The BibleGospel Companion

Cain

קַ֫יִן · qa.yin · H7014BΚάϊν · Kain · G2535“possession, or possessed” Hitchcock's 186916 mentions in 4 books, most in Genesis (13)

Who he was

Cain was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, and he is known for killing his brother Abel (Gen. 4; Heb. 11:4; 1 John 3:12; Jude 1:11). Cain was a farmer, while Abel was a shepherd. When both brothers brought offerings to God, the Lord accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's, which led to Cain's anger and jealousy. Despite God's warning to master his sinful desires, Cain lured Abel into the field and murdered him. As a result, God cursed Cain to be a restless wanderer on the earth and banished him from His presence. Cain's descendants, known as the Cainites, are mentioned in the genealogy of Genesis 4, which highlights the spread of sin and the development of civilization apart from God. The New Testament references to Cain portray him as an example of unbelief, wickedness, and rebellion against God (Heb. Jud.11.4; 1 John 3:12; Jude 1:11). Cain's story serves as a warning about the consequences of sin, jealousy, and disobedience to God.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

FatherAdamMotherEveSiblingsAbel, SethChildrenEnoch
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

16 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
GenesisChapter 4: 13 mentions13 mentions
Genesis 4:1The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”Genesis 4:2Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.Genesis 4:3As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.Genesis 4:5but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.Genesis 4:6Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?Genesis 4:8Cain 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.Genesis 4:9Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”Genesis 4:13Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.Genesis 4:15Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.Genesis 4:16Cain left Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.Genesis 4:17Cain 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.Genesis 4:24If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”Genesis 4:25Adam 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.”
HebrewsChapter 11: 1 mention1 mention
Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through…
1 JohnChapter 3: 1 mention1 mention
1 John 3:12unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
JudeChapter 1: 1 mention1 mention
Jude 1:11Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

What the dictionary says

A possession; a spear.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources