The Listener’s Commentary Genesis 4:1-6:8
Sin And Death Spread Through Humanity
- Genesis 4:1–6:8 traces how sin and death spread from Adam and Eve into their family and wider humanity.
- The episodes of Cain/Abel, genealogies, and early corruption illustrate contagion of moral decay.
Offerings Reveal Heart Attitude
- The text contrasts Cain’s bare offering with Abel’s firstborn and best portions to highlight differing faith postures.
- Hebrews 11:4 interprets Abel’s gift as faith-driven, while Cain’s offering lacked trust and reverence.
God’s Warning Is Personal Responsibility
- God confronts Cain and links his mood to moral failure, warning that sin is "lurking at the door."
- The text makes responsibility clear: Cain must master sin rather than excuse it.
Genesis 4:1-6:8
Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have obtained a male child with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. 3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; 5 but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy? 7 If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8 Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 Then He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground. 11 Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to endure! 14 Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and I will be hidden from Your face, and I will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him seven times as much.” And the Lord placed a mark on Cain, so that no one finding him would kill him.
16 Then Cain left the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and Cain built a city, and named the city Enoch, after the name of his son. 18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 Lamech took two wives for himself: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and flute. 22 As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah,
Listen to my voice,
You wives of Lamech,
Pay attention to my words,
For I have killed a man for wounding me;
And a boy for striking me!
24 If Cain is avenged seven times,
Then Lamech seventy-seven times!”
25 Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another child in place of Abel, because Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. On the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them “mankind” on the day when they were created.
3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. 4 Then the days of Adam after he fathered Seth were eight hundred years, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 5 So all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.
6 Now Seth lived 105 years, and fathered Enosh. 7 Then Seth lived 807 years after he fathered Enosh, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 8 So all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.
9 Now Enosh lived ninety years, and fathered Kenan. 10 Then Enosh lived 815 years after he fathered Kenan, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 11 So all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.
12 Now Kenan lived seventy years, and fathered Mahalalel. 13 Then Kenan lived 840 years after he fathered Mahalalel, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 14 So all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.
15 Now Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and fathered Jared. 16 Then Mahalalel lived 830 years after he fathered Jared, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 17 So all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.
18 Now Jared lived 162 years, and fathered Enoch. 19 Then Jared lived eight hundred years after he fathered Enoch, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 20 So all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.
21 Now Enoch lived sixty-five years, and fathered Methuselah. 22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he fathered Methuselah, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
25 Now Methuselah lived 187 years, and fathered Lamech. 26 Then Methuselah lived 782 years after he fathered Lamech, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 27 So all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.
28 Now Lamech lived 182 years, and fathered a son. 29 And he named him Noah, saying, “This one will give us comfort from our work and from the hard labor of our hands caused by the ground which the Lord has cursed.” 30 Then Lamech lived 595 years after he fathered Noah, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 31 So all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.
32 Now after Noah was five hundred years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
6:1 Now it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with man forever, because he is also flesh; nevertheless his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. 6 So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 Then the Lord said, “I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land; mankind, and animals as well, and crawling things, and the birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
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