Genesis 4:25 kjv

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

Genesis 4:25 nkjv

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed."

Genesis 4:25 niv

Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him."

Genesis 4:25 esv

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him."

Genesis 4:25 nlt

Adam had sexual relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth, for she said, "God has granted me another son in place of Abel, whom Cain killed."

Genesis 4 verses

Genesis 4 25 Meaning

Genesis 4:25 describes the birth of Seth, who Eve perceives as God's chosen replacement for Abel, the son murdered by Cain. This verse signifies the continuation of God's redemptive plan and the lineage through which the promised "seed" (Messiah) would come, even after humanity's initial acts of sin and violence led to profound loss. It highlights God's sovereignty and faithfulness in providing hope and maintaining His covenant purposes despite human depravity and tragedy.

Genesis 4 25 Context

Genesis 4 opens with the first births in humanity, Cain and Abel, sons of Adam and Eve. It quickly plunges into the first murder, Cain killing Abel out of jealousy after God accepted Abel's offering and rejected Cain's. This event marks a profound descent into human sinfulness and the harsh consequences of disobedience, moving humanity further from God's original creation intention. Cain is cursed, becomes a restless wanderer, and the narrative seemingly leaves Adam and Eve in deep mourning and spiritual desolation, having lost one son to death and the other to sin and exile. Against this backdrop of grief and the disrupted trajectory of human lineage, Gen 4:25 stands as a beacon of divine grace and continuity. It sets the stage for the lineage of Seth in Chapter 5, which forms the righteous line through Noah to Abraham, ultimately leading to Christ, contrasting sharply with the wicked line of Cain. This verse signifies a fresh start for the promised "seed" in redemptive history.

Genesis 4 25 Word analysis

• And Adam knew his wife again (וַיֵּדַע אָדָם עוֹד אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ, wa·yye·ḏa‘ ’ā·ḏām ‘ôḏ ’eṯ ’iš·tô):
  • "Knew" (יָדַע, yada‘): This Hebrew verb signifies deep, intimate, personal knowledge. In this context, it is a common biblical euphemism for sexual intercourse (e.g., Gen 4:1, 1 Sam 1:19). It emphasizes a proper, marital relationship as the means of procreation.
  • "Again" (עוֹד, ‘ôḏ): This crucial adverb indicates repetition or continuation. It highlights that after the traumatic events of Abel's murder and Cain's banishment, Adam and Eve continued to fulfill God's command to be fruitful and multiply (Gen 1:28). It conveys a sense of renewed hope and a fresh start following devastating loss. This "again" underscores God's faithfulness even when human actions bring chaos.
• and she bare a son (וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן, wa·tte·leḏ bên):
  • "Bare" (וַתֵּלֶד, wa·tte·leḏ from יָלַד, yalad): The standard verb for giving birth, simply stating the event.
  • "A son" (בֵּן, bên): A male child.
• and called his name Seth (וַתִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ שֵׁת, wa·ttiq·rā’ ’eṯ šə·mōw Šēṯ):
  • "Called his name" (וַתִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ, wa·ttiq·rā’ ’eṯ šə·mōw): Indicates Eve's direct action in naming the child, as she did with Cain.
  • "Seth" (שֵׁת, Šēṯ): The name itself is significant, stemming from the Hebrew verb שִׁית (shith), meaning "to set," "to place," or "to appoint." This aligns perfectly with Eve's explanation that follows, showing divine predetermination in his arrival. Seth becomes the appointed lineage, not just a random child.
• For God, said she (כִּי שָׁת לִי אֱלֹהִים, kî šāṯ lî ’ĕ·lō·hîm):
  • "For God" (כִּי... אֱלֹהִים, kî... ’ĕ·lō·hîm): "For" or "Because" (כִּי, kî) indicates Eve's reason for naming Seth. Crucially, Eve attributes the birth directly to "God" (אֱלֹהִים, ’ĕ·lō·hîm). Unlike her earlier statement regarding Cain ("with the help of the LORD" - Yahweh), here she emphasizes God's sovereign and divine action in giving Seth. This highlights a shift from perhaps misdirected hope in human potential (Cain) to a deeper understanding of divine appointment.
  • "Hath appointed me" (שָׁת לִי, šāṯ lî from שִׁית, shith): Directly links to the meaning of Seth's name. God "set" or "placed" or "appointed" him. It’s a deliberate act of divine providence.
• another seed instead of Abel (זֶרַע אַחֵר תַּחַת הֶבֶל, zera‘ ’a·ḥēr ta·ḥaṯ he·ḇel):
  • "Another seed" (זֶרַע אַחֵר, zera‘ ’a·ḥēr):
    • "Seed" (זֶרַע, zera‘): This term is profoundly significant in biblical theology. It can refer to physical offspring or a collective lineage. Its primary importance here is its connection to the promise in Gen 3:15, where the "seed" of the woman would crush the serpent. By calling Seth "another seed," Eve explicitly recognizes God's continued plan for a righteous lineage despite the setback. This is not just "another son," but one that carries forward a specific divine purpose.
    • "Another" (אַחֵר, ’a·ḥēr): Implies a replacement or successor for a previous one, maintaining a divine succession.
  • "Instead of Abel" (תַּחַת הֶבֶל, ta·ḥaṯ he·ḇel): "Instead of" (tahat) signifies substitution or succession. This explicitly links Seth's birth to Abel's death, emphasizing that God did not abandon His plan due to human evil. Seth is providentially placed to fulfill the void left by Abel, in the ongoing flow of redemptive history.
• whom Cain slew (כִּי הֲרָגוֹ קָיִן, kî hă·rā·ḡōw Qā·yin):
  • "Whom Cain slew" (כִּי הֲרָגוֹ קָיִן, kî hă·rā·ḡōw Qā·yin): This clause explicitly recalls the tragic event of the first murder, reminding the reader of the immense loss and the context of God's sovereign intervention. It also highlights human responsibility for the evil that necessitates God's redemptive provision.

Genesis 4 25 Bonus section

• The naming of Seth by Eve is a direct acknowledgment of God's involvement in his birth, differentiating it from her perhaps more anthropocentric view when naming Cain (where she hoped she had 'gotten a man with the help of the LORD'). This implies a deeper, more accurate understanding of divine sovereignty after witnessing the tragic consequences of sin.
• The genealogical line traced through Seth (Gen 5) contrasts with the line of Cain (Gen 4:17-24), showcasing two distinct streams of humanity: one through which God's covenant purposes would progress and one that increasingly indulged in human strength and self-sufficiency leading to deeper corruption. Seth's birth marks the re-establishment of the redemptive path.
• The concept of a "replacement" or "substitution" as seen in Seth's role foreshadows broader biblical themes of divine substitution for sin (e.g., the ram instead of Isaac in Gen 22:13, or Christ as the ultimate substitute sacrifice).
• Seth's name and Eve's statement affirm divine determination. It means that God does not abandon His plan for redemption and a chosen people, even when evil seems to dominate. He provides an appointed line through which His purposes will be fulfilled, irrespective of human failure.

Genesis 4 25 Commentary

Genesis 4:25 stands as a pivotal statement of hope in the midst of profound despair. After the tragic loss of Abel and the sin of Cain, Eve's proclamation expresses faith in God's continuing plan for humanity. Her choice of name, "Seth," meaning "appointed" or "placed," directly aligns with her statement that "God has appointed for me another seed." This indicates not a casual birth, but a divine intervention, an act of sovereign grace. The term "seed" (זרע, zera‘) echoes the protoevangelium of Gen 3:15, solidifying Seth's role in the Messianic line, from which the deliverer would eventually come. It signifies that despite the corruption and violence that had entered the world through sin, God's promise of a redeemer remained active and unstoppable. Seth’s birth provides continuity to the narrative of humanity and marks the beginning of the spiritual lineage that would "call upon the name of the Lord" (Gen 4:26), setting a contrasting trajectory to the line of Cain. This verse teaches us about God's steadfastness in carrying out His purposes, His ability to bring good out of tragic circumstances, and His faithful provision for a redemptive future even when humanity falters. It underscores that the ultimate victory and lineage rests not in human strength or goodness, but in divine appointment and grace.