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.
What does Genesis 4:15 mean?
Malice in the heart ends in murder by the hands.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Genesis 4:13-15 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Genesis 4:15
And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. The reply of the Lord is suited to quell the troubled breast of Cain. "Therefore." Because thy fears of what thou deservest go beyond what it is my purpose to permit, I give thee assurance of freedom from personal violence. "To be avenged seven-fold" is to be avenged fully. Cain will no doubt receive even-handed justice from the Almighty. The assurance given to Cain is a sign, the nature of which is not further specified. This passage unfolds to us a mode of dealing with the first murderer which is at first sight somewhat difficult to be understood.
Key words
- therefore
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therefore. (y) "quasi" , Sept. "nequaquam ita fiet", V. L.
- Cain
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And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Context in Genesis 4
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Genesis 4 belongs to the early movement of the book, especially the section often described as primeval history from creation to Babel. Genesis opens the whole Bible with creation, fall, flood, Babel, and the long patriarchal story that carries the reader from Eden to Egypt. Read this chapter with the wider themes of creation, fall, and covenant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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A collection of passages on hope under pressure, future inheritance, resurrection expectation, and confidence in God’s final faithfulness.