Genesis Chapter 4
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever—
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therefore Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
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So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
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And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with
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the help of Jehovah.
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And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
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And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah.
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And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
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but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
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And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
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If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; and unto thee shall be its desire; but do thou rule over it.
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And Cain told 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.
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And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?
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And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
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And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
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when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth.
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And Cain said unto Jehovah, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
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Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the ground; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever findeth me will slay me.
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And Jehovah said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Jehovah appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.
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And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
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And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
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And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael; and Mehujael begat Methushael; and Methushael begat Lamech.
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And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
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And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and
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have cattle.
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And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And Man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have acquired a man with Jehovah.
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And she further bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a shepherd, but Cain was a husbandman.
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And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to Jehovah.
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And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat. And Jehovah looked upon Abel, and on his offering;
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and upon Cain, and on his offering, he did not look. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
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And Jehovah said to Cain, Why art thou angry, and why is thy countenance fallen?
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If thou doest well, will not [thy countenance] look up [with confidence]? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door; and unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
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And Cain spoke to 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.
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And Jehovah said to Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?
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And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.
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And now be thou cursed from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand.
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When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield thee its strength; a wanderer and fugitive shalt thou be on the earth.
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And Cain said to Jehovah, My punishment is too great to be borne.
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Behold, thou hast driven me this day from the face of the ground, and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a wanderer and fugitive on the earth; and it will come to pass, [that] every one who finds me will slay me.
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And Jehovah said to him, Therefore, whoever slayeth Cain, it shall be revenged sevenfold. And Jehovah set a mark on Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.
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And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, toward the east of Eden.
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And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city; and he called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch.
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And to Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael; and Mehujael begot Methushael; and Methushael begot Lemech.
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And Lemech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the second, Zillah.
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And Adah bore Jabal: he was the father of those who dwell in tents, and [breed] cattle.
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And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of those who handle the harp and pipe.
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And Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, the forger of every kind of tool of brass and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
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And Lemech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, Ye wives of Lemech, listen to my speech. For I have slain a man for my wound, and a youth for my bruise.
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If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold; Lemech seventy and seven fold.
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And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: ...ForGod has appointed me another seed instead of Abel, because Cain has slain him.
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And to Seth, to him also was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then people began to call on the name of Jehovah.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
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And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and brought forth Cain and said, I have gained a man through God.
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And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
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And it was so after some time that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice to the Lord.
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And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his sheep and of his fatlings, and God looked upon Abel and his gifts,
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but Cain and his sacrifices he regarded not, and Cain was exceedingly sorrowful and his countenance fell.
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And the Lord God said to Cain, Why art thou become very sorrowful and why is thy countenance fallen?
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Hast thou not sinned if thou hast brought it rightly, but not rightly divided it? be still, to thee shall be his submission, and thou shalt rule over him.
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And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go out into the plain; and it came to pass that when they were in the plain Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
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And the Lord God said to Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? and he said, I know not, am I my brother's keeper?
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And the Lord said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood cries to me out of the ground.
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And now thou [art] cursed from the earth which has opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand.
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When thou tillest the earth, then it shall not continue to give its strength to thee: thou shalt be groaning and trembling on the earth.
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And Cain said to the Lord God, My crime [is] too great for me to be forgiven.
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If thou castest me out this day from the face of the earth, and I shall be hidden from thy presence, and I shall be groaning and trembling upon the earth, then it will be that any one that finds me shall slay me.
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And the Lord God said to him, Not so, any one that slays Cain shall suffer seven-fold vengeance; and the Lord God set a mark upon Cain that no one that found him might slay him.
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So Cain went forth from the presence of God and dwelt in the land of Nod over against Edem.
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And Cain knew his wife, and having conceived she bore Enoch; and he built a city; and he named the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
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And to Enoch was born Gaidad; and Gaidad begot Maleleel; and Maleleel begot Mathusala; and Mathusala begot Lamech.
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And Lamech took to himself two wives; the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the second Sella.
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And Ada bore Jobel; he was the father of those that dwell in tents, feeding cattle.
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And the name of his brother was Jubal; he it was who invented the psaltery and harp.
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And Sella also bore Thobel; he was a smith, a manufacturer both of brass and iron; and the sister of Thobel was Noëma.
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And Lamech said to his wives, Ada and Sella, Hear my voice, ye wives of Lamech, consider my words, because I have slain a man to my sorrow and a youth to my grief.
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Because vengeance has been exacted seven times on Cain's behalf, on Lamech's [it shall be] seventy times seven.
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And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Seth, saying, For God has raised up to me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
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And Seth had a son, and he called his name Enos: he hoped to call on the name of the Lord God.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
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Adam vero cognovit uxorem suam Hevam: quæ concepit et peperit Cain, dicens: Possedi hominem per Deum.
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Rursumque peperit fratrem eius Abel. Fuit autem Abel pastor ovium, et Cain agricola.
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Factum est autem post multos dies ut offerret Cain de fructibus terræ munera Domino.
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Abel quoque obtulit de primogenitis gregis sui, et de adipibus eorum: et respexit Dominus ad Abel, et ad munera eius.
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Ad Cain vero, et ad munera illius non respexit: iratusque est Cain vehementer, et concidit vultus eius.
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Dixitque Dominus ad eum: Quare iratus es? et cur concidit facies tua?
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Nonne si bene egeris, recipies: sin autem male, statim in foribus peccatum aderit? sed sub te erit appetitus eius, et tu dominaberis illius.
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Dixitque Cain ad Abel fratrem suum: Egrediamur foras. Cumque essent in agro, consurrexit Cain adversus fratrem suum Abel, et interfecit eum.
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Et ait Dominus ad Cain: Ubi est Abel frater tuus? Qui respondit: Nescio: Num custos fratris mei sum ego?
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Dixitque ad eum: Quid fecisti? vox sanguinis fratris tui clamat ad me de terra.
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Nunc igitur maledictus eris super terram, quæ aperuit os suum, et suscepit sanguinem fratris tui de manu tua.
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Cum operatus fueris eam, non dabit tibi fructus suos: vagus et profugus eris super terram.
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Dixitque Cain ad Dominum: Maior est iniquitas mea, quam ut veniam merear.
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Ecce eiicis me hodie a facie terræ, et a facie tua abscondar, et ero vagus et profugus in terra: omnis igitur qui invenerit me, occidet me.
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Dixitque ei Dominus: Nequaquam ita fiet: sed omnis qui occiderit Cain, septuplum punietur. Posuitque Dominus Cain signum, ut non interficeret eum omnis qui invenisset eum.
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Egressusque Cain a facie Domini, habitavit profugus in terra ad orientalem plagam Eden.
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Cognovit autem Cain uxorem suam, quæ concepit, et peperit Henoch: et ædificavit civitatem, vocavitque nomen eius ex nomine filii sui, Henoch.
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Porro Henoch genuit Irad, et Irad genuit Maviael, et Maviael genuit Mathusael, et Mathusael genuit Lamech.
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Qui accepit duas uxores, nomen uni Ada, et nomen alteri Sella.
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Genuitque Ada Iabel, qui fuit pater habitantium in tentoriis, atque pastorum.
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Et nomen fratris eius Iubal: ipse fuit pater canentium cithara et organo.
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Sella quoque genuit Tubalcain, qui fuit malleator et faber in cuncta opera æris et ferri. Soror vero Tubalcain, Noema.
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Dixitque Lamech uxoribus suis Adæ et Sellæ: Audite vocem meam uxores Lamech, auscultate sermonem meum: quoniam occidi virum in vulnus meum, et adolescentulum in livorem meum.
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Septuplum ultio dabitur de Cain: de Lamech vero septuagies septies.
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Cognovit quoque adhuc Adam uxorem suam: et peperit filium, vocavitque nomen eius Seth, dicens: Posuit mihi Deus semen aliud pro Abel, quem occidit Cain.
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Sed et Seth natus est filius, quem vocavit Enos: iste cœpit invocare nomen Domini.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with the LORD’s help.”
2
Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3
As time passed, Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground.
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Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. The LORD respected Abel and his offering,
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but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
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The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
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If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
8
Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.
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The LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
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The LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
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Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
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From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”
13
Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
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Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. Whoever finds me will kill me.”
15
The LORD said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” The LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.
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Cain left the LORD’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17
Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
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Irad was born to Enoch. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.
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Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah.
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Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
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His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.
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Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah.
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Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me.
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If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”
25
Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”
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A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the LORD’s name.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
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And the man knew Eve his wife, and she conceiveth and beareth Cain, and saith, `I have gotten a man by Jehovah;'
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and she addeth to bear his brother, even Abel. And Abel is feeding a flock, and Cain hath been servant of the ground.
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And it cometh to pass at the end of days that Cain bringeth from the fruit of the ground a present to Jehovah;
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and Abel, he hath brought, he also, from the female firstlings of his flock, even from their fat ones; and Jehovah looketh unto Abel and unto his present,
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and unto Cain and unto his present He hath not looked; and it is very displeasing to Cain, and his countenance is fallen.
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And Jehovah saith unto Cain, `Why hast thou displeasure? and why hath thy countenance fallen?
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Is there not, if thou dost well, acceptance? and if thou dost not well, at the opening a sin-offering is crouching, and unto thee its desire, and thou rulest over it.'
8
And Cain saith unto Abel his brother, <FI>`Let us go into the field;'<Fi> and it cometh to pass in their being in the field, that Cain riseth up against Abel his brother, and slayeth him.
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And Jehovah saith unto Cain, `Where <FI>is<Fi> Abel thy brother?' and he saith, `I have not known; my brother's keeper--I?'
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And He saith, `What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood is crying unto Me from the ground;
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and now, cursed <FI>art<Fi> thou from the ground, which hath opened her mouth to receive the blood of thy brother from thy hand;
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when thou tillest the ground, it doth not add to give its strength to thee--a wanderer, even a trembling one, thou art in the earth.'
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And Cain saith unto Jehovah, `Greater is my punishment than to be borne;
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lo, Thou hast driven me to-day from off the face of the ground, and from Thy face I am hid; and I have been a wanderer, even a trembling one, in the earth, and it hath been--every one finding me doth slay me.'
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And Jehovah saith to him, `Therefore--of any slayer of Cain sevenfold it is required;' and Jehovah setteth to Cain a token that none finding him doth slay him.
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And Cain goeth out from before Jehovah, and dwelleth in the land, moving about east of Eden;
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and Cain knoweth his wife, and she conceiveth, and beareth Enoch; and he is building a city, and he calleth the name of the city, according to the name of his son--Enoch.
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And born to Enoch is Irad; and Irad hath begotten Mehujael; and Mehujael hath begotten Methusael; and Methusael hath begotten Lamech.
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And Lamech taketh to himself two wives, the name of the one Adah, and the name of the second Zillah.
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And Adah beareth Jabal, he hath been father of those inhabiting tents and purchased possessions;
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and the name of his brother <FI>is<Fi> Jubal, he hath been father of every one handling harp and organ.
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And Zillah she also bare Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron; and a sister of Tubal-Cain <FI>is<Fi> Naamah.
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And Lamech saith to his wives: --`Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, give ear <FI>to<Fi> my saying: For a man I have slain for my wound, Even a young man for my hurt;
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For sevenfold is required for Cain, And for Lamech seventy and sevenfold.'
25
And Adam again knoweth his wife, and she beareth a son, and calleth his name Seth, `for God hath appointed for me another seed instead of Abel:' for Cain had slain him.
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And to Seth, to him also a son hath been born, and he calleth his name Enos; then a beginning was made of preaching in the name of Jehovah.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).