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Genesis 4:9

AbelCain
Guilt and conscienceTruth and honestyConflict and reconciliation

7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”

8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10 “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.

11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

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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
And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
KJV
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
WEB
The LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
ASV
And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother`s keeper?
DARBY
And Jehovah said to Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?
BLB
And YHWH said to Cain, “Where [is] Abel your brother?” And He said, “I do not know. [Am] I my brother’s keeper?”
ÅB
Da sa Herren til Kain: Hvor er Abel, din bror? Han svarte: Jeg vet ikke; skal jeg passe på min bror?
OTB
Da sa Herren til Kain: "Hvor er din bror Abel?" Han svarte: "Jeg vet ikke. Er jeg min brors vokter?"
B1930
Da sa Herren til Kain: Hvor er Abel, din bror? Han svarte: Jeg vet ikke; skal jeg passe på min bror?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 28:13

    He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

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  • 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

  • Psalms 9:12

    For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 10:13–14

    Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”

    Read in context

  • Genesis 37:32

    They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe or not.”

    Read in context

  • Acts 5:4–9

    Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

    Read in context