Genesis — Chapter 4
King James Version (KJV)
Reading Mode: 📖 Read the complete KJV chapter below. After verse 26, continue to 📚 Study This Chapter for explanations and memory checks.
Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare TCain, and said, RI have gotten a man from the LORD.
Genesis 4:2 And she again bare his brother TAbel. And Abel was Ta keeper of sheep, but Cain was a Rtiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:3 And Tin process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of Rthe fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of Rthe firstlings of his Tflock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD Rhad respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very Rwroth, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not Tbe accepted? and if thou doest not well, Rsin lieth at the door. And RTunto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that RCain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Genesis 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, RWhere is Abel thy brother? And he said, RI know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s Tblood Rcrieth unto me from the ground.
Genesis 4:11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath Ropened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
Genesis 4:12 When thou tillest the ground, Rit shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; Ra fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Genesis 4:13 And Cain said unto the LORD, TMy punishment is greater than I can bear.
Genesis 4:14 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.
Genesis 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him Rsevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Genesis 4:16 And Cain Rwent out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Genesis 4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare TEnoch: and he builded a city, and called Rthe name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
Genesis 4:18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat TLamech.
Genesis 4:19 And Lamech took unto him Rtwo wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Genesis 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as Rdwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
Genesis 4:21 And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle Rthe harp and organ.
Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an Tinstructer of every artificer in Rbrass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
Genesis 4:23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for TI have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man Tto my hurt.
Genesis 4:24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech Rseventy and sevenfold.
Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name RTSeth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name RTEnos: then began men Tto call upon the name of the LORD.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Genesis 4:1–7 — Cain and Abel Bring Offerings
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Eve bears Cain and then Abel. Cain works the ground, while Abel keeps sheep. Both bring offerings unto the LORD. The LORD has respect unto Abel and his offering, but not unto Cain and his offering. Cain becomes angry, and God warns him about doing well and about sin lying at the door.
Key Truth: God addresses Cain before his violence against Abel and calls his attention to both his conduct and the danger of sin.
Check What You Remember
1. What work did Abel do? (Genesis 4:2)
Find it in Genesis 4:2 (KJV).
2. What work did Cain do? (Genesis 4:2)
Find it in Genesis 4:2 (KJV).
3. From what animals did Abel bring the firstlings and their fat as an offering? (Genesis 4:4)
Find it in Genesis 4:4 (KJV).
4. What did the LORD say lay at the door if Cain did not do well? (Genesis 4:7)
Find it in Genesis 4:7 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Genesis 4:8–16 — Cain Slays Abel
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Cain rises against Abel in the field and kills him. When the LORD asks where Abel is, Cain denies knowing and asks whether he is his brother’s keeper. God declares judgment: the ground will no longer yield its strength to Cain, and he will be a fugitive and a vagabond. The LORD also sets a mark upon Cain so that he will not be killed by anyone who finds him.
Key Truth: Cain’s violence brings judgment, yet the passage also records God’s protection of Cain from being slain by others.
Check What You Remember
1. Where did Cain rise up against Abel? (Genesis 4:8)
Find it in Genesis 4:8 (KJV).
2. What did Cain first say when asked where Abel was? (Genesis 4:9)
Find it in Genesis 4:9 (KJV).
3. What would the ground no longer yield to Cain? (Genesis 4:12)
Find it in Genesis 4:12 (KJV).
4. Why did the LORD set a mark upon Cain? (Genesis 4:15)
Find it in Genesis 4:15 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Genesis 4:17–24 — Cain’s Descendants
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The chapter records descendants of Cain and describes the beginnings of several kinds of human work and culture. Jabal is associated with tents and cattle, Jubal with the harp and organ, and Tubalcain with workmanship in brass and iron. Lamech takes two wives and speaks of violence and vengeance.
Key Truth: Genesis records human families, skills, settlements, and cultural development alongside the continuing presence of violence.
Check What You Remember
1. What did Cain name the city he built? (Genesis 4:17)
Find it in Genesis 4:17 (KJV).
2. Who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle? (Genesis 4:20)
Find it in Genesis 4:20 (KJV).
3. Who was the father of those who handle the harp and organ? (Genesis 4:21)
Find it in Genesis 4:21 (KJV).
4. Who was an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron? (Genesis 4:22)
Find it in Genesis 4:22 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Genesis 4:25–26 — Seth and Enos
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Adam and Eve have another son, Seth. Eve says God has appointed another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Seth later has a son named Enos, and the chapter closes by saying that men began to call upon the name of the LORD.
Key Truth: The chapter ends by turning from Cain’s line to Seth and Enos and explicitly records people calling upon the name of the LORD.
Check What You Remember
1. What name did Eve give her son after Abel’s death? (Genesis 4:25)
Find it in Genesis 4:25 (KJV).
2. In place of which son did Eve say God had appointed another seed? (Genesis 4:25)
Find it in Genesis 4:25 (KJV).
3. What was Seth’s son’s name? (Genesis 4:26)
Find it in Genesis 4:26 (KJV).
4. What did men begin to call upon? (Genesis 4:26)
Find it in Genesis 4:26 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does the warning in verse 7 relate to Cain’s next action in verse 8?
2. How does the ground connect Abel’s death with Cain’s punishment in verses 10–12?
3. What contrast appears between Cain’s fear in verse 14 and the LORD’s response in verse 15?
4. How does Lamech’s statement in verse 24 develop the language used about Cain in verse 15?
5. How do verses 25–26 close the chapter after the account of Cain’s descendants?
Notes
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