Reference: Cain (1)
Fausets
(acquired). For Eve said, "I have gotten a man from (or with the help of) Jehovah." She recognized this gift of Jehovah, though accompanied with the foretold "sorrow" of conception, as a first step toward fulfilling the promise of the Redeemer, "the seed of the woman" (Ge 3:15). Cain, her supposed acquisition, proved a deadly loss. Parents' expectations are very different from after realities. Cain was of that wicked one (1Jo 3:12), not associated with Jehovah, except as incurring His curse. Augustine (City of God, 15:1) says: "Cain, the author of the city of the world, is born first, and is called an acquisition because he buildeth a city, is given to the cares and pomp of the world, and persecutes his brother that was chosen out of the world. But (See ABEL (see), the beginner of the city of God, is born second, called 'vanity' because he saw the world's vanity, and is therefore driven out of the world by an untimely death. So early came martyrdom into the world; the first man that died died for religion."
Jealousy was Cain's motive, "because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." His "offering of the fruit of the ground," not "the firstling's of the flock," seems to have been an unhumbled self-willed setting aside of God's will (to be inferred from the "coats of skin," Ge 3:21, involving animal sacrifices) that the death which man's sin incurred should be acknowledged as due by the sinner offering penitently a slain victim, and a substitution of his own act of will worship ("the error of Cain," Jg 1:11), a mere thankoffering. Jehovah "had not respect to Cain and his offering," but had to Abel and his offering; probably God gave the visible token of acceptance, fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice. So Theodotion; compare Ge 15:17; Le 9:24; Jg 6:21; 13:19,21); 1Ki 18:39.
Abel, according to Heb 11:4, "by faith offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain"; lit. a fuller sacrifice, partaking more largely of the nature of a sacrifice. "Faith" presupposes a revelation of God's will concerning sacrifice, otherwise it would have been an act of presumptuous will worship (Col 2:23), and taking of a life which man had no right to before the flood (Ge 9:2-4). E. of Eden before the cherubic symbols of God was probably the appointed place of offering. "In process of time," lit. "at the end of days," namely, at some fixed sacred season, as the sabbath. Cain's "countenance fell" at the rejection of his sacrifice, which possibly involved the loss of his privileges of primogeniture. Jehovah, who still vouchsafed intercourse to man though fallen, argues with Cain as a wayward child, "If thou doest well shalt thou not be accepted?" (or "have the excellency," namely, that belonging to the elder born. (Compare Ge 49:3.) Literally, will there not be lifting up? alluding by contrast to Cain's fallen countenance.)
But if thou doest not well (which is thy real case, and thy not confessing it, but offering a mere thank offering, leaves thee still under guilt), a sin offering (so 'sin' is used Ho 4:8; Le 6:26; 10:17; 2Co 5:21; Heb 9:28) lieth at the door, i.e. is within thy reach (compare Mt 24:33), you have only to go to the appointed place (probably E. of Eden where the cherubim were), and offering it in faith thou shalt be accepted and may have lifting up of countenance again (Job 11:15; 22:26). The explanation, "if thou doest not well (i.e. sinnest), sin lieth at the door ready to assail you as a serpent" is tautology. The "sin" feminine joined with the masculine verb in the Hebrew implies that a male victim is meant by "sin" or sin offering. "And unto thee shall be his desire" as that of a younger brother subordinate in rank to the elder.
You need not in jealousy fear losing your priority of birth, if you do well. Cain talked with Abel, proposing probably that they should go to the field, and when there away from man's eye rose up and slew him. Adam's sin now bears fratricide among its first and terrible fruits; and the seed of the serpent stands forth thenceforward throughout man's history, as distinguished from the seed of the woman (Ge 3:15). Adam hid in the trees and then confessed his sin; but Cain stoutly denies it, showing himself the child of him who is the father of lying and the murderer from the beginning (Joh 8:44). But God convicted him, "The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground." Herein God shows He takes cognizance of man's sin, though there be no other accuser; next, that innocent blood is too precious to be shed with impunity; thirdly, that not only He cares for the godly in life but "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Ps 116:15) (Calvin).
Exile from the original seat of the human family and the scene of God's manifestations was the sentence, a mild one, in consonance with the mild administration of the divine government before the flood. "My punishment is greater than I can bear" marks Cain's unhumbled spirit, regretting only the punishment not the sin. "It shall come to pass that every one that findeth me shall slay me," words implying that the human race had even then multiplied since Adam's expulsion from Eden, a fact also appearing from Cain having a wife, doubtless one of Adam's descendants; the sacred historian only giving one or two prominent links of the genealogy, not the sons, much less the daughters, all in full. God "set a mark upon," or set a sign for, "Cain," (what it was we know not) to assure him of safety from the blood avenger (Jg 6:17; Isa 7:14).
Cain, the second head of the race, namely, of the ungodly seed, must live, as the tares among the wheat, until the harvest, God reserving judgment to His own time and not allowing man to take avenging into his own hands. But after the flood God delegated in part the avenging of blood to man (Ge 9:6). In Nod ("exile") he built a city and named it from his son Enoch (high dedication); the first step in the founding of the spiritual world city upon which the carnal fix their affections as their lasting home, instead of seeking the heavenly city and continuing pilgrims on earth (Ps 49:11; Heb 11:10-16), To make up for his loss of unity in the fellowship of God and His people, Cain creates for himself and his an earthly center of unity. There civilization, but without God, developed itself, while the Sethites continued in godly pastoral simplicity (Ge 4:26).
Lamech began polygamy; Jabal, nomadic life; Jubal, musical instruments; Tubal-cain, working in brass and iron. Lamech made his manslaughters an occasion for composing poetry in parallelism. The names of the women, Naamah (pleasant), Zillah (shadow), Adah (ornament), all imply refinement. But all this allied to godlessness, violence, and luxurious self indulgence, only prepared the world for the consummated corruption which brought down judgment, as it soon shall again in the last days (Revelation 17; 18; 19; Lu 17:26-37). The traditions of the Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Greeks, refer the invention of agriculture and breeding of cattle to prehistoric times, also the preparation of metals; whereas in the historic period these arts have made comparatively small advances.
But ethnologists from the art-formed flints in the gravel and drift formations on the earth's surface infer three successive ages, the flint, the bronze, the iron; also from the lower type of older skulls they infer that civilization was a slow growth from original barbarism. But Scripture does not represent man as possessed of superior intellectual power and refined knowledge. Adam was placed in Eden to until it, and his power of knowledge and speech was exercised in naming the beasts. China has been in a state of mental cultivation and art far beyond Adam, yet for ages has made no progress. All that Scripture states is man's original innocence, and that his state was not savagery but rudimentary civilization. High art in the valley of Ohio is proved by the dug up remains to have preceded the forests which the Red Indians tenanted. Cereals have been found among very early remains of man's industry, whether Cain cultivated them, or knew only roots, fruits, and vegetables. The oldest skulls are by no means all of low
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And enmity, will I put between thee, and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, - He shall crush thy head, but, thou, shalt crush his heel.
And enmity, will I put between thee, and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, - He shall crush thy head, but, thou, shalt crush his heel.
And enmity, will I put between thee, and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, - He shall crush thy head, but, thou, shalt crush his heel.
And enmity, will I put between thee, and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, - He shall crush thy head, but, thou, shalt crush his heel.
And Yahweh God made for the man - and for his wife - tunics of skin and clothed them.
And Yahweh God made for the man - and for his wife - tunics of skin and clothed them.
And to Seth - to him also, was born a son, and he called his name Enosh, - then, was a beginning made, to call on the name of Yahweh.
And to Seth - to him also, was born a son, and he called his name Enosh, - then, was a beginning made, to call on the name of Yahweh.
and let the fear of you and the dread of you be upon every living creature of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens, - over everything that moveth along on the ground, and over all the fishes of the sea, - into your hand, have they been given.
and let the fear of you and the dread of you be upon every living creature of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens, - over everything that moveth along on the ground, and over all the fishes of the sea, - into your hand, have they been given. As for every moving thing that hath life, yours, shall it be, for food, - Like the green herb, have I given you all things.
As for every moving thing that hath life, yours, shall it be, for food, - Like the green herb, have I given you all things. Yet flesh with the life thereof, the bleed thereof, shall ye not eat;
Yet flesh with the life thereof, the bleed thereof, shall ye not eat;
He that sheddeth man's blood, by man, shall his blood be shed, - For, in the image of God, made he man.
He that sheddeth man's blood, by man, shall his blood be shed, - For, in the image of God, made he man.
So it came to pass when, the sun, had gone in, and Ira thick darkness, had come on, that lo there was a smoking hearth and torch of fire, which passed through between these pieces.
So it came to pass when, the sun, had gone in, and Ira thick darkness, had come on, that lo there was a smoking hearth and torch of fire, which passed through between these pieces.
Reuben, my first-born, thou, My vigour, and the first-fruit of my strength, - Pre-eminence of elevation and pre-eminence of power:
Reuben, my first-born, thou, My vigour, and the first-fruit of my strength, - Pre-eminence of elevation and pre-eminence of power:
The priest who maketh it a sin-bearer, shall eat it, - in a holy place, shall it he eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.
The priest who maketh it a sin-bearer, shall eat it, - in a holy place, shall it he eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.
yea, there came forth fire from before Yahweh, and consumed upon the altar, the ascending-sacrifice and the portions of fat, - and all the people beheld and shouted, and fell down upon their faces.
yea, there came forth fire from before Yahweh, and consumed upon the altar, the ascending-sacrifice and the portions of fat, - and all the people beheld and shouted, and fell down upon their faces.
Wherefore did ye not eat the sin-bearer in the holy place? for most, holy, it is, - and thee same, hath he given you that ye may bear the iniquity of the assembly, to put a propitiatory-covering over them before Yahweh.
Wherefore did ye not eat the sin-bearer in the holy place? for most, holy, it is, - and thee same, hath he given you that ye may bear the iniquity of the assembly, to put a propitiatory-covering over them before Yahweh.
And he went from thence, against the inhabitants of Debir, - now, the name of Debir, formerly, was Kiriath-sepher.
And he went from thence, against the inhabitants of Debir, - now, the name of Debir, formerly, was Kiriath-sepher.
And he said unto him, If, I beseech thee, I have found favour in thine eyes, then wilt thou work for me a sign, that it is, thou, who art speaking with me.
And he said unto him, If, I beseech thee, I have found favour in thine eyes, then wilt thou work for me a sign, that it is, thou, who art speaking with me.
Then the messenger of Yahweh put forth the end of the staff, that was in his hand, and touched the flesh, and the cakes, - and there came up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh, and the cakes, and, the messenger of Yahweh, had departed out of his sight.
Then the messenger of Yahweh put forth the end of the staff, that was in his hand, and touched the flesh, and the cakes, - and there came up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh, and the cakes, and, the messenger of Yahweh, had departed out of his sight.
So Manoah took the kid, and the meal-offering, and caused them to ascend upon the rock unto Yahweh, who was about to do, wondrously, while Manoah and his wife were looking on.
So Manoah took the kid, and the meal-offering, and caused them to ascend upon the rock unto Yahweh, who was about to do, wondrously, while Manoah and his wife were looking on.
And the messenger of Yahweh did no more appear unto Manoah or unto his wife. Then, Manoah knew that, the messenger of Yahweh, he was.
And the messenger of Yahweh did no more appear unto Manoah or unto his wife. Then, Manoah knew that, the messenger of Yahweh, he was.
And, when all the people saw it, they fell upon their faces, - and said, Yahweh, he, is GOD, Yahweh, he, is GOD.
And, when all the people saw it, they fell upon their faces, - and said, Yahweh, he, is GOD, Yahweh, he, is GOD.
Surely, then, shalt thou lift up thy face free from blemish, and shalt be established, and not fear.
Surely, then, shalt thou lift up thy face free from blemish, and shalt be established, and not fear.
For, then, in the Almighty, shalt thou take exquisite delight, and shalt lift up - unto GOD - thy face;
For, then, in the Almighty, shalt thou take exquisite delight, and shalt lift up - unto GOD - thy face;
Their, inward thought, is that their houses are for times age-biding, Their habitations, for generation after generation, - They give their own names unto lands!
Their, inward thought, is that their houses are for times age-biding, Their habitations, for generation after generation, - They give their own names unto lands!
Costly in the eyes of Yahweh, is, death, for his men of lovingkindness.
Costly in the eyes of Yahweh, is, death, for his men of lovingkindness.
Wherefore let My Lord Himself give you a sign, - Lo! a Virgin, being with child and giving birth to a son, thou wilt call his name Immanuel.
Wherefore let My Lord Himself give you a sign, - Lo! a Virgin, being with child and giving birth to a son, thou wilt call his name Immanuel.
The sin of my people, they do eat, - and. unto their iniquity, lift they up every man his desire.
The sin of my people, they do eat, - and. unto their iniquity, lift they up every man his desire.
Thus, ye also, when ye shall see all these things, observe ye, that, near, he is, at the doors.
Thus, ye also, when ye shall see all these things, observe ye, that, near, he is, at the doors.
And, as it came to pass in the days of Noah, so, will it be, even in the days of the Son of Man:
And, as it came to pass in the days of Noah, so, will it be, even in the days of the Son of Man: They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, - until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, - until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. In like manner, as it came to pass in the days of Lot, They were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building, -
In like manner, as it came to pass in the days of Lot, They were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building, - But, on the day Lot came out from Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: -
But, on the day Lot came out from Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: - According to the same things, will it be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
According to the same things, will it be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. In that day, he that shall be on the housetop, and his utensils in the house, let him not go down, to take them away! And, he that is in the field, in like manner, let him not turn unto the things behind,
In that day, he that shall be on the housetop, and his utensils in the house, let him not go down, to take them away! And, he that is in the field, in like manner, let him not turn unto the things behind, Bear in mind the wife of Lot! Whosoever shall seek to make his life his own, shall lose it,
Bear in mind the wife of Lot! Whosoever shall seek to make his life his own, shall lose it, But, whosoever shall lose it, shall give it a living birth.
But, whosoever shall lose it, shall give it a living birth. I say unto you - On the selfsame night, there shall be two men on onebed, - the one, shall be taken near, and, the other, left behind;
I say unto you - On the selfsame night, there shall be two men on onebed, - the one, shall be taken near, and, the other, left behind; There shall be two women grinding together, - the one, shall be taken near, and, the other, left behind.
There shall be two women grinding together, - the one, shall be taken near, and, the other, left behind.
And, answering, they say unto him - Where, Lord? And, he, said unto them - Where the body is, there, the vultures also, will be gathered together.
And, answering, they say unto him - Where, Lord? And, he, said unto them - Where the body is, there, the vultures also, will be gathered together.
Ye, are, of your father - the adversary, and, the covetings of your father, ye choose to be doing. He, was, a murderer, from the beginning, and, in the truth, he stood not; because truth is not in him: Whensoever he speaketh falsehood, of his own, he speaketh; because, false, he is, and, the father of it.
Ye, are, of your father - the adversary, and, the covetings of your father, ye choose to be doing. He, was, a murderer, from the beginning, and, in the truth, he stood not; because truth is not in him: Whensoever he speaketh falsehood, of his own, he speaketh; because, false, he is, and, the father of it.
The which things, indeed, though they have, an appearance, of wisdom, in self-devised religious observance, and lowliness of mind, and ill-treatment of body, are, in no honourable way, unto a satisfying of the flesh.
The which things, indeed, though they have, an appearance, of wisdom, in self-devised religious observance, and lowliness of mind, and ill-treatment of body, are, in no honourable way, unto a satisfying of the flesh.
Thus, the Christ also, once for all having been offered, for the bearing of the sins, of many, a second time, apart from sin, will appear, to them who for him are ardently waiting - unto salvation.
Thus, the Christ also, once for all having been offered, for the bearing of the sins, of many, a second time, apart from sin, will appear, to them who for him are ardently waiting - unto salvation.
By faith, a fuller sacrifice, did Abel, offer unto God, than Cain, - through which, he received witness that he was righteous, there being a witnessing upon his gifts, by God; and, through it, though he died, he yet is speaking.
By faith, a fuller sacrifice, did Abel, offer unto God, than Cain, - through which, he received witness that he was righteous, there being a witnessing upon his gifts, by God; and, through it, though he died, he yet is speaking.
For he was awaiting the city having foundations, whose architect and builder is, God.
For he was awaiting the city having foundations, whose architect and builder is, God. By faith, even Sarah herself, received power for founding a seed, even beyond the season of life's prime, - seeing that, faithful, she reckoned, him that had promised;
By faith, even Sarah herself, received power for founding a seed, even beyond the season of life's prime, - seeing that, faithful, she reckoned, him that had promised; Wherefore, even from one, were born, and, as to these things, one who had become dead, - like the stars of the heaven, for multitude, and as the sand that is by the lip of the sea, that cannot be numbered.
Wherefore, even from one, were born, and, as to these things, one who had become dead, - like the stars of the heaven, for multitude, and as the sand that is by the lip of the sea, that cannot be numbered. In faith, all these died - not bearing away the promises, but, from afar, beholding and saluting them, and confessing that, strangers and sojourners, were they upon the land.
In faith, all these died - not bearing away the promises, but, from afar, beholding and saluting them, and confessing that, strangers and sojourners, were they upon the land. For, they who such things as these are saying, make it clear that, of a paternal home they are in quest;
For, they who such things as these are saying, make it clear that, of a paternal home they are in quest; And, if indeed of that they had been mindful, from which they had come out, they might, in that case, have had an opportunity, to return;
And, if indeed of that they had been mindful, from which they had come out, they might, in that case, have had an opportunity, to return; But, now, after a better one, are they reaching, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be invoked as, their God, - for he hath prepared for them, a city.
But, now, after a better one, are they reaching, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be invoked as, their God, - for he hath prepared for them, a city.
Not just as, Cain, was, of the wicked one, and slew his brother! And, for what cause, slew he him? Because, his works, were, wicked, whereas, those of his brother, were, righteous.
Not just as, Cain, was, of the wicked one, and slew his brother! And, for what cause, slew he him? Because, his works, were, wicked, whereas, those of his brother, were, righteous.