Genesis 4:15 kjv

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Genesis 4:15 nkjv

And the LORD said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

Genesis 4:15 niv

But the LORD said to him, "Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

Genesis 4:15 esv

Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.

Genesis 4:15 nlt

The LORD replied, "No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.

Genesis 4 verses

Genesis 4 15 Meaning

Genesis 4:15 declares God's direct intervention to protect Cain, despite his heinous crime of fratricide. God decrees that if anyone attempts to kill Cain in an act of revenge, they will face a divinely imposed vengeance magnified "sevenfold." To enforce this decree and serve as a deterrent, God then sets or assigns a "mark" upon or for Cain, whose primary purpose is to identify Cain as under divine protection, thus preventing any individual from harming or killing him. This verse reveals God's complex nature, blending judgment for sin with mercy to preserve life and restrain the escalation of violence in early human society.

Genesis 4 15 Context

Genesis chapter 4 opens after the fall of humanity in Eden. Cain, the firstborn, and Abel, his younger brother, bring offerings to God. God accepts Abel's offering but rejects Cain's, leading to Cain's jealous rage. Despite God's warning, Cain murders Abel in the field. This marks the first recorded act of bloodshed between humans, stemming from sin. God then confronts Cain, pronounces a curse upon him – making the ground unproductive for him and condemning him to be a restless wanderer. Cain, realizing the severity of his punishment, laments that his "punishment is greater than I can bear" and fears that anyone who finds him will kill him. Verse 15 is God's direct response to Cain's expressed fear, showcasing divine action beyond strict punishment. The historical context is early post-fall humanity, before established civil law or institutions. God intervenes personally, setting boundaries and enacting justice in a nascent society grappling with the devastating effects of sin. This act pre-dates the Noachic covenant and Mosaic law, revealing fundamental principles of God's character and His opposition to unchecked violence.

Genesis 4 15 Word analysis

• And: Hebrew wa- (וְ). A simple conjunctive prefix, linking this statement directly to Cain's lament and God's preceding curse, indicating God's immediate response.

• the Lord: Hebrew YHWH (יְהוָה). The personal, covenant name of God. This signifies God's direct, active, and authoritative involvement, emphasizing His relationship with humanity even in a state of deep sin and His role as the ultimate arbiter of justice.

• said: Hebrew vayyōmer (וַיֹּאמֶר). A common verbal form, indicating direct and declarative speech.

• to him: Refers specifically to Cain, indicating God's personal engagement and direct address to the perpetrator.

• Therefore: Hebrew lākēn (לָכֵן). This word acts as a conclusive particle, indicating that what follows is a solemn declaration, consequence, or reason stemming from the previous events and Cain's complaint. It signals a divine decree.

• whoever kills: Hebrew kol-hōrēg (כָּל-הֹרֵג). Literally "all striking" or "every slayer." It signifies an indefinite person, anticipating a future potential action. God addresses the potential threat from an undefined "anyone."

• Cain: The specific individual whom God protects despite his status as a murderer. This highlights the unexpected grace within God's justice.

• vengeance shall be taken on him: Hebrew niqmāt yiqqāyēam lō (נִקְמַת יִקָּיֵם לוֹ). Literally, "vengeance will be inflicted/visited upon him (the killer)." The root n-q-m denotes divine retribution or vindication, emphasizing God's prerogative to justly punish wrongdoers. It explicitly states that God Himself will respond with judgment against Cain's killer.

• sevenfold: Hebrew shivʻatayim (שִׁבְעָתַיִם). An intensified numerical term meaning "seven times" or "manifold." In biblical contexts, "seven" signifies completion, perfection, or intensity. Here, it indicates an overwhelming measure of divine retribution far exceeding a simple "eye for an eye." It functions as an extreme deterrent to anyone contemplating harming Cain. It is an act of "hyper-vengeance" by God on Cain's killer.

• And the Lord appointed: Hebrew wa-yyāśem YHWH (וַיָּשֶׂם יְהוָה). The verb śîm (שִׂים) means "to put, place, set, assign, appoint." It implies a deliberate and sovereign act by God, setting something in place.

• a mark: Hebrew ’ōth (א֖וֹת). This crucial word refers to a sign, token, signal, or distinguishing identifier. Its nature is undefined but its function is clear. An ’ōth is not inherently physical or negative (like a scar or brand) but serves as a clear indication or assurance of something. Examples include the rainbow (’ōth of covenant, Gen 9:12-13), circumcision (’ōth of covenant, Gen 17:11), and the Sabbath (’ōth of covenant, Exod 31:13). Here, it serves as a sign of divine protection for Cain, ensuring his preservation. It signifies that God is dealing with Cain, and no one else should interfere.

• for Cain: Clearly indicating that the mark serves the purpose of protecting Cain himself, rather than a punitive branding.

• lest anyone finding him should strike him: Hebrew lĕviltî hakkōṯ ’ōthō bĕmōtsĕʾō (לְבִלְתִּי הַכֹּת אֹתוֹ בְּמֹצְאוֹ). This clause specifies the precise purpose and effectiveness of the "mark." It prevents human retribution or murder by anyone who encounters Cain. It establishes a divine boundary on escalating human violence.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.": This phrase constitutes a profound legal and theological statement. It’s God asserting His ultimate authority over justice and vengeance, explicitly pre-empting human vigilante justice. The "sevenfold" emphasizes a disproportionate and intense divine judgment against those who take human life without God's command, thereby safeguarding Cain's life from retribution. It sets a cosmic deterrent.
  • "And the Lord appointed a mark for Cain, lest anyone finding him should strike him.": This explains the practical manifestation and purpose of God’s decree. The "mark" is a visible or discernible sign of God's sovereign protection, ensuring that the divine vengeance against Cain’s killer is made known and effective. It reveals God’s mercy extended even to a murderer, not out of indifference to Abel’s death, but out of His will to preserve human life and prevent societal decay into endless cycles of retribution, thereby preserving an embryonic humanity.

Genesis 4 15 Bonus section

The "mark of Cain" has often been misinterpreted throughout history as a curse of disfigurement or a specific racial or ethnic identifier. However, the Hebrew word ʼōth primarily connotes a protective sign or covenant marker rather than a punitive brand. It signifies God's active, intentional preservation of Cain's life. Scholars emphasize that its mystery highlights its divine origin and efficacy rather than its physical appearance. The perversion of God's "sevenfold" protective warning by Lamech in Genesis 4:24 ("If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold") ironically illustrates how human sin and boastfulness can distort God's merciful initiatives into amplified human vengeance, contributing to the escalation of violence that eventually necessitated the Great Flood. This shows a stark contrast between God's attempt to curb violence and humanity's propensity to exaggerate it.

Genesis 4 15 Commentary

Genesis 4:15 is a pivotal declaration showcasing God's sovereignty over life, death, and justice. Faced with Cain's murder of Abel and Cain's subsequent fear of reprisal, God intervenes with a nuanced response that defies simple categorization. Rather than permitting unrestrained human vengeance—which could have led to a rapid escalation of bloodshed in the early world—God prohibits it through a severe warning: killing Cain will incur God's own "sevenfold" retribution on the perpetrator. This divine over-retribution on Cain's potential killer underscores God's singular right to vengeance, ensuring it remains in His hands rather than human ones (Deut 32:35; Rom 12:19).

To make this deterrent effective, God grants Cain an ʼōth, a "mark" or "sign." This mark is not necessarily a physical disfigurement of shame, but a divinely bestowed indicator, akin to a badge of immunity or a warning label. Its precise nature is left mysterious, but its function is explicit: to communicate God's protective decree to any who might encounter Cain and consider harming him. It serves as a visual or perceptual cue that Cain is under special divine dispensation, preventing others from taking his life. This unexpected act of mercy towards a murderer demonstrates God's desire to limit the spiral of violence, uphold the sanctity of life (even for the condemned), and preserve the fragile human family at its very inception (Gen 6:11-13 indicates humanity's rapid descent into violence anyway). Cain's punishment—exile and futile toil—remains, but his life is protected. This balance of justice and mercy is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative.