the people of the

Devil by their good name. A good name must be

maintained. The name of God is holy. Those that are called

by His name are a holy people.

Leviticus 11:44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall

therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I

am holy:

Jesus said, Luke 11:28 …. blessed are they that hear the

word of God, and keep it, and again, John 8:47 He that is

of God heareth God's words. That is, everyone born into

the family of God hears God’s word. The rest do not and

cannot hear it. John 8:47 ….ye therefore hear them not,

because ye are not of God.

The children of God are made clean, made holy, by hearing

the Word.

John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I

have spoken unto you.

They are made Hebrews 7:26 …..separate from sinners

by faith in the Messiah, whether that is faith in His coming as

it was in the days of Adam, or as it is now, faith that He has

come, and faith is Ephesians 2:8 …..not of yourselves: it

is the gift of God that He gives exclusively to His children.

It comes by Jesus Christ Hebrews 12:2 …. the author and

finisher of our faith. He is the Word of God. John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only

begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and

hearing by the word of God.