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Genesis · Free Bible Version

Genesis 4 Free Bible Version

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  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Critical text
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  • 2018
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Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

FBV Free Bible Version
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 Adam slept with his wife Eve and she became pregnant. She gave birth to Cain, and said, “With the Lord's help I have made a man.”
1 The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel became a shepherd, while Cain was a crop farmer.
2 Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 Sometime later Cain brought some of the produce he'd grown as an offering to the Lord.
3 As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.
4 Abel also brought an offering: the firstborn lambs of his flock, selecting the very best parts to offer. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,
4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
5 but he wasn't pleased with Cain and his offering, which made Cain very angry and he frowned in annoyance.
5 but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? Why do you look so annoyed?
6 Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
7 If you were doing what's right, then you'd be looking happy. But if you don't do what's right, then sin will be like an animal crouching outside your home, ready to pounce on you. It wants to have you, but you must be the one in control.”
7 If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
8 Later, when Cain was talking with his brother Abel they went out into the fields where Cain attacked his brother and killed him.
8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.
9 “Where is your brother Abel?” the Lord asked Cain. “How should I know?” he replied. “Am I supposed to be my brother's care-giver?”
9 Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 “What have you done?” the Lord asked. “Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground.
10 Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
11 Consequently you are more cursed than the ground because you soaked it with your brother's blood.
11 Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 When you cultivate the ground, it won't produce crops for you. You'll be always on the run, wandering all over the earth.”
12 From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
13 “My punishment is more than I can take,” Cain replied.
13 Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 “Look! You're driving me away right now—cursing the ground and banishing me from your presence. I'm going to have to hide and always be on the run, left to wander all over the earth. Anyone who finds me is going to kill me!”
14 Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. Whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 But the Lord replied, “No, Cain. Anyone who kills you will be punished seven times over.” The Lord placed a mark on Cain so that no one who came across him would kill him.
15 Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.
16 So Cain left the Lord's presence and went to live in a land called Nod, east of Eden.
16 Cain left Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain slept with his wife and she became pregnant. She had a son named Enoch. At that time Cain was building a town, so he named it after his son Enoch.
17 Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
18 Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad was the father of Mehujael, Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
18 Irad was born to Enoch. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.
19 Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was named Zillah.
19 Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah.
20 Adah had a son named Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock.
20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
21 He had a brother named Jubal; he was the father of all those who play stringed and wind instruments.
21 His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.
22 Zillah also had a son. He was named Tubal-cain and he was a blacksmith, making different kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain's sister was named Naamah.
22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah.
23 At one time Lamech told his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me. You wives of Lamech, pay attention to what I have to say. I killed a man because he wounded me; I killed a young man because he injured me.
23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me.
24 If the sentence for killing Cain was to be punished seven times over, then if someone kills me, Lamech, the punishment should be seventy-seven times.”
24 If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”
25 Adam slept with his wife again, and she had a son and named him Seth, explaining that, “God has given me another child to replace Abel, the one Cain killed.”
25 Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”
26 Later Seth had a son named Enosh, because at that time people began to worship the Lord by name.
26 A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on Yahweh’s name.

People & places in this chapter

From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.

People

  • Abel

    The righteous shepherd

    A shepherd whose faithful offering pleased God, murdered by his own brother.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4; Hebrews 11:4

    See in the family tree

  • Adah

    Wife of Lamech

    One of Lamech's two wives, who gave birth to Jabal and was addressed with Zillah in Lamech's boast.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:19; Genesis 4:20; Genesis 4:23

    See in the family tree

  • Adam

    The first man

    Formed from the dust by God's own hand, the father of all who live.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 1–5

    See in the family tree

  • Cain

    The firstborn son

    The firstborn of humanity, whose jealousy led to the first murder.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4

    See in the family tree

  • Enoch

    Cain's firstborn son

    Cain's son, after whom Cain named the first city recorded in Scripture.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:17-18

    See in the family tree

  • Enosh

    Son of Seth

    In his days people first began to call on the name of the LORD.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:26; 5:6–11

    See in the family tree

  • Eve

    First woman, first mother

    The first woman, formed from Adam and named "the mother of all living."

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 2-4

    See in the family tree

  • Irad

    Descendant of Cain

    Son of Enoch and grandson of Cain, listed in Cain's genealogy.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:18

    See in the family tree

  • Jabal

    Father of herdsmen

    Son of Lamech, called the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:20

    See in the family tree

  • Jubal

    Father of musicians

    Son of Lamech, called the father of all who play the harp and flute.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:21

    See in the family tree

  • Lamech

    Warrior who boasted

    Descendant of Cain who took two wives and boasted of avenging himself with violence.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:18-24

    See in the family tree

  • Mehujael

    Descendant of Cain

    Son of Irad in the line of Cain, named only in the genealogy.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:18

    See in the family tree

  • Methushael

    Descendant of Cain

    Son of Mehujael and father of Lamech in the line of Cain.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:18

    See in the family tree

  • Naamah

    Sister of Tubal-cain

    Named in Lamech's family as the sister of Tubal-cain.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:22

    See in the family tree

  • Seth

    The appointed son

    The son granted in Abel's place, through whom the godly line continued.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:25–5:8

    See in the family tree

  • Tubal-cain

    Forger of metal tools

    Son of Lamech and Zillah, a forger of all tools of bronze and iron.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:22

    See in the family tree

  • Zillah

    Wife of Lamech

    One of Lamech's two wives, who gave birth to Tubal-cain and was addressed with Adah in Lamech's boast.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 4:19; Genesis 4:22; Genesis 4:23

    See in the family tree

Cross references (26)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 1 John 3:12; Genesis 3:15; Genesis 4:25
  2. 2 1 John 3:12; 1 John 3:15; Luke 11:51; John 8:44; 1 John 3:10
  3. 3 Numbers 18:12; Leviticus 2:1–11
  4. 4 Hebrews 11:4; Proverbs 3:9; Exodus 13:12; Numbers 18:17; 1 Peter 1:19–20
  5. 5 Hebrews 11:4; Job 5:2; Isaiah 3:10–11; Luke 15:28–30; Matthew 20:15
  6. 6 Isaiah 1:18; Job 5:2; Luke 15:31–32; Jeremiah 2:31; Matthew 20:15
  7. 7 James 1:15; Romans 2:6–10; Isaiah 3:10–11; Romans 6:16; Hebrews 11:4
  8. 8 Matthew 23:35; 1 John 3:12–15; Jude 11; Proverbs 26:24–26; Luke 11:51
  9. 9 Proverbs 28:13; John 8:44; Psalm 9:12; Psalm 10:13–14; Genesis 37:32
  10. 10 Hebrews 12:24; Psalm 72:14; Hebrews 11:4; Isaiah 5:7; James 5:4
  11. 11 Galatians 3:10; Job 16:18; Genesis 3:14; Deuteronomy 28:15–20; Job 31:38–40
  12. 12 Hosea 9:17; Leviticus 26:20; Leviticus 26:36; Deuteronomy 28:23–24; Psalm 109:10
  13. 13 Job 15:22; Revelation 16:9
  14. 14 Numbers 35:19; Psalm 143:7; Job 15:20–24; Proverbs 28:1; Deuteronomy 28:65
  15. 15 Ezekiel 9:4; Psalm 79:12; Genesis 4:24; Ezekiel 9:6; Revelation 14:11
  16. 16 Job 2:7; Genesis 4:14; 2 Kings 13:23; Jeremiah 23:39; Genesis 3:8
  17. 17 Daniel 4:30; Ecclesiastes 2:4–11; Psalm 49:11; Genesis 5:18; Luke 17:28–29
  18. 18 Genesis 36:2; Genesis 5:21
  19. 19 Genesis 2:24; Genesis 2:18; Matthew 19:4–6; Matthew 19:8
  20. 20 Genesis 25:27; Romans 4:11–12; John 8:44; Jeremiah 35:9–10; 1 Chronicles 2:50–52
  21. 21 Amos 6:5; Job 21:12; Romans 4:11–12; Isaiah 5:12; Genesis 31:27
  22. 22 Deuteronomy 33:25; 2 Chronicles 2:7; Numbers 31:22; Deuteronomy 8:9; Exodus 25:3
  23. 23 Numbers 23:18; Leviticus 19:18; Exodus 20:13; Judges 9:7
  24. 24 Matthew 18:22; Genesis 4:15
  25. 25 Genesis 4:8; Luke 3:38; Genesis 5:3–4; Genesis 4:10–11; 1 Chronicles 1:1
  26. 26 Psalm 116:17; 1 Kings 18:24; Joel 2:32; Zephaniah 3:9; Luke 3:38

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

Articles and answers on this site that cite Genesis 4.

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Quotes verse 4:3–8 Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians (Chapters I–VI)

    And it came to pass, while they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." Ye see, brethren, how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother.

    Read in context · Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885)

  2. Quotes verse 4:7 Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Book IV, Chapter XVIII)

    … is without blame, and worketh no evil --that God who reveals what is hidden [in the heart], but who worketh not evil--when Cain was by no means at rest, He saith to him: "To thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." Thus did He in like manner speak to Pilate: "Thou shouldest have no power at …

    Read in context · Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885)

  3. Quotes verse 4:17 Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (Book XV, Chapters 8–9)

    Therefore, although it is written, "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," it does not follow that we are to believe this to have been his first-born; for we cannot suppose that this is proved by the …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)

  4. Quotes verse 4:24 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily LXXIV)

    Heardest thou not Lamech saying, "Of Lamech vengeance shall be taken seventy times sevenfold;" that is, "I am deserving of more punishment than Cain." Why could this be?

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  5. Quotes verse 4:26 Gregory of Nazianzus, Theological Orations (The Second Theological Oration)

    Thus Enos "hoped to call upon the Name of the Lord." Hope was that for which he is commended; and that, not that he should know God, but that he should call upon him.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)