Genesis 4:2 kjv

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Genesis 4:2 nkjv

Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Genesis 4:2 niv

Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.

Genesis 4:2 esv

And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

Genesis 4:2 nlt

Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.

Genesis 4 verses

Genesis 4 2 Meaning

Genesis 4:2 details the birth of Eve's second son, Abel, immediately after her first son, Cain. The verse specifically delineates their respective primary occupations: Abel became a shepherd, tending to flocks of sheep, while Cain continued in his role as a cultivator, working the soil. This foundational description introduces the differing vocational paths of the world's first brothers, setting the stage for their future interactions and God's dealings with them.

Genesis 4 2 Context

Genesis chapter 4 immediately follows the account of the Fall of humanity in chapter 3, where Adam and Eve sinned and were subsequently expelled from the Garden of Eden. The curse upon the serpent, Eve, and Adam (specifically involving toil and death, and a curse on the ground) frames the initial human existence outside paradise. Verse 1 describes Eve's joy and belief in the birth of Cain, potentially viewing him as the promised "seed" from Genesis 3:15. Genesis 4:2 then introduces Abel, establishing the beginning of the first sibling relationship outside Eden and diversifying human labor. This diversification highlights humanity's need to survive and cultivate the cursed earth, laying the groundwork for the ensuing narrative of human sin, conflict, and the progression of human society.

Genesis 4 2 Word analysis

• Again (וַתֹּסֶף - vattōsep̄): This word is from the Hebrew root Y-S-F (יסף), meaning "to add" or "to continue." It implies that Eve's childbirth was not a singular event but part of an ongoing process of populating the earth. It emphasizes the continuity of God's command to "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen 1:28) even after the Fall, although now occurring in a fallen world.
• she bore (וַתֵּלֶד - vattēlĕd): Derived from the verb "yalad" (ילד), meaning "to give birth." This marks a foundational activity for the new generation, continuing the human line after the initial parents.
• his brother (אָחִיו - ʾaḥiw): From "ʾaḥ" (אח), meaning "brother." This immediate identification highlights the direct familial connection between Cain and Abel, setting up the critical sibling relationship that defines much of the subsequent narrative.
• Abel (הֶבֶל - Hevel): The Hebrew name Hevel literally means "breath," "vapor," or "futility." This name carries significant symbolic weight, often interpreted as foreshadowing the brevity and tragic end of his life (he was murdered) and resonating with the theme of "vanity" or "meaninglessness" found prominently in the book of Ecclesiastes (Ecc 1:2; 12:8).
• was a keeper (רֹעֵה - roʿeh): This is the participle form of the verb "raʿah" (רעה), meaning "to pasture," "to shepherd," "to tend." It denotes the active role of a shepherd as one who guides, feeds, and protects the flock. This vocation would later be associated with spiritual leadership and even divine care.
• of sheep (צֹאן - tson): Refers to flocks of small livestock, including both sheep and goats. These animals were essential for ancient economies, providing food, wool, and importantly, sacrificial animals in the worship of God.
• and Cain (וְקַיִן - vəqayin): Reintroduction of the firstborn son, his name also potentially holds significance (see Gen 4:1 commentary), but here simply identifies the subject of the second vocational description.
• a worker (עֹבֵד - ʿoved): From the verb "ʿavad" (עבד), meaning "to work," "to serve," "to cultivate." It implies one who toils and engages in service, here specifically in relation to the ground.
• of the ground (אֲדָמָה - ʾadamah): Refers to the arable soil or earth. This term is notably significant given the curse placed upon the "ground" (אדמה) in Gen 3:17-19, linking Cain's occupation directly to the struggles and toil mandated by the Fall.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Again, she bore his brother Abel": This phrase introduces the second child, immediately emphasizing his fraternal relationship with Cain. The "again" signals continuation and the multiplication of humanity beyond Adam and Eve. The naming of Abel with its intrinsic meaning foreshadows the tragedy to come.
• "Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground": This contrasting statement immediately distinguishes the two brothers by their vocations. This distinction is crucial as it sets the scene for their differing offerings to God in the very next verses. Abel's role as a shepherd is often linked to a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle and the care of living beings, animals used for sacrifice, implying a closer connection to the shedding of blood and covenant. Cain's role as an "ʾoved ʾadamah" (worker of the ground) connects him directly to the earth that was cursed (Gen 3:17-19), suggesting a life of more arduous toil and the direct product of the cursed ground. This highlights a diversification of human labor shortly after the expulsion from Eden, showcasing the beginning of different economic activities and life strategies.

Genesis 4 2 Bonus section

• The naming of Abel with a seemingly prophetic meaning ("breath," "vapor") can be seen as an early example of narrative foreshadowing in biblical literature, a common feature in Genesis that often gives deeper insight into a character's destiny.
• The occupations themselves reflect differing economic strategies common in the ancient Near East – pastoralism versus settled agriculture – often leading to societal tensions, which in this case, tragically, plays out within a single family. This sets a precedent for many later biblical narratives involving family conflict (e.g., Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers).
• The distinction between a shepherd (Abel) and a tiller of the ground (Cain) prefigures a subtle divine preference for offerings associated with blood sacrifice (like those from the flock), over solely plant-based ones, although both types were eventually incorporated into Mosaic law. This narrative might underscore that it is the heart and the manner of offering, rather than the type itself, that matters to God, as elucidated in Heb 11:4 regarding Abel's faith.

Genesis 4 2 Commentary

Genesis 4:2 is a succinct yet profoundly significant verse, laying the groundwork for the first act of sibling rivalry and human sin recorded outside the Garden. It highlights the rapid expansion of humanity through procreation and, crucially, the immediate diversification of human labor into two foundational ancient Near Eastern occupations: shepherding and agriculture. This vocational distinction is not presented as inherently good or bad, but it becomes the framework within which the brothers interact with each other and with God. Abel's role as a "keeper of sheep" positions him to offer animal sacrifices, symbolic of life and atonement, while Cain's role as a "worker of the ground" connects him directly to the earth under the curse, symbolizing toil and sustenance from that struggling source. The very name "Abel," meaning "vapor" or "breath," carries a melancholic prophetic weight, foreshadowing his tragically brief life. The verse establishes the distinct spheres of operation for the world's first two brothers, creating a subtle tension that culminates in the dramatic events of their offerings and Cain's fratricide, demonstrating how sin swiftly infiltrates human relationships and vocation after the Fall.