The Meaning of Genesis 4:16 Explained

Genesis 4:16

KJV: And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

YLT: And Cain goeth out from before Jehovah, and dwelleth in the land, moving about east of Eden;

Darby: And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, toward the east of Eden.

ASV: And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Cain  went out  from the presence  of the LORD,  and dwelt  in the land  of Nod,  on the east  of Eden. 

What does Genesis 4:16 Mean?

Study Notes

Nod
Lit. wandering.

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 4:16 mean?

And went out Cain from the presence of Yahweh and dwelt in the land of Nod east of Eden
וַיֵּ֥צֵא קַ֖יִן מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ נ֖וֹד קִדְמַת־ עֵֽדֶן

וַיֵּ֥צֵא  And  went  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
קַ֖יִן  Cain 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: קַיִן 
Sense: eldest son of Adam and Eve and the first murderer having murdered his brother Abel.
מִלִּפְנֵ֣י  from  the  presence 
Parse: Preposition-m, Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב  and  dwelt 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בְּאֶֽרֶץ־  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
נ֖וֹד  of  Nod 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: נׄוד  
Sense: land to which Cain fled or wandered after the murder of Abel.
קִדְמַת־  east 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: קִדְמָה  
Sense: forward, front, east, antiquity, East.
עֵֽדֶן  of  Eden 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדֶן 
Sense: the first habitat of man after the creation; site unknown.