Bible/Genesis/4

Genesis 4:2

4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. Cain: that is, Gotten, or, Acquired
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Abel: Heb. Hebel a keeper: Heb. a feeder

KJV

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Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. in process: Heb. at the end of days

What does Genesis 4:2 mean?

Genesis 4:2 is a verse in the book of Genesis, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include יָסַף (yâçaph), יָלַד (yâlad), אָח (ʼâch). It connects to 14 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
And
she
againיָסַףyâçaph/yaw-saf'/H3254to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
bareיָלַדyâlad/yaw-lad'/H3205to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
his
brotherאָחʼâch/awkh/H251a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
Abel.הֶבֶלHebel/heh'-bel/H1893Hebel, the son of Adam
And
AbelהֶבֶלHebel/heh'-bel/H1893Hebel, the son of Adam
was
a
keeperרָעָהrâʻâh/raw-aw'/H7462to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
of
sheep,צֹאןtsôʼn/tsone/H6629a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
but
CainקַיִןQayin/kah'-yin/H7014Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe
was
a
tillerעָבַדʻâbad/aw-bad'/H5647to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.
of
the
ground.אֲדָמָהʼădâmâh/ad-aw-maw'/H127soil (from its general redness)
Abel:
Heb.
Hebel
a
keeper:
Heb.
a
feeder

Commentary on Genesis 4:2

HENRY_FULL · Genesis 4:2
uction" 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, I. The birth, names, and callings, of Cain and Abel, ver. 1, 2 . II. Their religion, and different success in it, ver. 3, 4 , and part of ver. 5 . III. Cain's anger at God and the reproof of him for that anger, ver. 5-7 . IV. Cain's murder of his brother, and the process against him for that murder. The murder committed, ver. 8 . The proceedings against him. 1. His arraignment, ver. 9 , former part. 2. His plea, ver. 9 , latter part. 3. His conviction, ver. 10 . 4. The sentence passed upon him, ver. 11, 12 . 5. His complaint against the sentence, ver. 13, 14 . 6. The ratification of the sentence, ver. 15 . 7. The execution of the sentence, ver. 15, 16 . V. The family and posterity of Cain, ver. 17-24 . VI. The birth of another son and grandson of Adam, ver. 25, 26 . Cain and Abel. ( b. c.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 3:23

Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Genesis 4:25

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Seth: Heb. Sheth: that is Appointed, or, Put

Genesis 4:26

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. Enos: Heb. Enosh to call: or, to call themselves by the name of the Lord

Genesis 9:20

And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:

Genesis 30:29

And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

Genesis 37:13

And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

Genesis 46:32

And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. their trade: Heb. they are men of cattle

Genesis 47:3

And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.

Exodus 3:1

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

Amos 7:15

And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. as: Heb. from behind

John 8:44

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. of his own: or, from his own will or disposition

1 John 3:10

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1 John 3:12

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

1 John 3:15

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Topics

Agriculture or HusbandryAntediluviansEveShepherds

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Genesis 4:2.

Exodus 34:3

And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.

Genesis 4:25

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Seth: Heb. Sheth: that is Appointed, or, Put

Genesis 4:8

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Genesis 4:9

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

Job 24:21

He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

Numbers 27:17

Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Frequently asked questions

What does Genesis 4:2 say?

Genesis 4:2 (King James Version) reads: "And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Abel: Heb. Hebel a keeper: Heb. a feeder"

Is Genesis 4:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Genesis 4:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Genesis.

Who wrote the book of Genesis?

The book of Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses.

Reflect

As you read Genesis 4:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Genesis 4:2
4:1Read all of Genesis 44:3