Genesis 4

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:14

"Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the ground; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever findeth me shall slay me."The critics have had a field day with this passage. The mention of Cain's fear that someone would kill him led them to conclude that this episode is a myth or legend from a much later period after the world was populated, alleging that some redactor placed it here where... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:15

"And Jehovah said unto him, Therefore, whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Jehovah appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him."What was the sign or "mark" that God placed upon Cain? As far as we are able to find out, there is utterly no way whatever to determine this. Ancient traditions about it are worthless, and certainly the notion that it "was some kind of tatoo" (Neil) is equally so. Some have supposed that it was something in the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:16

"And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden."The withdrawal of Cain from his home area meant particularly his removal from the visible presence of God, apparently still existing at that time in the Cherubim and the sword. It did not mean that he was beyond the perimeter of God's knowledge and watchfulness over all the affairs of men."Nod ..." The geographical location of this place is not known. The word means "wandering," and is apparently... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:17

"And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bare Enoch: he builded a city and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.""He builded a city ..." according to Aalders, should be translated "He was building a city."[22] There is no record of his having completed the city mentioned here. The fanciful notion that Cain built some magnificent metropolis should be summarily rejected. The city that he built, or was trying to build, was probably nothing more than a stronghold base... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:18

"And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael; and Mahujael begat Methushael; and Methushael begat Lamech."The similarity of some of the names in this genealogy to some of those in the genealogy of Seth is used as an excuse for some to claim that these are actually garbled accounts of the same genealogies, but there is no evidence whatever to support such a view. The very variations in the names used demonstrates their belonging to separate lines. Besides, as Willis expressed it, "The... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:19

"And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah."The purpose of the writer of Genesis is clear, namely, that of recounting the beginnings of various things concerning mankind. The origin of sin in the Fall was given in Genesis 3. Here is the beginning of sacrifice, of the sinful changing of it, of the first murder, of the building of cities, of polygomy and especially the origin of that depraved section of mankind that precipitated the Flood... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:20

"And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle."What is visible here is the development of a tent-dwelling population, Jabal being the leader of this. The word "cattle" is also different from "flocks," visible earlier, perhaps indicating the increase of the number and kinds of domesticated animals. Adah is also the name of a wife of Esau, and she was a Hittite, indicating that some of the names were beyond tribal connections. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:21

"And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of such as handle the harp and the pipe."What is visible in these verses is the technical progress of the human race accompanied by a deteriorating morality. This has been the characteristic of "civilization" throughout the course of Adam's race. The enthronement of sin in the cities of the world begins also to appear in these early records of human development. "The Bible puts a large question mark against all human endeavor that is not... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:22

"And Zillah, she bare Tubal-cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.""Naamah ..." This name means "pleasantness" (Peloubet), but there does not appear any special reason why she was included here. This was also the name of one of Solomon's wives; and there were apparently a number of repetitions of the name for various women in the history of Israel.Like all the inventions of humanity, the cutting instruments were both a blessing... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:23-24

"And Lamech said unto his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Ye wives of Lamech, hearken to my speech: For I have slain a man for wounding me, And a young man for bruising me: If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold."Although this little poem is somewhat uncertain as to the meaning, it is nevertheless recognized as the oldest poem ever written, at least the oldest that has come down through history, and, tragically, it is a song of murder and vengeance.... read more

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:14

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:15

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:16

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:17

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:18

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:19

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:20

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:21

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:22

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 4:23-24

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands