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Genesis 4:15

Cain
Protection and safetyGraceMercy and compassion

13 But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

“Not so!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.

16 So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

17 And Cain had relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Not so!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.
KJV
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.
WEB
The LORD said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” The LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.
ASV
And Jehovah said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Jehovah appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.
DARBY
And Jehovah said to him, Therefore, whoever slayeth Cain, it shall be revenged sevenfold. And Jehovah set a mark on Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.
BLB
And YHWH said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain, sevenfold shall vengeance be taken on him.” And YHWH set on Cain a mark, lest anyone finding him [should] slay him.
ÅB
Men Herren sa til ham: Nei! for slår noen Kain ihjel, skal han lide syvfold hevn. Og Herren gav Kain et merke, for at ikke noen som møtte ham, skulle slå ham ihjel.
OTB
Men Herren sa til ham: "Ikke slik; hvem som helst som dreper Kain vil lide hevn syv ganger." Og Herren satte et merke på Kain slik at ingen som fant ham ville drepe ham.
B1930
Men Herren sa til ham: Nei! for slår nogen Kain ihjel, skal han lide syvfold hevn. Og Herren gav Kain et merke, forat ikke nogen som møtte ham, skulde slå ham ihjel.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezekiel 9:4

    “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”

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  • Psalms 79:12

    Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.

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  • Genesis 4:24

    If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

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  • Ezekiel 9:6

    Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.

    Read in context

  • Revelation 14:11

    And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

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  • Revelation 14:9

    And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand,

    Read in context

  • Hosea 1:4

    Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

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  • 1 Kings 16:7

    Moreover, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands and becoming like the house of Jeroboam, and also because Baasha had struck down the house of Jeroboam.

    Read in context