Overview
The land of Nod is named only once in Scripture, yet it has become a lasting image of exile and restlessness. Its very name means "wandering."
The fugitive's dwelling
After Cain murdered Abel, God set a mark on him and sentenced him to be "a fugitive and a vagabond... in the earth" (Genesis 4:12). "And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden" (Genesis 4:16).
A name of restlessness
"Nod" is bound up with the curse of wandering that Cain carried. To dwell in the land of "wandering" is itself a picture of life cut off from the presence of God.
The first city
Yet even there life went on: Cain knew his wife, and she bore Enoch, and Cain built a city and named it after his son (Genesis 4:17) — the first city of a restless humanity.
Events Here
Cain dwells in the land of Nod, east of Eden
Scripture References
1 verseGenesis1 verse
Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Archaeology & History
The land of Nod has no known location; it lies "east of Eden," beyond the reach of the map. Like Eden itself, it belongs to the primeval narrative of Genesis, and its meaning is moral and theological — the homeland of exile — rather than geographical.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Land of Nod
Where is Land of Nod today?
Today, Land of Nod corresponds to Location unknown.
What does the name Land of Nod mean?
The name Land of Nod means “Wandering”.
What happened at Land of Nod in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Land of Nod include cain dwells in the land of nod, east of eden.
Where is Land of Nod first mentioned in the Bible?
Land of Nod is first mentioned in Genesis 4:16.
How often is Land of Nod mentioned in the Bible?
Land of Nod is mentioned in 1 verse across 1 book: Genesis.
Where was the land of Nod?
Its location is unknown. Genesis places it simply "on the east of Eden." The name means "wandering," fitting Cain’s sentence to be a restless fugitive.
Who lived in the land of Nod?
Cain, after he killed his brother Abel and was exiled from the presence of the LORD. There his son Enoch was born and he built the first city.