Catholic Commentary on Genesis 4

"Then people began to call on the name of the LORD." (Genesis 4:26)

Cain and Abel

The consequences of the Fall move immediately into the next generation. Eve bears Cain and then Abel. Both offer sacrifice to God: Cain brings an offering from the fruit of the ground; Abel brings fat portions from the firstborn of his flock. God looks with favour on Abel and his offering but not on Cain and his. Why? The text does not specify, but the Letter to the Hebrews says Abel's offering was by faith (Hebrews 11:4), suggesting the issue is not the type of offering but the disposition of the heart that brings it. Cain is angry and his face falls. God's response is pastoral rather than punitive: why are you angry? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.

Cain does not rule over it. He kills his brother in the field. God asks: where is your brother? I am not my brother's keeper, Cain answers. The denial of fraternal responsibility is the social consequence of the original sin: just as Adam and Eve hid from God, Cain hides his brother's blood from God. The Catechism sees in Cain's murder of Abel the first fruit of original sin in human relationships: the violence that enters the world when love of God is corrupted (CCC 2259).

The First Worship

God marks Cain with a sign of protection and he goes to live east of Eden. Generations are named. Eve bears Seth to replace the murdered Abel. Seth has a son named Enosh. And then the verse that closes the chapter with unexpected hope after the darkness of fratricide: Then people began to call on the name of the LORD. Even in a world of exile and murder, the impulse to worship persists. The Catechism calls this the universal and natural desire for God implanted in every human being, the restlessness that will not find rest until it rests in God (CCC 27).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, sin is crouching at the door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. The warning God gave Cain is given to every person who has felt the anger rising, the resentment building, the slow drift toward an irreversible act. The moment before the sin is committed is the moment of choice. Rule over it. Come to Confession before the sin takes root. Call on the name of the LORD before the field becomes a place of blood.

Prayer

Lord God, sin crouches at our doors and desires to have us. Give us the grace to rule over it. Where we have been Cain, hiding the blood of brothers and sisters from you, forgive us and mark us with your mercy. And let us always be among those who call on your name. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

4
Cain and Abel
(Hebrews 11:4)
1 And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain.* 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for acquired or brought forth.
 
“With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.
 
2 Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel.
 
Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil. 3 So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD, 4 while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock.
 
And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
 
6 “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you,† 4:7 Or it desires to control you but you must master it.”
 
8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” ‡ 4:8 SP, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew Then Cain spoke to his brother Abel. And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
 
9 And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
 
“I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
 
10 “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
 
13 But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment § 4:13 Or guilt or sin is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
 
15 “Not so!”* 4:15 LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac; Hebrew “Very well!” or “Therefore:” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.
 
16 So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod,† 4:16 Nod means wandering. east of Eden.
The Descendants of Cain
 
17 And Cain had relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch.
 
18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methusael, and Methusael was the father of Lamech. 19 And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
 
20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock. 21 And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.
 
22 And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
 
23 Then Lamech said to his wives:
 
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
wives of Lamech, listen to my speech.
For I have slain a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold,
then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”‡ 4:24 Hebrew; LXX can be translated as either seventy times seven or seventy-sevenfold; see also Matthew 18:22.
Seth and Enosh
 
25 And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,§ 4:25 Seth probably means granted or appointed. saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”
 
26 And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh.
 
At that time men began to call upon * 4:26 Or to proclaim; some translators to invoke or to call themselves by or to profane the name of the LORD.

*4:1 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for acquired or brought forth.

†4:7 4:7 Or it desires to control you

‡4:8 4:8 SP, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew Then Cain spoke to his brother Abel.

§4:13 4:13 Or guilt or sin

*4:15 4:15 LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac; Hebrew “Very well!” or “Therefore:”

†4:16 4:16 Nod means wandering.

‡4:24 4:24 Hebrew; LXX can be translated as either seventy times seven or seventy-sevenfold; see also Matthew 18:22.

§4:25 4:25 Seth probably means granted or appointed.

*4:26 4:26 Or to proclaim; some translators to invoke or to call themselves by or to profane

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