ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Genesis 4

Gen. 4:2–5 The fact that God had regard for Abel and his offering, but not for Cain, does not mean that shepherds are better than farmers or that animal offerings are better than plant offerings. Both kinds of offerings will be part of the later Levitical system (for offerings of the fruit of the ground, see Deut. 26:2). This passage and others suggest that God’s acceptance of Abel and rejection of Cain had to do with the attitudes of their hearts. Cain’s fundamentally bad heart can be seen in his resentment toward his brother and in his unloving attitude in the rest of the passage (see also 1 John 3:12). As compared to Cain’s offering, Abel’s offering (from the firstborn of his flock) is more costly, perhaps expressing greater devotion (see also Heb. 11:4).

Gen. 4:6–7 The Lord’s words challenge Cain to do better. He still has the possibility of pleasing God. To do so, however, he must overcome the power of sin, which is like a wild beast seeking to devour him.

Gen. 4:9 am I my brother’s keeper? Cain denies any knowledge about his brother and shows no sign of remorse.

Gen. 4:10–12 Because his brother’s blood cries out to God from the ground, Cain will no longer be able to cultivate the soil. As seen throughout Scripture, human sin has an impact on the fertility of the earth (compare 3:17–18).

Gen. 4:13–16 Cain will be alienated from both the ground and God. He will become a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. He fears that others will have such a dread of him that anyone who sees him will kill him. The precise nature of the mark on Cain is not known, except that it must have been something visible.

Gen. 4:17 Cain knew his wife. Presumably, Cain married his sister, since the whole human race descends from Adam and Eve (see 5:4). The later laws forbidding this practice, such as Lev. 18:9, would not have been relevant yet.

Gen. 4:18–22 Lamech’s immediate descendants are associated with animal breeding, music, and metalwork. Whereas Abel is linked to sheep (v. 2), Jabal raised livestock, which probably included cattle and donkeys, and possibly camels.

Gen. 4:23–24 Lamech killed a man merely for wounding or striking him. His response is out of proportion to the injury. sevenfold . . . seventy-sevenfold. Lamech says that his vengeful response makes him safer than Cain, who had only God’s protection (v. 15).

Gen. 4:25–26 another offspring. Compare “her offspring” (3:15). At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. This suggests that the birth of Seth marks a new beginning for humanity. It probably refers to public worship, initially within Adam’s own family circle.