Genesis 4

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:6

Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? Ver. 6. Why is thy countenance fallen? ] Why dost lour and look so like a dog under a door? Vultu saepe loeditur pietas: Difficile est animum non prodere vultu a He was discontented at God, and displeased at his brother. He looks but sour and sullen upon him, and God takes him up for it. He so loves his little ones, that he cannot abide the cold wind should blow upon them. The sun must not smite... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:7

Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. Ver. 7. Sin lies at the door. ] Like a great bandog, ready to pull out the throat of thy soul, if thou but look over the hatch. Say this dog lie asleep for a while, yet the door is for continual pass and repass, and so no fit place for any long sleep. Your sin will surely find you out, saith Moses, as a bloodhound, and... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:8

Gen 4:8 And Cain talked with 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. Ver. 8. And Cain talked with Abel. ] What talk they had is not set down. The Septuagint and vulgar versions tell us, Cain said, Let us go out into the field. The Chaldee adds, that he should say, There was no judgment, nor judge, nor world to come, nor reward for justice, nor vengeance for wickedness, &c. Certain it is that those that... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:9

Gen 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother’s keeper? Ver. 9. I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?] As if he had bid God, Go look. Let us not think much to receive dogged answers and disdainful speeches from profane persons. When they have learned to think better, they will speak better. As till then, pity and pray for them. These churlish dogs will be barking. read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:10

Gen 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. Ver. 10. What hast thou done? ] Here God appeals to the murderer’s conscience, which is instead of a thousand witnesses. As oft as we feel the secret smitings of our own hearts for sin, think we hear him that is greater than our hearts, saying to us as here, What havae you done? And that there is no good to be done by denying or dawbing, for he knows all things, 1Jn 3:20 and requires... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:11

Gen 4:11 And now [art] thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; Ver. 11. And now thou art cursed. ] The Pope contrarily blesses and saints traitors to their country, and murderers of their natural sovereigns; as Ravilliac, and others his assassins, those sworn swordsmen of the devil. Aphonsus Diazius, who killed his own brother for the cause of religion, as above said, fled to Rome, and was there highly commended for his zeal, and... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:12

Gen 4:12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. Ver. 12. A fugitive and a vagabond, &c. ] The patriarchs were pilgrims, and stayed not long in a place. The apostles also were hurried about, Rom 15:19 and had "no certain dwellingplace." 2Co 4:11 But first, God numbered their wanderings. Psa 56:8 He kept just reckoning of therein his count-book. Secondly, Their hearts were fixed, trusting in... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:13

Gen 4:13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment [is] greater than I can bear. Ver. 13. My punishment is greater than I can bear. ] Or, mine iniquity is greater than can be forgiven. In either sense he sins exceedingly, and worse perhaps than in slaying his brother, whether he murmur against God’s justice, or despair of his mercy. Mine iniquity is greater, &c. Mentiris, Cain , saith a Father. Cain did not say so, because it was so; but it was so, because he said so. Despair is Satan’s... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:14

Gen 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, [that] every one that findeth me shall slay me. Ver. 14. From the face of the earth. ] That is, of this earth, this country, my father’s family; which in the next words he calls God’s face, the place of his public worship, from the which Cain was here justly excommunicated. And surely St Jude’s woe will... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:15

Gen 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. Ver. 15. The Lord set a mark, &c. ] Some say it was the letter Tau; others, some letter of Jehovah: probably it was the perpetual trembling of his hands, and whole body, the very sight whereof made people pity him, till at length he was slain, say some, by his nephew Lamech. Cedrenus a tells us, if we may... read more

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:6

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:7

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:8

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:9

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:10

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:11

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:12

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:13

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:14

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:15

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