Geneva Study Bible And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she {a} conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man {b} from the LORD.
(a) Man's nature, the estate of marriage, and God's blessing were not utterly abolished through sin, but the quality or condition of it was changed. (b) That is, according to the Lord's promise, as some read Ge 3:15, To the Lord rejoicing for the son she had born, whom she would offer to the Lord as the first fruits of her birth. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 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 in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an {c} offering unto the LORD.
(c) This declares that the father instructed his children in the knowledge of God, and also how God gave them sacrifices to signify their salvation, though they were destitute of the ordinance of the tree of life. 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: 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. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 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. If thou doest well, shalt thou not be {e} accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the {f} door. And unto thee shall be his {g} desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
(e) Both you and your sacrifice shall be acceptable to me. (f) Sin will still torment your conscience. (g) The dignity of the first born is given to Cain over Abel. 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 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 the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: {h} Am I my brother's keeper?
(h) This is the nature of the reprobate when they are rebuke for their hypocrisy, even to neglect God and outrage him. And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And he said, What hast thou done? the {i} voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
{i} God avenges the wrongs against his saints, though no one complains: for the iniquity itself cries for vengeance. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; And now art thou cursed {k} from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
(k) The earth will be a witness against you, which mercifully received the blood you most cruelly shed. 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. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a {l} fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
(l) You will never have rest for your heart will be in continual fear and worry. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. And Cain said unto the LORD, {m} My punishment is greater than I can bear.
(m) He burdens God as a cruel judge because he punished him so severely. 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. 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 the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, {n} vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a {o} mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
(n) Not for the love he had for Cain, but to suppress murder. (o) Which was some visible sign of God's judgment, that others should fear by it. And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 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 Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a {p} city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
(p) Thinking by this to be safe, and to have less reason to fear God's judgments against him. And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. And Lamech took unto him {q} two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
(q) The lawful institution of marriage, which is, that two should be one flesh, was first corrupted in the house of Cain by Lamech. And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. 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 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 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 speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: {r} for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
(r) His wives seeing that all men hated him for his cruelty, were afraid, therefore he brags that there is none strong enough to resist, even though he was already wounded. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech {s} seventy and sevenfold.
(s) He mocked at God's tolerance in Cain jesting as though God would allow no one to punish him and yet give him permission to murder others. 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 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. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to {t} call upon the name of the LORD. (t) In these days God began to move the hearts of the godly to restore religion, which had been suppressed by the wicked for a long time. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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