BibleTools
Genesis 4:14
Compare all
12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”
13 And Cain said to the Lord, “My1 punishment is greater than I can bear!  
14 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; aI shall be bhidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that canyone who finds me will kill me.”  
15 And the Lord said to him,1 “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him asevenfold.” And the Lord set a bmark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.  

The Family of Cain

16 Then Cain awent out from the bpresence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of1 Nod on the east of Eden.  
17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Ē´noch. And he built a city, aand called the name of the city after the name of his son—Ē´noch.  
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< Genesis 4:13   Genesis 4:15 >>

What Does Genesis 4:14 Mean?



Genesis 4:1-15

In the well-known story of Cain and Abel, the first man born on the earth also becomes the first murderer. A few points in this account are significant:

  • Cain killed Abel after a quarrel over a sacrifice to God. Cain brought a sacrifice, but God would not accept it because it did not meet His standards. While Abel's offering showed his complete submission to God, Cain's hints at grudging worship of God - and that done in his own way.
  • Becoming angry and sullen over his rejection, he quarreled with and killed his brother. Then, he lied to God's face! He had no fear of God or the consequences of sin.
  • Cain's retort to God's inquiry as to Abel's whereabouts is also significant: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Cain's attitude of indifference toward his fellow man greatly influenced later generations.
  • Coupled with his entirely selfish attitude, Cain tried to take advantage even of God's curse upon him. Using a "woe is me" ploy, he "convinced" God to guard his life from anyone avenging Abel's murder.

The way of Cain - idolatry, murder, deceit, selfishness, hypocrisy - saturated Pre-Flood society to the point that God, seeing the wickedness of man, regretted He had even created humanity (Genesis 6:5-7).

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
'As It Was In the Days of Noah'

Related Topics: Cain | Cain, Way of | Days of Noah | Deceit | Deceitfulness | Hypocrisy | Idolatry | Murder | Murder, Spirit of | Pre-Flood Society | Self Absorption | Self Centeredness | Self Pity | Selfish Ambition | Selfish Attitude | Selfish Desire | Selfishness | Spirit of Murder | Wickedness | Wickedness of Man




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Genesis 4:14:

Revelation 3:10


 
<< Genesis 4:13   Genesis 4:15 >>

Join 137,180+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

Close
E-mail This Page