15 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Therefore H3651 whosoever slayeth H2026 Cain, H7014 vengeance shall be taken H5358 on him sevenfold. H7659 And the LORD H3068 set H7760 a mark H226 upon Cain, H7014 lest H1115 any finding H4672 him should kill H5221 him.
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Go through H5674 the midst H8432 of the city, H5892 through the midst H8432 of Jerusalem, H3389 and set H8427 a mark H8420 upon the foreheads H4696 of the men H582 that sigh H584 and that cry H602 for all the abominations H8441 that be done H6213 in the midst H8432 thereof.
Slay H2026 utterly H4889 old H2205 and young, H970 both maids, H1330 and little children, H2945 and women: H802 but come not near H5066 any man H376 upon whom is the mark; H8420 and begin H2490 at my sanctuary. H4720 Then they began H2490 at the ancient H2205 men H582 which were before H6440 the house. H1004
And G2532 the third G5154 angel G32 followed G190 them, G846 saying G3004 with G1722 a loud G3173 voice, G5456 If any man G1536 worship G4352 the beast G2342 and G2532 his G846 image, G1504 and G2532 receive G2983 his mark G5480 in G1909 his G846 forehead, G3359 or G2228 in G1909 his G846 hand, G5495
And G2532 the smoke G2586 of their G846 torment G929 ascendeth up G305 for G1519 ever G165 and ever: G165 and G2532 they have G2192 no G3756 rest G372 day G2250 nor G2532 night, G3571 who G3588 worship G4352 the beast G2342 and G2532 his G846 image, G1504 and G2532 whosoever G1536 receiveth G2983 the mark G5480 of his G846 name. G3686
And if ye will not yet H5704 for all this hearken H8085 unto me, then I will punish H3256 you seven times H7651 more H3254 for your sins. H2403
Then I will walk H1980 contrary H7147 unto you also in fury; H2534 and I, even H637 I, will chastise H3256 you seven times H7651 for your sins. H2403
And also by the hand H3027 of the prophet H5030 Jehu H3058 the son H1121 of Hanani H2607 came the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 against Baasha, H1201 and against his house, H1004 even for all the evil H7451 that he did H6213 in the sight H5869 of the LORD, H3068 in provoking him to anger H3707 with the work H4639 of his hands, H3027 in being like the house H1004 of Jeroboam; H3379 and because he killed H5221 him.
But if he be found, H4672 he shall restore H7999 sevenfold; H7659 he shall give H5414 all the substance H1952 of his house. H1004
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Call H7121 his name H8034 Jezreel; H3157 for yet a little H4592 while, and I will avenge H6485 the blood H1818 of Jezreel H3157 upon the house H1004 of Jehu, H3058 and will cause to cease H7673 the kingdom H4468 of the house H1004 of Israel. H3478
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 4
Commentary on Genesis 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
In this chapter we have both the world and the church in a family, in a little family, in Adam's family, and a specimen given of the character and state of both in after-ages, nay, in all ages, to the end of time. As all mankind were represented in Adam, so that great distinction of mankind into saints and sinners, godly and wicked, the children of God and the children of the wicked one, was here represented in Cain and Abel, and an early instance is given of the enmity which was lately put between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. We have here,
Gen 4:1-2
Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters, ch. 5:4. But Cain and Abel seem to have been the two eldest. Some think they were twins, and, as Esau and Jacob, the elder hated and the younger loved. Though God had cast our first parents out of paradise, he did not write them childless; but, to show that he had other blessings in store for them, he preserved to them the benefit of that first blessing of increase. Though they were sinners, nay, though they felt the humiliation and sorrow of penitents, they did not write themselves comfortless, having the promise of a Saviour to support themselves with. We have here,
Gen 4:3-5
Here we have,
Gen 4:6-7
God is here reasoning with Cain, to convince him of the sin and folly of his anger and discontent, and to bring him into a good temper again, that further mischief might be prevented. It is an instance of God's patience and condescending goodness that he would deal thus tenderly with so bad a man, in so bad an affair. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Thus the father of the prodigal argued the case with the elder son (Lu. 15:28, etc.), and God with those Israelites who said, The way of the Lord is not equal, Eze. 18:25.
Gen 4:8
We have here the progress of Cain's anger, and the issue of it in Abel's murder, which may be considered two ways:-
Gen 4:9-12
We have here a full account of the trial and condemnation of the first murderer. Civil courts of judicature not being yet erected for this purpose, as they were afterwards (ch. 9:6), God himself sits Judge; for he is the God to whom vengeance belongs, and who will be sure to make inquisition for blood, especially the blood of saints. Observe,
This was the sentence passed upon Cain; and even in this there was mercy mixed, inasmuch as he was not immediately cut off, but had space given him to repent; for God is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish.
Gen 4:13-15
We have here a further account of the proceedings against Cain.
Gen 4:16-18
We have here a further account of Cain, and what became of him after he was rejected of God.
Gen 4:19-22
We have here some particulars concerning Lamech, the seventh from Adam in the line of Cain. Observe,
Gen 4:23-24
By this speech of Lamech, which is here recorded, and probably was much talked of in those times, he further appears to have been a wicked man, as Cain's accursed race generally were. Observe,
Now this is all we have upon record in scripture concerning the family and posterity of cursed Cain, till we find them all cut off and perishing in the universal deluge.
Gen 4:25-26
This is the first mention of Adam in the story of this chapter. No question, the murder of Abel, and the impenitence and apostasy of Cain, were a very great grief to him and Eve, and the more because their own wickedness did now correct them and their backslidings did reprove them. Their folly had given sin and death entrance into the world; and now they smarted by it, being, by means thereof, deprived of both their sons in one day, ch. 27:45. When parents are grieved by their children's wickedness they should take occasion thence to lament that corruption of nature which was derived from them, and which is the root of bitterness. But here we have that which was a relief to our first parents in their affliction.