Genesis 4

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:11

As the earth was cursed for thy father’s sake, so now art thou cursed in thy own person; from the earth, or, in regard of the earth, which shall grudge thee both its fruits and a certain dwelling-place, and which had more humanity to thy brother than thou hadst; for it kindly received and covered that blood which thou didst cruelly and unnaturally shed upon it. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:12

Or, that ground, which doth or shall fall to thy share, besides the first and general curse inflicted upon the whole earth, shall have this peculiar curse added to it, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength, i.e. its virtue and fruit, in such proportion as it hath hitherto done. A vagabond shalt thou be, banished from thy own land and kindred, and father’s house, and from the whole society of the faithful, and wandering hither and thither. Others render the words mourning and... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:13

Hebrew, My sin; but sin seems here to be put for punishment, as before, Genesis 4:7; Genesis 19:15; Leviticus 5:1; Psalms 69:27; Proverbs 12:21; for Cain was not so sensible of his sin as of the ill effects of it, as himself shows, Genesis 4:14. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:14

Consider how severely thou usest me; thou hast driven me out, with public infamy, as the word signifies, from the face of the earth, or, this earth, my native land, and from thy face, i.e. favour and protection, as the public enemy of mankind, and as one devoted by thee to destruction. Quest. Whom did Cain fear, when it appears not that there were any but his father and mother? Answ. So ignorant people conceive; but it is a fond conceit to think that there were no more men than are expressed in... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:15

Therefore; or, assuredly, as the word signifies, Jeremiah 2:32; Jeremiah 5:2; Zechariah 11:17; that thou mayst see how I hate murder, and how impartially I shall punish all murderers; and that thou mayst be unhappily free from this fear, that thou mayst live for an example to mankind, for a terror to thyself and others. Sevenfold, i.e. abundantly; he shall be plagued with many and grievous punishments, as the phrase is used, Leviticus 26:28; Psalms 12:7; Psalms 79:12, and in many other places.... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:16

i.e. He was banished from the place of God’s special presence and habitation, from the society of his father, and of the only church which God had upon earth; and dwelt in the land of Nod, in the land which was afterwards called Nod, from Cain’s unsettled condition, because he continued wandering hither and thither in it. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:17

Cain knew his wife; of which phrase see Poole on "Genesis 4:1". He built a city; partly to divert his troubled mind with business and pleasure, and partly for his own security against the enemies and evils which his guilty conscience made him fear, notwithstanding the assurance which God had given him. And this he did as soon as he was in capacity for it, either by the increase of his own posterity, or by the accession of other degenerate sons of Adam to him, who either being banished, or... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:19

Lamech, the wicked branch of that cursed root of Cain, took unto him two wives, against God’s first institution, Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15, and without God’s leave. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:20

He taught shepherds to dwell in tents, and to remove them from place to place, for conveniency of pasture. The first authors or inventors of any thing are commonly called its fathers. And he was the inventor of the art of keeping and managing cattle. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:21

Or, the lovely instrument; but what kind of instrument this was, even the Jews do not understand. The meaning is, he was the inventor of music and musical instruments. read more

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:11

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:12

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:13

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:14

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:15

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:16

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:17

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:19

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:20

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:21

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