1Then Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she became pregnant. She bore a son and said, “By the LORD's help I have acquired a son.” So she named him Cain.#4.1 Cain: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “acquired”. 2Later she gave birth to another son, Abel. Abel became a shepherd, but Cain was a farmer. 3After some time, Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the LORD. 4#Heb 11.4Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering, 5but he rejected Cain and his offering. Cain became furious, and he scowled in anger. 6Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why that scowl on your face? 7If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling;#4.7 you would be smiling; or I would have accepted your offering. but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it.”

8 # Mt 23.35; Lk 11.51; 1 Jn 3.12 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go out in the fields.”#4.8 Some ancient translations Let's go out in the fields; Hebrew does not have these words. When they were out in the fields, Cain turned on his brother and killed him.

9The LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

He answered, “I don't know. Am I supposed to take care of my brother?”

10 # Heb 12.24 Then the LORD said, “Why have you done this terrible thing? Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground, like a voice calling for revenge. 11You are placed under a curse and can no longer farm the soil. It has soaked up your brother's blood as if it had opened its mouth to receive it when you killed him. 12If you try to grow crops, the soil will not produce anything; you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

13And Cain said to the LORD, “This punishment is too hard for me to bear. 14You are driving me off the land and away from your presence. I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth, and anyone who finds me will kill me.”

15But the LORD answered, “No. If anyone kills you, seven lives will be taken in revenge.” So the LORD put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who met him not to kill him. 16And Cain went away from the LORD's presence and lived in a land called “Wandering”, which is east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

17Cain and his wife had a son and named him Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son. 18Enoch had a son named Irad, who was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael had a son named Methushael, who was the father of Lamech. 19Lamech had two wives, Adah and Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the ancestor of those who raise livestock and live in tents. 21His brother was Jubal, the ancestor of all musicians who play the harp and the flute. 22Zillah gave birth to Tubal Cain, who made all kinds of tools#4.22 who made all kinds of tools; one ancient translation ancestor of all metalworkers. out of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal Cain was Naamah.

23Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me: I have killed a young man because he struck me.

24 # Mt 18.22 If seven lives are taken to pay for killing Cain,

77 will be taken if anyone kills me.”

Seth and Enosh

25Adam and his wife had another son. She said, “God has given me a son to replace Abel, whom Cain killed.” So she named him Seth.#4.25 Seth: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “has given”. 26Seth had a son whom he named Enosh. It was then that people began using the LORD's holy name in worship.

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Genesis 4

1And Adam (Man, ground; red; earthling) knew Khav’vah [Eve] (to breath, to live) his wife; and she conceived, and bore Kayin [something produced, spear], and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) (literally “I have given birth to the man who is in fact Yehovah – Messiah).

2And she again bore his brother Hevel (herdsman). And Hevel (herdsman) was a keeper of sheep, but Kayin [something produced, spear] was a tiller of the ground.

3And in process of time it came to pass, that Kayin [something produced, spear] brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate).

4And Hevel (herdsman), he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) had respect unto Hevel (herdsman) and to his offering:

5But unto Kayin [something produced, spear] and to his offering he had not respect. And Kayin [something produced, spear] was very exceedingly angry, and his Countenance (Face, appearance; show favor) fell.

6And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) said unto Kayin [something produced, spear], Why are youi exceedingly angry? and why is youri Countenance (Face, appearance; show favor) fallen?

7If youi do well, shall youi not be accepted? and if youi do not well, sin crouches at the door. And unto youi [shall be] his desire, and youi shall rule over him.

8And Kayin [something produced, spear] talked with Hevel (herdsman) his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Kayin [something produced, spear] rose up against Hevel (herdsman) his brother, and killed him.

9And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) said unto Kayin [something produced, spear], Where [is] Hevel (herdsman) youri brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother’s keeper?

10And he said, What have youi done? the voice of youri brother’s blood cries unto me from the ground.

11And now [are] youi cursed from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive youri brother’s blood from youri hand;

12When youi till the ground, it shall not from this time forth (from now on) yield unto youi her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shall youi be in the earth.

13And Kayin [something produced, spear] said unto the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), My punishment [is] greater than I can bore.

14Behold, youi hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from youri face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, [that] every one that finds me shall slay me.

15And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) said unto him, Therefore whosoever slays Kayin [something produced, spear], vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) set a mark upon Kayin [something produced, spear], lest any finding him should kill him.

16And Kayin [something produced, spear] went out from the presence of the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), and dwelt in the land of Nod (vagabond; fugitive), on the east of ‘Eden (bliss).

17And Kayin [something produced, spear] knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Hanokh (trained and vowed, dedicated; profound (go deep into something)): and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Hanokh (trained and vowed, dedicated; profound (go deep into something)).

18And unto Hanokh (trained and vowed, dedicated; profound (go deep into something)) was born ‘Irad (wild donkey; heap of empire; dragon): and ‘Irad (wild donkey; heap of empire; dragon) begat (to be father of; be ancestor of) Mechuya’el (who proclaims God): and Mechuya’el (who proclaims God) begat (to be father of; be ancestor of) Metusha’el (Man Of God; I’m Mortal, Where’s God?; Man Of Inquisition or Requested Man; [the Man We Wanted]): and Metusha’el (Man Of God; I’m Mortal, Where’s God?; Man Of Inquisition or Requested Man; [the Man We Wanted]) begat (to be father of; be ancestor of) Lemekh (poor; made low).

19And Lemekh (poor; made low) took unto him two wives: the name of the one [was] ‘Adah (an assembly) and Tzilah (shadow).

20And ‘Adah bore Yaval (bring, carry, lead, conduct): he was the father of such as dwell in tents [artificial structures], and [of such as have] cattle [vocation (what God calls, gifts a person to do)].

21And his brother’s name [was] Yuv’al (stream): he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ [artistry].

22And Zillah, she also bore Tuval-Kayin (the inhabited world [and its economy] and production, a spear [weapons]), an instructor of every artisan in brass and iron [manufacturing – with military applications]: and the sister of Tuval-Kayin [was] Na’amah [Loveliness] (pleasant).

23And Lemekh (poor; made low) said unto his wives, ‘Adah (an assembly) and Tzilah (shadow), Hear my voice; youf wives of Lemekh (poor; made low), hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

24If Kayin [something produced, spear] shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lemekh (poor; made low) seventy and sevenfold.

25And Adam (Man, ground; red; earthling) knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Shet (Appointed; with connotations of Gluteus Maximus and tumult): For God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered], [said she], has appointed me another seed instead of Hevel (herdsman), whom Kayin [something produced, spear] killed.

26And to Shet (Appointed), to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh (mortal, frail, or miserable; mortal man; sick; despaired of; forgetful): then began men to curse the name (lit. Profane (treat as common; defile) the name) of the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate).

For more information about the NMV, details about why the names of God are notated and translated as they are, or to learn about the special markings and translations used in this text, click below.

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Genesis 4

Genesis 4