1Y CONOCIÓH3045 AdamH120 á su mujerH802 EvaH2332, la cual concibióH2029 y parióH3205 á CaínH7014, y dijoH559: AdquiridoH7069 he varónH376 porH854 JehováH3068. 2Y despuésH3254 parióH3205 á su hermanoH251 AbelH1893. Y fuéH1961 AbelH1893 pastorH7462 de ovejasH6629, y CaínH7014 fuéH1961 labradorH5647 de la tierraH127. 3Y acontecióH1961 andandoH7093 el tiempoH3117, que CaínH7014 trajoH935 del frutoH6529 de la tierraH127 una ofrendaH4503 á JehováH3068. 4Y AbelH1893 trajoH935 tambiénH1571 de los primogénitosH5674 de susH1931 ovejasH6629, y de suH1931 grosuraH2459. Y miróH8159 JehováH3068 con agrado áH413 AbelH1893 y áH413 suH1931 ofrendaH4503; 5Mas noH3808 miróH8159 propicio á CaínH7014 y áH413 la ofrendaH4503 suya. Y ensañóseH2734 CaínH7014 en granH3966 manera, y decayóH5307 su semblanteH6440. 6Entonces JehováH3068 dijoH559 áH413 CaínH7014: ¿Por quéH4100 te has ensañadoH2734, y por quéH4100 se ha inmutadoH5307 tu rostroH6440? 7SiH518 bienH2869 hicieres, ¿noH3808 serás ensalzadoH7613? y siH518 noH3808 hicieres bienH2869, el pecadoH2403 está á la puertaH6607: con todo esto, áH413 tiH859 será su deseoH8669, y túH859 te enseñorearásH4910 de él. 8Y habló CaínH7014 áH413 su hermanoH251 AbelH1893: y acontecióH1961 que estandoH1961 ellos en el campo, CaínH7014 se levantóH6965 contraH413 su hermanoH251 AbelH1893, y le matóH2026. 9Y JehováH3068 dijoH559 áH413 CaínH7014: ¿Dónde está AbelH1893 tu hermanoH251? Y él respondióH559: NoH3808 séH3045; ¿soyH595 yo guardaH8104 de mi hermanoH251? 10Y él le dijoH559: ¿QuéH4100 has hechoH6213? La vozH6963 de la sangreH1818 de tu hermanoH251 clamaH6817 áH413 mí desdeH4480 la tierraH127. 11AhoraH6258 pues, malditoH779 seasH859 tú deH4480 la tierraH127 queH834 abrióH6475 su bocaH6310 para recibirH3947 la sangreH1818 deH4480 tuH859 hermanoH251 deH4480 tuH859 manoH3027: 12CuandoH3588 labrares la tierraH127, noH3808 te volveráH3254 á darH5414 su fuerzaH3581: erranteH5128 y extranjeroH5110 serásH1961 en la tierraH776. 13Y dijoH559 CaínH7014 áH413 JehováH3068: GrandeH1419 es mi iniquidadH5771 para ser perdonadaH5375. 14He aquíH2005 me echasH1644 hoyH3117 deH5921 la fazH6440 de la tierraH127, y de tu presenciaH6440 me esconderéH5641; y seréH1961 erranteH5128 y extranjeroH5110 en la tierraH776; y sucederáH1961 que cualquieraH3605 que me hallareH4672, me mataráH2026. 15Y respondióleH559 JehováH3068: CiertoH3651 que cualquieraH3605 que matareH2026 á CaínH7014, sieteH7659 veces será castigadoH5358. Entonces JehováH3068 pusoH7760 señalH226 en CaínH7014, para que noH1097 loH226 hiriese cualquieraH3605 que le hallaraH4672. 16Y salióH3318 CaínH7014 de delanteH6440 de JehováH3068, y habitóH3427 en tierraH776 de NodH5113, al orienteH6926 de EdénH5731. 17Y conocióH3045 CaínH7014 á su mujerH802, la cual concibióH2029 y parióH3205 á HenochH2585: y edificóH1129 una ciudadH5892, y llamóH7121 el nombreH8034 de la ciudadH5892 del nombreH8034 de su hijoH1121, HenochH2585. 18Y á HenochH2585 nacióH3205 IradH5897, é IradH5897 engendróH3205 á MehujaelH4232, y MehujaelH4232 engendróH3205 á Methusael, y Methusael engendróH3205 á LamechH3929. 19Y tomóH3947 para sí LamechH3929 dosH8147 mujeresH802; el nombreH8034 de la unaH259 fué AdaH5711, y el nombreH8034 de la otraH8145 ZillaH6741. 20Y AdaH5711 parióH3205 á JabalH2989, el cualH1931 fuéH1961 padreH1 de los que habitanH3427 en tiendasH168, y crían ganadosH4735. 21Y el nombreH8034 de suH1931 hermanoH251 fuéH1961 JubalH3106, el cualH1931 fuéH1961 padreH1 de todosH3605 los que manejanH8610 arpaH3658 y órganoH5748. 22Y ZillaH6741 tambiénH1571 parióH3205 á Tubal-CaínH8423, acicalador de todaH3605 obraH2794 de metalH5178 y de hierroH1270: y la hermanaH269 de Tubal-CaínH8423 fué NaamaH5279. 23Y dijoH559 LamechH3929 á sus mujeresH802: AdaH5711 y ZillaH6741, oidH8085 mi vozH6963; mujeresH802 de LamechH3929, escuchadH238 mi dichoH565: queH3588 varónH376 mataréH2026 por mi heridaH6482, y manceboH3206 por mi golpeH2250: 24SiH3588 sieteH7659 veces seráH5358 vengado CaínH7014, LamechH3929 en verdad setentaH7657 veces sieteH7651 lo será . 25Y conocióH3045 de nuevoH5750 AdamH121 á su mujerH802, la cual parióH3205 un hijoH1121, y llamóH7121 su nombreH8034 SethH8352: PorqueH3588 DiosH430 ( dijo ella ) me ha sustituídoH7896 otraH312 simienteH2233 en lugarH8478 de AbelH1893, á quienH3588 matóH2026 CaínH7014. 26Y á SethH8352 tambiénH1571 leH1931 nacióH3205 un hijoH1121, y llamóH7121 suH1931 nombreH8034 EnósH583. EntoncesH227 los hombres comenzaronH2490 á llamarse del nombreH8034 de JehováH3068.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 When Cain was born, Eve said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. Perhaps she thought that this was the promised seed. If so, she was wofully disappointed. Abel signifies vanity: when she thought she had the promised seed in Cain, whose name signifies possession, she was so taken up with him that another son was as vanity to her. Observe, each son had a calling. It is the will of God for every one to have something to do in this world. Parents ought to bring up their children to work. Give them a Bible and a calling, said good Mr. Dod, and God be with them. We may believe that God commanded Adam, after the fall, to shed the blood of innocent animals, and after their death to burn part or the whole of their bodies by fire. Thus that punishment which sinners deserve, even the death of the body, and the wrath of God, of which fire is a well-known emblem, and also the sufferings of Christ, were prefigured. Observe that the religious worship of God is no new invention. It was from the beginning; it is the good old way,
Jer 6:16. The offerings of Cain and Abel were different. Cain showed a proud, unbelieving heart. Therefore he and his offering were rejected. Abel came as a sinner, and according to God's appointment, by his sacrifice expressing humility, sincerity, and believing obedience. Thus, seeking the benefit of the new covenant of mercy, through the promised Seed, his sacrifice had a token that God accepted it. Abel offered in faith, and Cain did not,
Hebre 11:4. In all ages there have been two sorts of worshippers, such as Cain and Abel; namely, proud, hardened despisers of the gospel method of salvation, who attempt to please God in ways of their own devising; and humble believers, who draw near to him in the way he has revealed. Cain indulged malignant anger against Abel. He harboured an evil spirit of discontent and rebellion against God. God notices all our sinful passions and discontents. There is not an angry, envious, or fretful look, that escapes his observing eye. The Lord reasoned with this rebellious man; if he came in the right way, he should be accepted. Some understand this as an intimation of mercy. If thou doest not well, sin, that is, the sin-offering, lies at the door, and thou mayest take the benefit of it. The same word signifies sin, and a sacrifice for sin. Though thou hast not done well, yet do not despair; the remedy is at hand. Christ, the great sin-offering, is said to stand at the door,
Revel 3:20. And those well deserve to perish in their sins, that will not go to the door to ask for the benefit of this sin-offering. God's acceptance of Abel's offering did not change the birthright, and make it his; why then should Cain be so angry? Sinful heats and disquiets vanish before a strict and fair inquiry into the cause.
8 Malice in the heart ends in murder by the hands. Cain slew Abel, his own brother, his own mother's son, whom he ought to have loved; his younger brother, whom he ought to have protected; a good brother, who had never done him any wrong. What fatal effects were these of our first parents' sin, and how must their hearts have been filled with anguish! Observe the pride, unbelief, and impenitence of Cain. He denies the crime, as if he could conceal it from God. He tries to cover a deliberate murder with a deliberate lie. Murder is a crying sin. Blood calls for blood, the blood of the murdered for the blood of the murderer. Who knows the extent and weight of a Divine curse, how far it reaches, how deep it pierces? Only in Christ are believers saved from it, and inherit the blessing. Cain was cursed from the earth. He found his punishment there where he chose his portion, and set his heart. Every creature is to us what God makes it, a comfort or a cross, a blessing or a curse. The wickedness of the wicked brings a curse upon all they do, and all they have. Cain complains not of his sin, but of his punishment. It shows great hardness of heart to be more concerned about our sufferings than our sins. God has wise and holy ends in prolonging the lives even of very wicked men. It is in vain to inquire what was the mark set upon Cain. It was doubtless known, both as a brand of infamy on Cain, and a token from God that they should not kill him. Abel, being dead, yet speaketh. He tells the heinous guilt of murder, and warns us to stifle the first risings of wrath, and teaches us that persecution must be expected by the righteous. Also, that there is a future state, and an eternal recompence to be enjoyed, through faith in Christ and his atoning sacrifice. And he tells us the excellency of faith in the atoning sacrifice and blood of the Lamb of God. Cain slew his brother, because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous,
1John 3:12. In consequence of the enmity put between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, the war broke out, which has been waged ever since. In this war we are all concerned, none are neuter; our Captain has declared, He that is not with me is against me. Let us decidedly, yet in meekness, support the cause of truth and righteousness against Satan.
16 Cain cast off all fear of God, and attended no more on God's ordinances. Hypocritical professors, who dissemble and trifle with God, are justly left to themselves to do something grossly scandalous. So they throw off that form of godliness to which they have been a reproach, and of which they deny the power. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and we never find that he came into it again, to his comfort. The land Cain dwelt in was called the land of Nod, which means, 'shaking,' or 'trembling,' and so shows the restlessness and uneasiness of his own spirit, or 'the land of a vagabond:' they that depart from God cannot find rest any where else. Those on earth who looked for the heavenly city, chose to dwell in tabernacles or tents; but Cain, as not minding that city, built one on earth. Thus all who are cursed of God seek their settlement and satisfaction here below.
19 One of Cain's wicked race is the first recorded, as having broken the law of marriage. Hitherto, one man had but one wife at a time; but Lamech took two. Wordly things, are the only things that carnal, wicked people set their hearts upon, and are most clever and industrious about. So it was with this race of Cain. Here was a father of shepherds, and a father of musicians, but not a father of the faithful. Here is one to teach about brass and iron, but none to teach the good knowledge of the Lord: here are devices how to be rich, and how to be mighty, and how to be merry; but nothing of God, of his fear and service. Present things fill the heads of most. Lamech had enemies, whom he had provoked. He draws a comparison betwixt himself and his ancestor Cain; and flatters himself that he is much less criminal. He seems to abuse the patience of God in sparing Cain, into an encouragement to expect that he may sin unpunished.
25 Our first parents were comforted in their affliction by the birth of a son, whom they called Seth, that is, 'set,' 'settled,' or 'placed;' in his seed mankind should continue to the end of time, and from him the Messiah should descend. While Cain, the head of the apostasy, is made a wanderer, Seth, from whom the true church was to come, is one fixed. In Christ and his church is the only true settlement. Seth walked in the steps of his martyred brother Abel; he was a partaker of like precious faith in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ, and so became a fresh witness of the grace and influence of God the Holy Spirit. God gave Adam and Eve to see the revival of religion in their family. The worshippers of God began to do more in religion; some, by an open profession of true religion, protested against the wickedness of the world around. The worse others are, the better we should be, and the more zealous. Then began the distinction between professors and profane, which has been kept up ever since, and will be, while the world stands.