The Meaning of Genesis 4:11 Explained

Genesis 4:11

KJV: And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

YLT: and now, cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened her mouth to receive the blood of thy brother from thy hand;

Darby: And now be thou cursed from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand.

ASV: And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

What is the context of Genesis 4:11?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And now [art] thou cursed  from the earth,  which hath opened  her mouth  to receive  thy brother's  blood  from thy hand; 

What does Genesis 4:11 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 4:11 mean?

so now [are] cursed you from the earth which has opened - its mouth to receive the blood of your brother from your hand
וְעַתָּ֖ה אָר֣וּר אָ֑תָּה מִן־ הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּצְתָ֣ה אֶת־ פִּ֔יהָ לָקַ֛חַת דְּמֵ֥י אָחִ֖יךָ מִיָּדֶֽךָ

וְעַתָּ֖ה  so  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
אָר֣וּר  [are]  cursed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: אָרַר  
Sense: to curse.
הָֽאֲדָמָה֙  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
פָּצְתָ֣ה  has  opened 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: פָּצָה  
Sense: to part, open, separate, set free.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
פִּ֔יהָ  its  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
לָקַ֛חַת  to  receive 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
דְּמֵ֥י  the  blood 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
אָחִ֖יךָ  of  your  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
מִיָּדֶֽךָ  from  your  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.