Genesis 4:9 kjv

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

Genesis 4:9 nkjv

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

Genesis 4:9 niv

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Genesis 4:9 esv

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"

Genesis 4:9 nlt

Afterward the LORD asked Cain, "Where is your brother? Where is Abel?" "I don't know," Cain responded. "Am I my brother's guardian?"

Genesis 4 verses

Genesis 4 9 Meaning

Genesis 4:9 presents the divine confrontation between God and Cain following Abel's murder. God's direct question, "Where is Abel your brother?" highlights His omniscience and calls Cain to account. Cain's deceitful response, "I do not know," followed by the rhetorical question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" reveals his denial of responsibility, lack of remorse, and defiance against the implicit bond of human solidarity and care. This verse marks the first recorded lie and evasion of moral obligation in Scripture, setting a crucial precedent for understanding human sinfulness and accountability before God.

Genesis 4 9 Context

Genesis chapter 4 details the history of Adam and Eve's first two sons, Cain and Abel, shortly after humanity's expulsion from Eden. The narrative highlights the immediate consequences of sin introduced in Genesis 3, showcasing its rapid proliferation and escalation. Prior to verse 9, Cain's offering was rejected, while Abel's was accepted (Gen 4:3-5). This led to Cain's deep resentment and anger, which God observed and addressed, warning Cain about sin crouching at the door (Gen 4:6-7). Despite this divine warning, Cain lured his brother into the field and murdered him (Gen 4:8). Verse 9 initiates the divine reckoning, mirroring the earlier divine inquiry to Adam in the garden, signaling that God remains active in judging human actions even after the Fall. This confrontation underscores God's justice, sovereignty, and mankind's continuing responsibility despite their sinful nature. The cultural context reflects an early agrarian and pastoral society, where blood ties were fundamental, yet Cain defied this primary bond.

Genesis 4 9 Word Analysis

• Then the Lord (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה - vayyomer YHWH):
  • Then: Implies sequence after the murder and Cain burying his brother. God's response is timely and deliberate.
  • The Lord (YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating His personal involvement and moral authority. It highlights God's active pursuit of justice and confrontation of sin, even amidst human failure. This is not a passive deity but one who holds His creation accountable.
• said to Cain, (אֶל-קַיִן - el-Kayin):
  • Direct address, demonstrating God's direct interaction with the perpetrator. It signifies a call to confession and repentance, not merely an intellectual query. God knows what transpired, but He provides an opportunity for Cain to respond.
• "Where is Abel your brother?" (אֵי הֶבֶל אָחִיךָ - ey Hevel achicha):
  • Where (אֵי - ey): A rhetorical question, not born of ignorance (God knows) but designed to provoke self-reflection, confession, and to elicit a truthful response. Similar to God's question to Adam, "Where are you?" (Gen 3:9).
  • is Abel: Focuses on the immediate absence and presumed fate of the victim.
  • your brother: Emphasizes the crucial familial and moral relationship that Cain violated. It highlights the profound breaking of a covenantal bond. This connection underscores the severity of Cain's act against someone he was inherently obligated to protect and cherish. It also alludes to humanity's collective brotherhood.
• He said, (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer):
  • Indicates Cain's direct, defiant response.
• "I do not know;" (לֹא יָדַעְתִּי - lo yadati):
  • A direct, unequivocal lie. This is the first recorded lie from humanity in Scripture following the serpent's deception in Gen 3. It signifies not just ignorance, but deliberate evasion and defiance of truth. This response highlights the corrupting power of sin, leading to self-deception and blatant falsehood.
• "am I my brother's keeper?" (הֲשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹכִי - hashomer achi anochi):
  • am I: A rhetorical question expecting a negative answer.
  • my brother's: Re-emphasizes the relational aspect, showing Cain acknowledges the kinship while rejecting its obligations.
  • keeper (שֹׁמֵר - shomer): This pivotal word means a guard, watchman, protector, guardian. Cain uses it sarcastically and dismissively. His question denies any responsibility, indicating a fundamental shift in human values post-Fall. He rejects the natural, implicit human duty to care for, protect, and watch over one's fellow human, especially a family member.
  • Am I my brother's keeper?: This entire phrase encapsulates Cain's utter lack of empathy, self-centeredness, and defiant rejection of moral and social responsibility. It reflects a hardened heart unwilling to admit guilt or bear the burden of another's well-being. It stands as a timeless challenge to the principle of communal and individual responsibility towards one another within the family of humanity.

Genesis 4 9 Bonus Section

• Theological Parallel to Adam: God's questioning of Cain (Gen 4:9) strongly parallels His earlier questioning of Adam (Gen 3:9). In both instances, God knows the transgression but initiates dialogue to elicit confession and acknowledge responsibility. This pattern highlights God's justice and His patience in seeking human accountability, even for grave sins.
• Early Ethical Dilemma: Cain's defiant question introduces humanity's first explicit articulation of a challenge to ethical responsibility for one another. It's a foundational text for understanding the breakdown of human relationships caused by sin and the constant tension between self-interest and communal care throughout biblical history.
• Blood Cries Out: Although not in this verse, Cain's response immediately precedes God's statement in Gen 4:10, where Abel's blood cries out from the ground. This portrays the profound nature of murder: it not only violates human life but also echoes throughout creation, demanding divine attention and judgment, a theme fulfilled and superseded by the atoning blood of Christ (Heb 12:24).
• Foundation for Covenant Law: Though before the Mosaic Law, the principles of brotherly care, responsibility for life, and truthfulness implied in this divine confrontation lay foundational groundwork for later Mosaic laws and Jesus's summary of the Law (love of God and love of neighbor).

Genesis 4 9 Commentary

Genesis 4:9 presents a critical moment in the early biblical narrative, showcasing the escalating effects of sin. God's initial question to Cain mirrors His inquiry to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" (Gen 3:9), serving not out of divine ignorance but to invite confession and responsibility. God's omniscience is implied, making Cain's subsequent lie all the more futile and brazen. Cain's deceptive "I do not know" is the first recorded lie of human origin, marking a departure from truth that reflects a hardened heart and a deliberate attempt to conceal sin from an all-seeing God.

The culmination of Cain's response, "Am I my brother's keeper?" is both a defiant rhetorical question and a profound theological statement. It reveals Cain's utter lack of remorse, his rejection of intrinsic human solidarity, and a chilling repudiation of any moral obligation towards his fellow human being, particularly his own brother. The term "keeper" (שֹׁמֵר, shomer) implies a protector, guardian, or steward, highlighting that God had embedded an inherent responsibility for human care and welfare. Cain’s question fundamentally challenges this divine order, proposing a world devoid of mutual care, a principle entirely contrary to God's design and future commandments of loving one's neighbor. This self-serving denial sets a dangerous precedent, echoing through history whenever individuals or groups disavow responsibility for others' well-being. It starkly contrasts with the biblical ethic of compassion, service, and brotherhood, laying bare the human propensity for selfishness and disregard for life that the Gospel seeks to redeem and transform.