Genesis 4:16-17 WEB

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:16-18

We have here a further account of Cain, and what became of him after he was rejected of God. I. He tamely submitted to that part of his sentence by which he was hidden from God's face; for (Gen. 4:16) he went out from the presence of the Lord, that is, he willingly renounced God and religion, and was content to forego its privileges, so that he might not be under its precepts. He forsook Adam's family and altar, and cast off all pretensions to the fear of God, and never came among good people,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:16

And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord ,.... Either from the place where the Lord was talking with him; or from the place where his glorious Majesty usually resided, where was some visible token of his presence, some stream of light and glory which showed him to be there, and which was at the east of the garden of Eden; from whence Cain was obliged to go, not being suffered to appear any more before God, or among his worshippers: there was a place near Tripoli in Syria, near where... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:17

And Cain knew his wife ,.... Who this woman was is not certain, nor whether it was his first wife or not; whether his sister, or one that descended from Adam by another of his sons, since this was about the one hundred and thirtieth year of the creation. At first indeed Cain could marry no other than his sister; but whether he married Abel's twin sister, or his own twin sister, is disputed; the Jews say F7 Pirke Eliezer, c. 21. , that Cain's twin sister was not a beautiful woman, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:16

The land of Nod - As נוד nod signifies the same as sa נד , a vagabond, some think this verse should be rendered, And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, from the east of Eden, and dwelt a vagabond on the earth; thus the curse pronounced on him, Genesis 4:12 , was accomplished. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:17

She - bare Enoch - As חנוך Chanoch signifies instructed, dedicated, or initiated, and especially in sacred things, it may be considered some proof of Cain's repentance, that he appears to have dedicated this son to God, who, in his father's stead, might minister in the sacerdotal office, from which Cain, by his crime, was for ever excluded. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:16

Verse 16 16.And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. Cain is said to have departed from the presence of God, because, whereas he had hitherto lived in the earth as in an abode belonging to God, now, like an exile removed far from God’s sight, he wanders beyond the limits of His protection. Or certainly, (which is not less probable,) Moses represents him as having stood at the bar of judgment till he was condemned: but now, when God ceased to speak with him, being freed from the sense of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:17

Verse 17 17.And Cain knew his wife. From the context we may gather that Cain, before he slew his brother, had married a wife; otherwise Moses would now have related something respecting his marriage; because it would be a fact worthy to be recorded, that any one of his sisters could be found, who would not shrink with horror from committing herself into the hand of one whom she knew to be defiled with a brother’s blood; and while a free choice was still given her, should rather choose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 4:16

And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord . Not simply ended his interview and prepared to emigrate from the abode of his youth (Kalisch); but, more especially, withdrew from the neighborhood of the cherubim ( vide on Genesis 4:14 ). And dwelt in the land of Nod . The geographical situation of Nod (Knobel, China?) cannot be determined further than that it was on the east of Eden , and its name, Nod, or wandering (cf. Genesis 4:12 , Genesis 4:14 ; Psalms 56:8 ), was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 4:16-24

The kingdom of God contrasted with the kingdom of this world. Society without the Lord. The banished Cain and his descendants. I. MULTIPLICATION apart from Divine order is no blessing. II. CIVILIZATION without religion is a chaos of conflicting forces, producing violence, bloodshed, working out its own ruin. Compare France in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Arts of life may grow from a mere natural root. Music, mechanical skill, scientific discovery, and invention, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 4:17

EXPOSITION Domiciled in Nod, whither, impelled by woman's love, his wife had accompanied him, the unhappy fugitive began to seek, if not to find, relief from the gnawing agonies of remorse in the endearments of conjugal felicity and the occupations of secular industry. And Cain knew his wife. Who must have been his sister, and married before the death of Abel, as "after that event it can scarcely be supposed, that any woman would be willing to connect herself with such a miserable... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:16-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 4:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 4:16-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 4:17

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