Genesis 4:1
"And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD."

Commentary

Matthew Henry Concise

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Summary

When Cain was born, Eve said, | have gotten a man from the Lord. Perhaps she thought that this was the promised seed.

Reflection

Sinful heats and disquiets vanish before a strict and fair inquiry into the cause. WHBC 5.2

📚Read Complete Commentary

When Cain was born, Eve said, | have gotten a man from the Lord. Perhaps she thought that this was the promised seed. If so, she was wofully disappointed. Abel signifies vanity: when she thought she had the promised seed in Cain, whose name signifies possession, she was so taken up with him that another son was as vanity to her. Observe, each son had a calling. It is the will of God for every one to have something to do in this world. Parents ought to bring up their children to work. Give them a Bible and a calling, said

good Mr. Dod, and God be with them. We may believe that God commanded Adam, after the fall, to shed the blood of innocent animals, and after their death to burn part or the whole of their bodies by fire. Thus that punishment which sinners deserve, even the death of the body, and the wrath of God, of which fire is a well-known emblem, and also the sufferings of Christ, were prefigured. Observe that the religious worship of God is no new invention. It was from the beginning; it is the good old way, Jeremiah 6:16. The offerings of Cain and Abel were different. Cain showed a proud, unbelieving heart. Therefore he and his offering were rejected. Abel came as a sinner, and according to God's appointment, by his sacrifice expressing humility, sincerity, and believing obedience. Thus, seeking the benefit of the new covenant of mercy, through the promised Seed, his sacrifice had a token that God accepted it. Abel offered in faith, and Cain did not, Hebrews 11:4. In all ages there have been two sorts of worshippers, such as Cain and Abel; namely, proud, hardened despisers of the gospel method of salvation, who attempt to please God in ways of their own devising; and humble believers, who draw near to him in the way he has revealed. Cain indulged malignant anger against Abel. He harboured an evil spirit of discontent and rebellion against God. God notices all our sinful passions and discontents. There is not an angry, envious, or fretful look, that escapes his observing eye. The Lord reasoned with this rebellious man; if he came in the right way, he should be accepted. Some understand this as an intimation of mercy. "If thou doest not well, sin, that is, the sin-offering, lies at the door, and thou mayest take the benefit of it." The same word signifies sin, and a sacrifice for sin. "Though thou hast not done well, yet do not despair; the remedy is at hand." Christ, the great sin-offering, is said to stand at the door, Revelation 3:20. And those 92 well deserve to perish in their sins, that will not go to the door to ask for the benefit of this sin-offering. God's acceptance of Abel's offering did not change the birthright, and make it his; why then should Cain be so angry? Sinful heats and disquiets vanish before a strict and fair inquiry into the cause. WHBC 5.2

Source: Matthew Henry Concise (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (14 words)

H0120 אָדָם
Definition:

27man, mankind(Phoenicianאדם, Sabeanid., CISiv.1,l.4and others; compare Assyrianadmu,young(of bird) DlW, but NöZMG 1886, 722identification with Arabiccollectivecreatures) — Singular absolute except co 27man, mankind(Phoenicianאדם, Sabeanid., CISiv.1,l.4and others; compare Assyrianadmu,young(of bird) DlW, but NöZMG 1886, 722identification with Arabiccollectivecreatures) — Singular absolute except co

Possible Meanings:
  • carnelian (semantic_range)
  • redness (semantic_range)
H3045 יָדַע
Definition:

1+;יָדָ֑עLeviticus 5:1+; suffixיְדָעוֺDeuteronomy 34:10;Job 28:7;יְדָעָהּGenesis 24:16;1 Kings 1:4;יְדָעָ֫נוּIsaiah 63:16; 3feminine singularיָָֽדְעָהJudges 11:394t.; 2 masculine singularיָדַעְתָּGene 1+;יָדָ֑עLeviticus 5:1+; suffixיְדָעוֺDeuteronomy 34:10;Job 28:7;יְדָעָהּGenesis 24:16;1 Kings 1:4;יְדָעָ֫נוּIsaiah 63:16; 3feminine singularיָָֽדְעָהJudges 11:394t.; 2 masculine singularיָדַעְתָּGene

Possible Meanings:
  • know (semantic_range)
  • know (semantic_range)
  • cause to know (semantic_range)
  • inform (semantic_range)
H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H2332 חַוָּה
Definition:

20; > WeProl. 1886, 322; Skizzen iii. 217after Nö who suggestsserpentas possible meaning, compare Arabic; but RSK 177'mother of everyµayy,' see II.חַיbelowחיה) —Genesis 3:20and the man called his wife 20; > WeProl. 1886, 322; Skizzen iii. 217after Nö who suggestsserpentas possible meaning, compare Arabic; but RSK 177'mother of everyµayy,' see II.חַיbelowחיה) —Genesis 3:20and the man called his wife

Possible Meanings:
  • declare (semantic_range)
H0802 אִשָּׁה
Definition:

33+; constructאֵשֶׁתGenesis 11:29+ (apparently absoluteDeuteronomy 21:11;1 Samuel 28:7;Psalm 58:9but compare Bö§ 728Ges§ 130. 5); suffixאִשְׁתִּיGenesis 20:11+;אִשְׁתְּךָGenesis 12:18+ (אֶשְׁתְּךָPsal 33+; constructאֵשֶׁתGenesis 11:29+ (apparently absoluteDeuteronomy 21:11;1 Samuel 28:7;Psalm 58:9but compare Bö§ 728Ges§ 130. 5); suffixאִשְׁתִּיGenesis 20:11+;אִשְׁתְּךָGenesis 12:18+ (אֶשְׁתְּךָPsal

Possible Meanings:
  • an offering made by fire (semantic_range)
H2029 הָרָה
Definition:

15; 3feminine singularהָרָ֑תָהGenesis 16:4,5; 2feminine singularוְהָרִיתconsecutiveJudges 13:3; 1singularהָרִיתִיNumbers 11:12; 1pluralהָרִינוּIsaiah 26:18;Imperfectוַתַּ֫הַרGenesis 4:126t. (וַתַּ֑הַר 15; 3feminine singularהָרָ֑תָהGenesis 16:4,5; 2feminine singularוְהָרִיתconsecutiveJudges 13:3; 1singularהָרִיתִיNumbers 11:12; 1pluralהָרִינוּIsaiah 26:18;Imperfectוַתַּ֫הַרGenesis 4:126t. (וַתַּ֑הַר

Possible Meanings:
  • pregnant (semantic_range)
H3205 יָלַד
Definition:

18(3 t. in verse) + 16 t.;יָלָ֑דJeremiah 17:11;וְיָלַדconsecutivePsalm 7:15; suffixיְלָֽדְךָDeuteronomy 32:18; 2masculine singular suffixילדתניJeremiah 2:27Kt; Qrיְלִדְתָּנוּ(Köi. 410Ges§ 70, 2. R. 4) 18(3 t. in verse) + 16 t.;יָלָ֑דJeremiah 17:11;וְיָלַדconsecutivePsalm 7:15; suffixיְלָֽדְךָDeuteronomy 32:18; 2masculine singular suffixילדתניJeremiah 2:27Kt; Qrיְלִדְתָּנוּ(Köi. 410Ges§ 70, 2. R. 4)

Possible Meanings:
  • child (semantic_range)
  • son (semantic_range)
  • boy (semantic_range)
  • youth (semantic_range)
H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H7014 קַיִן
Definition:

The same asqayin(with a play upon the affinity toqanah); Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe -- Cain, Kenite(-s).see HEBREWqayinsee HEBREWqanahBr The same asqayin(with a play upon the affinity toqanah); Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe -- Cain, Kenite(-s).see HEBREWqayinsee HEBREWqanahBr

H0559 אָמַר
Definition:

1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe 1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe

Possible Meanings:
  • lamb (semantic_range)
H7069 קָנָה
Definition:

10+; suffixקֶָ נ֑ךָDeuteronomy 32:6,קָנָהוּLeviticus 27:24; 3feminine singularקָֽנְתָהPsalm 78:54; 2masculine singularקָנִיתָExodus 15:16+, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִקְנֶךְLeviticus 22:11+,וַ 10+; suffixקֶָ נ֑ךָDeuteronomy 32:6,קָנָהוּLeviticus 27:24; 3feminine singularקָֽנְתָהPsalm 78:54; 2masculine singularקָנִיתָExodus 15:16+, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִקְנֶךְLeviticus 22:11+,וַ

Possible Meanings:
  • stalk (semantic_range)
  • reed (semantic_range)
  • stalk (semantic_range)
  • water-plant (semantic_range)
  • reed (semantic_range)
H0376 אִישׁ
Definition:

23+; constructGenesis 25:27+; suffixאִישִׁיGenesis 29:32+, etc.; pluralאִישִׁיםPsalm 141:42t. (Phoenicianאשם); usuallyאֲנָשִׁיםGenesis 12:20+, from √אנשׁq. v.; constructאַנְשֵׁיJudges 6:27+; suffixאֲנ 23+; constructGenesis 25:27+; suffixאִישִׁיGenesis 29:32+, etc.; pluralאִישִׁיםPsalm 141:42t. (Phoenicianאשם); usuallyאֲנָשִׁיםGenesis 12:20+, from √אנשׁq. v.; constructאַנְשֵׁיJudges 6:27+; suffixאֲנ

Possible Meanings:
  • man (semantic_range)
H0854 אֵת
Definition:

25;Joshua 14:12, next2 Samuel 24:24; then repeatedly (but not exclusively)1 Kings 20—2 Kings 8, & in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, e.g.1 Kings 20:25(but1 Kings 20:23אִתָּם)1 Kings 22:7,8,24 (besideמֵאִתִּי)2 Kin 25;Joshua 14:12, next2 Samuel 24:24; then repeatedly (but not exclusively)1 Kings 20—2 Kings 8, & in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, e.g.1 Kings 20:25(but1 Kings 20:23אִתָּם)1 Kings 22:7,8,24 (besideמֵאִתִּי)2 Kin

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H3068 יְהוָֹה
Definition:

7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when 7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when

Possible Meanings:
  • Yahweh (semantic_range)
  • the one bringing into being (semantic_range)
  • life-giver (semantic_range)

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