The Meaning of Genesis 4:15 Explained

Genesis 4:15

KJV: 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.

YLT: And Jehovah saith to him, 'Therefore -- of any slayer of Cain sevenfold it is required;' and Jehovah setteth to Cain a token that none finding him doth slay him.

Darby: And Jehovah said to him, Therefore, whoever slayeth Cain, it shall be revenged sevenfold. And Jehovah set a mark on Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.

ASV: And Jehovah said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Jehovah appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.

Discover Genesis 4:15

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Genesis 4:15?

MEANING: What does Genesis 4:15 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Genesis 4:15 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Genesis 4:15?

What is the context of Genesis 4:15?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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?

Study Notes

mark
i.e. for Cain's protection. The law of Genesis 9:6 was not yet enacted.

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 4:15 mean?

And said to him Yahweh therefore whoever kills Cain sevenfold vengeance shall be taken on him And set Yahweh on Cain a mark lest should kill him anyone finding him

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ יְהוָ֗ה לָכֵן֙ כָּל־ הֹרֵ֣ג קַ֔יִן שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקָּ֑ם וַיָּ֨שֶׂם יְהוָ֤ה לְקַ֙יִן֙ א֔וֹת לְבִלְתִּ֥י הַכּוֹת־ אֹת֖וֹ כָּל־ מֹצְאֽוֹ

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר	And said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ל֣וֹ	to him
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
יְהוָ֗ה	Yahweh
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יהוה Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
כָּל־	whoever
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: כֹּל Sense: all, the whole.
הֹרֵ֣ג	kills
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct Root: הָרַג Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
קַ֔יִן	Cain
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: קַיִן Sense: eldest son of Adam and Eve and the first murderer having murdered his brother Abel.
שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם	sevenfold
Parse: Number, fd Root: שִׁבְעָתַיִם Sense: sevenfold, seven times.
יֻקָּ֑ם	vengeance shall be taken on him
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: נָקַם Sense: to avenge, take vengeance, revenge, avenge oneself, be avenged, be punished.
וַיָּ֨שֶׂם	And set
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: שׂוּמָה Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
יְהוָ֤ה	Yahweh
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יהוה Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְקַ֙יִן֙	on Cain
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: קַיִן Sense: eldest son of Adam and Eve and the first murderer having murdered his brother Abel.
א֔וֹת	a mark
Parse: Noun, common singular Root: אֹות Sense: sign, signal.
לְבִלְתִּ֥י	lest
Parse: Preposition-l Root: בִּלְתִּי Sense: not, except adv.
הַכּוֹת־	should kill
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct Root: נָכָה Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
כָּל־	anyone
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: כֹּל Sense: all, the whole.
מֹצְאֽוֹ	finding him
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular Root: מָצָא Sense: to find, attain to.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 4:15?

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