Genesis 4:8 kjv

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Genesis 4:8 nkjv

Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Genesis 4:8 niv

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Genesis 4:8 esv

Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

Genesis 4:8 nlt

One day Cain suggested to his brother, "Let's go out into the fields." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

Genesis 4 verses

Genesis 4 8 Meaning

Genesis 4:8 narrates the tragic culmination of Cain's unaddressed anger and jealousy, portraying the first murder in human history. Cain speaks with Abel, seemingly leading him to the secluded field, where he then rises up against his younger brother and kills him. This act demonstrates the swift and destructive progression of sin, moving from inner resentment and divine disapproval to fratricide, fundamentally altering the fabric of human relationship and marking the entry of violence and death into the fallen world.

Genesis 4 8 Context

This verse is the climax of the narrative immediately following God's confrontation with Cain (Gen 4:6-7). Earlier, Cain and Abel offered sacrifices; God accepted Abel's, offered by faith (Heb 11:4), but rejected Cain's, which lacked a proper heart or faith (Gen 4:3-5). Cain grew angry, and God warned him that sin was "crouching at the door," desiring to master him, but Cain could master it. Despite this explicit warning, Cain chose to succumb to his resentment and envy. Genesis 4:8 is the horrifying outcome of Cain's refusal to heed God's guidance, transforming internal spiritual failing into external physical violence. Historically, this incident marks the beginning of human violence, revealing the full extent of the Fall's corruption, not only in humanity's relationship with God but also within human society itself, specifically the sanctity of familial bonds. The setting "in the field" highlights the premeditated nature of the crime and Cain's intent to commit the deed in isolation.

Genesis 4 8 Word analysis

• Now Cain talked with Abel his brother:

  • Hebrew: wayyōʾmer Qayin ʾel Heḇel ʾāḥîw (וַיֹּאמֶר קַיִן אֶל הֶבֶל אָחִיו)
  • wayyōʾmer: (וַיֹּאמֶר) A waw-consecutive perfect form of ʾāmar (אָמַר), "to say," "to speak." It means "and he said/spoke." The Masoretic Text (MT) does not record the specific words spoken by Cain. However, the Septuagint (LXX), Samaritan Pentateuch, and other ancient versions explicitly add "Let us go out to the field" (נֵלְכָה הַשָּׂדֶה - nēlkāh haśśāḏeh), suggesting Cain's invitation was a deceptive pretense to isolate Abel. Even without these explicit words in the MT, the sequence implies a leading conversation.
  • Qayin: (קַיִן) Cain. His name implies "acquired" or "produced," linked to Eve's hope (Gen 4:1) that was tragically unfulfilled by his actions.
  • ʾel Heḇel: (אֶל הֶבֶל) "to Abel." Hevel (הֶבֶל) means "breath," "vapor," or "vanity," prophetically hinting at his brief existence.
  • ʾāḥîw: (אָחִיו) "his brother." This term twice underscores the profound breach of the closest human bond. The fratricide emphasizes the severity of sin’s corrupting power on familial love.

• and it came about when they were in the field:

  • Hebrew: wayəhî bihəyōṯām baśśāḏeh (וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה)
  • wayəhî: (וַיְהִי) A common temporal connector, "and it was," "and it came to pass." Indicates a sequential event.
  • bihəyōṯām: (בִּהְיוֹתָם) "when they were." From hāyāh (הָיָה), "to be," in an infinitive construct form with pronominal suffix.
  • baśśāḏeh: (בַּשָּׂדֶה) "in the field." śāḏeh (שָּׂדֶה) refers to an open field, country, or farmland. It represents a place of work, but crucially, a place of isolation and vulnerability. Cain deliberately led Abel there to ensure privacy for his dark deed, indicating premeditation.

• that Cain rose up against Abel his brother:

  • Hebrew: wayyāqom Qayin ʾel Heḇel ʾāḥîw (וַיָּקָם קַיִן אֶל הֶבֶל אָחִיו)
  • wayyāqom: (וַיָּקָם) A waw-consecutive imperfect of qûm (קוּם), "to rise," "to stand up." Here, it signifies a deliberate, hostile, and aggressive act, not merely physical rising but rising in an attack (cf. Psa 3:8; Prov 6:18). It depicts Cain taking the initiative in a violent assault.
  • ʾel: (אֶל) "against." Indicates the direction of the aggressive action.

• and killed him.

  • Hebrew: wayyahargēhû (וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ)
  • wayyaharg: (וַיַּהַרְג) Waw-consecutive imperfect of hārag (הָרַג), "to slay," "to kill," implying a violent, definitive termination of life.
  • -ēhû: (־הוּ) Direct object pronoun "him." The immediate and tragic result of Cain’s murderous intent.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Cain talked with Abel his brother": This initial communication reveals a chilling deceit. Cain engaged his brother, suggesting an innocuous interaction, only to lead him to a pre-meditated slaughter. This façade highlights the treachery involved.
  • "when they were in the field": The isolation of the "field" is critical. It underscores the premeditation of Cain's act, indicating he deliberately sought a secluded place where he would not be seen, transforming a seemingly ordinary agricultural setting into a crime scene.
  • "Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him": This phrase concisely encapsulates the shocking violence. "Rose up against" portrays the hostile intent and the deliberate action of assault. The repetition of "his brother" further intensifies the tragedy and unnaturalness of the act, as a sibling relationship, designed for love and support, was brutally broken by murderous hatred.

Genesis 4 8 Bonus section

• Textual Variance and Interpretation: The Masoretic Text's omission of Cain's specific words "Let us go out to the field" has led to various interpretive discussions. While some scholars see this as implying an implied understanding between them, others suggest it highlights Cain's silence after God's warning, emphasizing his inward contemplation of evil rather than explicit verbal temptation. However, the presence of these words in the Septuagint and other ancient versions suggests they were present in early Hebrew texts and provide a logical transition for Cain leading Abel to a secluded location for the murder. Most modern translations include this phrase, relying on the wider textual tradition for clarity.
• The Innocence of Abel: Abel's status as "righteous Abel" (Matt 23:35) or having offered by "faith" (Heb 11:4) stands in stark contrast to Cain. His murder thus marks him as the first martyr, whose shed blood cries out to God, foreshadowing countless righteous individuals throughout history who would suffer for their uprightness.
• The Genesis of Violence: This event fundamentally shifts the narrative. Prior to this, sin resulted in spiritual death, separation, and struggle. Now, physical death at the hands of another human enters the world. It initiates a pattern of human violence and bloodshed that culminates in God's judgment during the flood and eventually establishes the covenantal command against murder (Gen 9:5-6).

Genesis 4 8 Commentary

Genesis 4:8 marks a pivotal, somber moment in the biblical narrative, representing the first homicide and the devastating impact of sin on human relationships. Having been warned by God to master his lurking sin (Gen 4:7), Cain consciously chooses not to. His unaddressed envy and resentment, inflamed by his unacceptable offering and Abel's righteous one, consume him. The phrase "Cain talked with Abel his brother" suggests a deceptive invitation, leading Abel to the isolation of "the field" where the dark deed could be accomplished unseen. This premeditation reveals the depth of Cain's chosen wickedness.

The verb "rose up against" (qûm) signifies a deliberate, aggressive posture, highlighting the calculated nature of the attack, which culminates in the violent act of killing. The repeated mention of "his brother" emphasizes the profound tragedy and perversion of the sacred family bond. This act of fratricide demonstrates humanity's rapid descent into depravity post-Fall, fulfilling God's earlier warning about sin's destructive desires (Gen 4:7) and setting a tragic precedent for the history of human violence and unrighteousness, leading ultimately to the pervasive evil that necessitates the flood. This incident foreshadows the ongoing conflict between those "of the evil one" and the righteous (1 Jn 3:12), teaching the importance of addressing internal sinful desires before they bear their bitter fruit of death.