Genesis 4:15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:13-15

We have here a further account of the proceedings against Cain. I. Here is Cain's complaint of the sentence passed upon him, as hard and severe. Some make him to speak the language of despair, and read it, My iniquity is greater than that it may be forgiven; and so what he says is a reproach and affront to the mercy of God, which those only shall have the benefit of that hope in it. There is forgiveness with the God of pardons for the greatest sins and sinners; but those forfeit it who despair... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:15

And the Lord said unto him ,.... In order to satisfy him, and make him easy in this respect, that: he need not fear an immediate or bodily death, which was showing him great clemency and lenity; or in answer to his begging for death, "therefore", or as some render the word, taking them for two, "not so" F25 לכן "quasi" לא כן ουχ ουτω , Sept. "nequaquam ita fiet", V. L. ; it shall not be that whoever finds thee shall slay thee, thou needest not be afraid of that; nor shall thy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:15

The Lord set a mark upon Cain - What this mark was, has given rise to a number of frivolously curious conjectures. Dr. Shuckford collects the most remarkable. Some say he was paralytic; this seems to have arisen from the version of the Septuagint, Στενων και τρεμων εση , Groaning and trembling shalt thou be. The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel says the sign was from the great and precious name, probably one of the letters of the word Yehovah . The author of an Arabic Catena in the Bodleian... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:15

Verse 15 15.Therefore, whosoever slayeth Cain. They who think that it was Cain’s wish to perish immediately by one death, in order that he might not be agitated by continual dangers, and that the prolongation of his life was granted him only as a punishment, have no reason, that I can see, for thus speaking. But far more absurd is the manner in which many of the Jews mutilate this sentence. First, they imagine, in this clause, the use of the figure ἀποσιώπησις, according to which something not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 4:1-15

The first brothers. I. THE BROTHERS AT HOME . 1. The first home. Of Divine appointment, and among the choicest blessings that have survived the fall, homes are designed for— 2. A pious home . Its locality , though outside the garden, was still in Eden, which was a mercy, and probably not far from the cherubim, Adam's gate of heaven, which was hopeful. When man founds a home it should never be far removed from God, heaven, or the Church. Its structure , mayhap,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 4:9-15

The condemnation and judgment of the first murderer. Notice— I. The Divine APPEAL TO CONSCIENCE , affording opportunity to repentance and confession, and therefore to the exercise of mercy. II. THE BLINDING EFFECT OF A GREAT SIN . The man who Anew that God knew all persisting in a lie, and insulting the Divine majesty at the very throne of judgment, i.e. defying God by the monstrous extravagance of self-assertion, which is the effect of indulged sin, not only... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 4:15

The condemned fratricide's apprehensions were allayed by a special act of grace. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore (the LXX ; Symm; Theodotion, Vulgate, Syriac, Dathius, translate Not so— ου ̓ χ ου ̓ ì τως , nequaquam , reading לאֹ כֵו instead of לָכֵן ) whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold . I .e. fully , sevenfold vengeance—complete vengeance (cf. Le Genesis 26:28 ). In the case of Cain's murderer there was to be no... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 4:1-16

- Section IV - The Family of Adam- Cain and Abel1. קין qayı̂n, Qain (Cain), “spear-shaft,” and קנה qānah, “set up, establish, gain, buy,” contain the biliteral root קן qan, “set up, erect, gain.” The relations of root words are not confined to the narrow rules of our common etymology, but really extend to such instinctive usages as the unlettered speaker will invent or employ. A full examination of the Hebrew tongue leads to the conclusion that a biliteral root lies at the base of many of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 4:15

Genesis 4:15. Whosoever slayeth Cain, &c. God having said, in Cain’s case, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, it had been a daring usurpation for any man to take the sword out of God’s hand. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain To distinguish him from the rest of mankind. What the mark was, God has not told us: therefore the conjectures of men are vain. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:1-16

Cain and Abel (4:1-16)Adam and Eve’s first two sons, Cain and Abel, maintained a belief in God and presented offerings to him. Abel offered the best of his flock in humble faith and God accepted him. Cain’s attitude was arrogant and his life ungodly, and therefore God rejected him (4:1-5; cf. Hebrews 11:4; 1 John 3:12; 1 John 3:12). Since the attitude and conduct of the offerer were more important than his gifts, God told Cain that if he wanted God to accept him, he would have to overcome the... read more

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