Genesis 4 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

Cain and Abel

4 Now the man [a]had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to [b]Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a [c]manchild with the help of the Lord.” 2 Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And (A)Abel was (B)a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 So it came about [d]in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 4 (C)Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And (D)the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but (E)for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So (F)Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “(G)Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 (H)If you do well, [e]will not your countenance be lifted up? (I)And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, (J)but you must master it.” 8 Cain [f]told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and (K)killed him.

9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “(L)Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 He said, “What have you done? (M)The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. 11 Now (N)you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 (O)When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; (P)you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! 14 Behold, You have (Q)driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and (R)I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and (S)whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him (T)sevenfold.” And the Lord [g](U)appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.

16 Then Cain went out from the presence (V)of the Lord, and [h]settled in the land of [i]Nod, east of Eden.

17 Cain [j]had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son. 18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad [k]became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael [l]became the father of Methushael, and Methushael [m]became the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech took to himself (W)two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah,
Listen to my voice,
You wives of Lamech,
Give heed to my speech,
(X)For I [n]have killed a man for wounding me;
And a boy for striking me;
24 If Cain is avenged (Y)sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

25 (Z)Adam [o]had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him [p]Seth, for, she said, “God [q]has appointed me another [r]offspring in place of Abel, (AA)for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth, to him also (AB)a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began (AC)to call [s]upon the name of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 4:1 Lit knew
  2. Genesis 4:1 I.e. gotten one
  3. Genesis 4:1 Or man, the Lord
  4. Genesis 4:3 Lit at the end of days
  5. Genesis 4:7 Or surely you will be accepted
  6. Genesis 4:8 Lit said to
  7. Genesis 4:15 Or set a mark on
  8. Genesis 4:16 Lit dwelt
  9. Genesis 4:16 I.e. wandering
  10. Genesis 4:17 Lit knew
  11. Genesis 4:18 Lit begot
  12. Genesis 4:18 Lit begot
  13. Genesis 4:18 Lit begot
  14. Genesis 4:23 Or kill
  15. Genesis 4:25 Lit knew
  16. Genesis 4:25 Heb Sheth
  17. Genesis 4:25 Heb shath
  18. Genesis 4:25 Lit seed
  19. Genesis 4:26 Or by

Cross references

  1. Genesis 4:2 : Luke 11:50, 51
  2. Genesis 4:2 : Gen 46:32; 47:3
  3. Genesis 4:4 : Heb 11:4
  4. Genesis 4:4 : 1 Sam 15:22
  5. Genesis 4:5 : 1 Sam 16:7
  6. Genesis 4:5 : Is 3:9; Jude 11
  7. Genesis 4:6 : Jon 4:4
  8. Genesis 4:7 : Jer 3:12; Mic 7:18
  9. Genesis 4:7 : Num 32:23
  10. Genesis 4:7 : Job 11:14, 15; Rom 6:12, 16
  11. Genesis 4:8 : Matt 23:35; Luke 11:51; 1 John 3:12-15; Jude 11
  12. Genesis 4:9 : Gen 3:9
  13. Genesis 4:10 : Num 35:33; Deut 21:1-9; Heb 12:24; Rev 6:9, 10
  14. Genesis 4:11 : Gen 3:14; Deut 28:15-20; Gal 3:10
  15. Genesis 4:12 : Deut 28:15-24; Joel 1:10-20
  16. Genesis 4:12 : Lev 26:17, 36
  17. Genesis 4:14 : Gen 3:24; Jer 52:3
  18. Genesis 4:14 : Deut 28:64-67
  19. Genesis 4:14 : Num 35:19
  20. Genesis 4:15 : Gen 4:24
  21. Genesis 4:15 : Ezek 9:4, 6
  22. Genesis 4:16 : 2 Kin 24:20; Jer 23:39; 52:3
  23. Genesis 4:19 : Gen 2:24
  24. Genesis 4:23 : Ex 20:13; Lev 19:18; Deut 32:35; Ps 94:1
  25. Genesis 4:24 : Gen 4:15
  26. Genesis 4:25 : Gen 5:3
  27. Genesis 4:25 : Gen 4:8
  28. Genesis 4:26 : Luke 3:38
  29. Genesis 4:26 : Gen 12:8; 26:25; 1 Kin 18:24; Ps 116:17; Joel 2:32; Zeph 3:9; 1 Cor 1:2