The Meaning of Genesis 4:9 Explained

Genesis 4:9

KJV: And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

YLT: And Jehovah saith unto Cain, 'Where is Abel thy brother?' and he saith, 'I have not known; my brother's keeper -- I?'

Darby: And Jehovah said to Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?

ASV: And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?

Discover Genesis 4:9

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Genesis 4:9?

MEANING: What does Genesis 4:9 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Genesis 4:9 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Genesis 4:9?

What is the context of Genesis 4:9?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother's keeper?

What does Genesis 4:9 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 4:9 mean?

And said Yahweh to Cain where [is] Abel your brother and He said not I do know Keeper of my brother [am] I

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־ קַ֔יִן אֵ֖י הֶ֣בֶל ؟ אָחִ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א ؟ יָדַ֔עְתִּי הֲשֹׁמֵ֥ר אָחִ֖י ؟ אָנֹֽכִי

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	And said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָה֙	Yahweh
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יהוה Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
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.
אֵ֖י	where [is]
Parse: Interrogative Root: אֵי Sense: where?, whence?.
הֶ֣בֶל	Abel
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: הֶבֶל Sense: second son of Adam and Eve, killed by his brother Cain.
؟ אָחִ֑יךָ	your brother
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular Root: אָח Sense: brother.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	and He said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
؟ יָדַ֔עְתִּי	I do know
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular Root: דָּעָה Sense: to know.
הֲשֹׁמֵ֥ר	Keeper
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular Root: שָׁמַר Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
אָחִ֖י	of my brother
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: אָח Sense: brother.
؟ אָנֹֽכִי	[am] I
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular Root: אָנׄכִי Sense: I (first pers.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 4:9?

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Similar Scriptures for Genesis 4:9

		Proverbs 28:13 [3]
		John 8:44 [2]
		Psalms 10:13-14 [2]
		Psalms 9:12 [2]
		Genesis 3:9-11 [1]
		Job 22:13-14 [0]
		Acts 5:4-9 [-1]
		Genesis 37:32 [-2]