Genesis 4 Background Information with Maps and Images (Picture Study Bible - Genesis) Free Bible Online

Genesis 4

1 - The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, "I have gotten a man with The LORD's help."

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

3 - As time passed, Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground.

4 - Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. the LORD respected Abel and his offering,

5 - but he didn't respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.

6 - The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?

7 - If you do well, won't it be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it."

8 - Cain said to Abel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.

9 - The LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?"He said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

10 - The LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground.

11 - Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

12 - From now on, when you till the ground, it won't yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth."

13 - Cain said to The LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 - Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. Whoever finds me will kill me."

15 - 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.

16 - Cain left The LORD's presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

17 - Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

18 - To Enoch was born Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.

19 - Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah.

20 - Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.

21 - His brother's name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

22 - Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron. Tubal Cain's sister was Naamah.

23 - Lamech said to his wives,"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice.You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech,for I have slain a man for wounding me,a young man for bruising me.

24 - If Cain will be avenged seven times,truly Lamech seventy-seven times."

25 - Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, "for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him."

26 - A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on The LORD's name.

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Genesis 4 Images and Notes

Brief Summary: Eve gives birth to Cain and Abel, The bring their offerings to the LORD, Cain brought the work of his hands and was rejected, Abel brought a burnt offering and it was accepted, Cain slays Abel and is cursed by the LORD, who also sets a mark upon him to protect him, the children of men multiply upon the earth, Adam begets Seth, and Seth begats Enos.

Genesis Chapter 4

Genesis 4:4 - And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Outline
Cain and Abel present their Offerings (Genesis 4:1-5)
The Lord Speaks with Cain (Genesis 4:6-7)
Cain's Rebellion and Curse (Genesis 4:8-15)
The First Civilization (Genesis 4:16-24)
Seth and the Messianic Line (Genesis 4:25-26)

Summary
1 The Birth, Lives, And Religion Of Cain And Abel
8 The Murder Of Abel By Cain
11 The Curse Spoken To Cain.
17 Enoch The First City
19 Lamech And His Two Wives
25 The Birth Of Seth
26 The Birth Of Enos

Painting of Cain and Abel

Painting of Cain and Abel Offering their Sacrifices by Gustave Dore

Genesis 4:2-4: Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Sumerian Sacrifices
ARCHAEOLOGY

Sumerian Cylinder Seal Depicting Sacrificial Offerings from about 3000 BC.

Genesis 4:21: And his brother's name [was] Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

Sumerian Musicians
ARCHAEOLOGY

Sumerian bas relief depicting musicians playing various instruments. The steatite relief was excavated at ancient Adab, a city of ancient Sumer. The bas relief dates back to around 3000 BC. There are two harp players, a drummer, a trumpet player, and a conducter with a leaf baton.

Genesis 4:21: And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain [was] Naamah.

Copper Weapons
ARCHAEOLOGY

Copper Mace Heads from Beersheba 3000 BC Period. Scholars refer to this time period as the Chalcolithic Age from the Greek words chalkos (copper) and lithos (stone) because copper and stone were used together. The ability to extract metals was an important technological advancement in the history of civilization.

Topics for Discussion

Creation
Adam and Eve
Cain
Abel
Seth
The Land of Nod
The Word Begat
The first City
Polygamy

Maps
Map of the Table of Nations

Quick Reference Map

Map of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Click to Enlarge)

The Old Testament

Genesis Resources

Creation
Adam and Eve
The Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
Jacob and the 12 Tribes
Joseph and Egypt

Bibliography Information

Free Bible Online - Picture Study Bible, King James Version. New York: American Bible Society: www.free-bible.com, 1995-2013. Bible History Picture Study Bible. Dec 23, 2024.

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