Genesis 4:2

Abel Cain

¹ And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.

Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.

³ So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,

⁴ while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

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: Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.
KJV: And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
WEB: Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
ASV: And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
DARBY: And she further bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a shepherd, but Cain was a husbandman.
BLB: And she continued to give birth [to] his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain was a worker of the ground.

ÅB: Siden fødte hun Abel, hans bror. Og Abel ble sauehyrde, men Kain ble jorddyrker.
OTB: Senere fødte hun Kains bror Abel. Abel var en gjeter, mens Kain var en jordbruker.
B1930: Siden fødte hun Abel, hans bror. Og Abel blev fårehyrde, men Kain blev jorddyrker.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 John 3:12
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
Read in context
1 John 3:15
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.
Read in context
Luke 11:51
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.
Read in context
John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Read in context
1 John 3:10
By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
Read in context
Genesis 47:3
“What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.”
Read in context
Psalms 78:70–72
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;
Read in context
Exodus 3:1
Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Read in context