Cain

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew Qayin (“acquired/possessed”), linked to Eve’s naming in Genesis 4:1.
• Period/Era: Primeval History
• Main References: Genesis 4:1–17
• Key Connections: Son of Adam and Eve; brother of Abel and Seth; ancestor of a distinct line through Enoch (Gen 4:17).

Who was Cain?

Cain is presented as the first child born to Adam and Eve.
He worked the ground and brought an offering to the LORD.
After being warned about sin, he killed his brother Abel.
He was judged with exile yet marked for protection from vengeance.

Key Events & Achievements

• Offering: Presented produce from the ground to the LORD, contrasted with Abel’s offering (Gen 4:3–5).
• Murder: Killed Abel in the field and was confronted by God about Abel’s blood (Gen 4:8–12).
• Exile: Departed from the LORD’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, where his line begins (Gen 4:13–17).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Cain’s story portrays how unruled sin can lead from resentment to violence and lasting alienation.

Key Verse

“Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?’” — Genesis 4:6, ESV