The Meaning of Genesis 4:10 Explained

Genesis 4:10

KJV: And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

YLT: And He saith, 'What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood is crying unto Me from the ground;

Darby: And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.

ASV: And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

What is the context of Genesis 4:10?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said,  What  hast thou done?  the voice  of thy brother's  blood  crieth  unto me from the ground. 

What does Genesis 4:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 4:9-26 - Cain's Career
God's first question to the soul is, "Adam, where art thou?" The next, "Where is thy brother?" We are our brother's keepers. All related to us, within our reach, or needing our help have a claim. We must not take advantage of them. Their well-being and our own are inseparable. God keeps an inventory of His saints, and will avenge them. Their blood will cry to God against those who have wronged them. There is only one cry in the world which is stronger-"the blood of Jesus." See Hebrews 12:24. It cries for mercy and pardon. A numerous family sprang from our first parents, and as these intermarried a large population began to people the early seat of human life. Cain founded a city, dedicated to all that ministered to sensuous enjoyment. This was "the way of Cain," brilliant but godless, away from the presence of the Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 4

1  The birth, occupation, and offerings of Cain and Abel
8  Cain murders his brother Abel
11  The curse of Cain
17  Has a son called Enoch, and builds a city, which he calls after his name
18  His descendants, with Lamech and his two wives
25  The birth of Seth,
26  and Enos

What do the individual words in Genesis 4:10 mean?

and He said what have you done the voice of the blood of your brother cries out to Me from the ground
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה ؟ עָשִׂ֑יתָ ק֚וֹל דְּמֵ֣י אָחִ֔יךָ צֹעֲקִ֥ים אֵלַ֖י מִן־ ! הָֽאֲדָמָֽה

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר  and  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
؟ עָשִׂ֑יתָ  have  you  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
ק֚וֹל  the  voice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
דְּמֵ֣י  of  the  blood 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
אָחִ֔יךָ  of  your  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
צֹעֲקִ֥ים  cries  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: צָעַק  
Sense: to cry, cry out, call, cry for help.
אֵלַ֖י  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
! הָֽאֲדָמָֽה  the  ground 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.