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Genesis 4:8

“And Cain said to Abel his brother … And it happened, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.”

Genesis 4:8 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

8

Theme · Matthew 23:35

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Jesus names the blood of Abel as the first righteous blood shed; Genesis 4:8 tells how his brother Cain killed him.

The same term appears in both passages.

  • הֶבֶלhevelH1893ἍβελHabelG6“Abel”

Theme · Luke 11:51

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Jesus names the blood of Abel as the first for which an account will be required; Genesis 4:8 tells how his brother Cain killed him.

The same term appears in both passages.

  • הֶבֶלhevelH1893ἍβελHabelG6“Abel”

Allusion · Hebrews 12:24

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Hebrews contrasts the sprinkled blood with the blood of Abel, which in Genesis 4:10 “cries out” from the ground.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • הֶבֶלhevelH1893ἍβελHabelG6“Abel”
  • דְּמֵיdemeH1818αἵματιhaimatiG129“blood”

Allusion · 1 John 3:12

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Both texts say that Cain killed his brother.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • קַיִןkayinH7014ΚάϊνKainG2535“Cain”
  • יַּהַרְגֵyahargeH2026ἔσφαξενesphaxenG4969“kill”
  • אָחִיajiH251ἀδελφὸνadelphonG80“brother”

Theme · Jude 1:11

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Jude speaks of “the way of Cain”; Genesis 4:8 tells that Cain killed his brother.

The same term appears in both passages.

  • קַיִןkayinH7014ΚάϊνKainG2535“Cain”

Genesis 4:8, word by word

Cainקַיִןkayin

Cain

Cain, the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel. In Hebrew "Qayin" sounds like "I have gotten" (Genesis 4:1). Also a place, and the tribe of the Kenites.

Where else “kayin” appears
saidיֹּאמֶרyomer

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “yomer” appears
to Abelהֶבֶלhevel

Abel

Abel, the second son of Adam and Eve, killed by his brother Cain. In Hebrew "Hevel" is the same word as "breath" or "vapor", something that does not last.

Where else “hevel” appears
his brother …אָחִיachi

brother

A son of the same father or the same mother.

Where else “achi” appears
And it happenedיְהִיyehi

happen

For something to occur or take place; many stories open with this word.

Where else “yehi” appears
in the fieldשָּׂדֶהsade

field

The open country: "the beasts of the field".

Where else “sade” appears
rose upיָּקָםyakam

rise against

To rise against someone to attack or confront him.

Where else “yakam” appears
and killed himיַּהַרְגֵyaharge

kill

Kill, slay.

Where else “yaharge” appears

Translation note

The Hebrew text does not record what Cain said to his brother: the sentence is left incomplete.

The context

7If you do well, will there not be a lifting up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and toward you is its desire, but you will rule over it.”

8 · This verse (above)

9And YHWH said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Read all of Genesis 4

To study Genesis 4 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    How did Cain feel when YHWH did not look with favor on his offering, and what did YHWH say to him (vv. 5-7)?

  2. 2. What it means

    What does Cain mean by his question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (v. 9)?

  3. 3. How I live it

    How can you deal with anger or envy toward someone today before it grows?

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