Genesis 4

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:2

And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.The speculation has long prevailed that Cain and Abel were twins, based on the omission of a second statement that Adam knew his wife. This may "very well be the meaning,"[7] but it should not be pressed. Also, it appears that the names of these two brothers were "bestowed by the mother,"[8] which is another hint of the matriarchate, when a man left his father and mother and went to live... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:3-5

"And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof, and Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.""In process of time ..." is an expression that moves this episode to a point long after the events of the preceding chapter."Fruit of the ground... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:6

"And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?""Why is thy countenance fallen ..." As in the case of God's asking Adam, "Where art thou?" the Lord was not asking for information but to elicit a response from Cain whose anger flared up instantly. The fallen countenance is still the result of sin and guilt, and one may see a hundred fallen countenances on a street corner on any given day. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:7

"If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; and unto thee shall be its desire; but do thou rule over it."This is one of the most difficult and disputed verses in Genesis, the problem being the identity of what is referred to in "sin lieth at the door." The usual theory that "sin" is here characterized or personified as a "savage beast," or a "wild demon" about to spring upon Cain, and that God was warning him to rule over the "sin" and... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:8

"And Cain told 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."This is another disputed text, and the older version to the effect that "Cain talked with his brother," would appear to be preferred. "Under the guise of brotherly familiarity, he concealed his premeditated purpose until a convenient time and place for the murder."[17] The tragedy of this event is emphasized by the seven-fold repetition of the word "brother"... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:9

"And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?"When the original parents were caught in their rebellion, they admitted it reluctantly, but Cain told an outright lie about his sin, showing, as Willis suggested, "the growing power of sin's grip over the human race."[18]AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?What a brutal and selfish response was this! All men are obligated to one another, and no man has the right to seek his own selfish ends without... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:10

"And he said, What has thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.""What hast thou done ... ?" This is a similar thought to that expressed in Genesis 3:13. (See the comments there.)"The voice of thy brother's blood ..." This is a figurative expression showing that God would avenge the type of heartless and brutal sin that Cain had committed. The idiomatic statement of this, as here, has captivated the attention and imagination of the men of all generations. The... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:11

"And now cursed art thou from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand."Adam and Eve were not cursed for their sin, but the far greater offense of Cain resulted in his being cursed, along with the ground itself. Aalders was correct in viewing this as an "extension"[19] of the cursing of the ground "for Adam's sake" in Genesis 3:17,18. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:12

"When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth."Cain is later represented as going out and building a city; and from this we should conclude that the principal thing in view in this was probably the constant flight of wicked people loaded with guilt and apprehension. The grossly wicked are precisely the people in every community that are "fleeing." "The wicked flee when no man pursueth" (Proverbs 28:1).... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:13

"And Cain said unto Jehovah, My punishment is greater than I can bear."Like any vicious criminal apprehended today, Cain bitterly complained of his punishment. Note that there was no expression of remorse or sorrow, only the typically criminal attitude that deplores getting caught, but never the dastardly deed. Fitting progenitor indeed was this vicious killer to father the wicked generation that corrupted the whole world and resulted in God's summary destruction of it by the Great Flood. read more

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:2

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:3-5

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:6

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:7

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:8

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:9

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:10

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:11

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:12

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:13

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