Cain [Cāin]—acquisition, fabrication or possessed. Eldest son of Adam and Eve, the first man to be born naturally, and founder of the family of Kenites (Kenite is called Kain in the Hebrew) (Gen. 4; Num. 24:22; Heb. 11:4; 1 John 3:12; Jude 11). Also the name of a town (Josh. 15:57).

The Man Who Was Earth’s First Murderer

The terrible story of Cain proves how quickly man’s fallen nature developed. It did not take long for his heart to become desperately wicked, and the line of Cain continued in sin. It was in such the foul sin of polygamy was first experienced.

By calling Cain was an agriculturist, but he was not happy in his calling since he did not fear God. His heart became jealous as he witnessed the happiness of his brother Abel and his favor with God. Ultimately he yielded to his jealous feelings and slew Abel, just as the Jews for envy sought Christ’s death.

Because Cain’s heart was destitute of love, his sacrifice had no heart in it and was therefore miserable, worthless and unacceptable to God. “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.” Cain was right in his desire to bring an offering but wrong in his doing (Gen. 4:3). He sought to draw near to God with the product of his own labor. Abel brought the first-born of the flock—a blood-offering—the divine acceptance of which provoked Cain’s evil temper for he “was wroth.” An angry look resulted in an angry deed because in a moment of ungoverned passion Cain lifted up his hand and murdered his brother, and buried his body. But although Cain tried to conceal his dastardly crime the Lord marked the spot and brought home to the murderer his foul deed.

God set a mark on Cain, but what it was Scripture does not say. Evidently it was sufficient to make him feel the wrath of God and the abhorrence of his fellowmen. Yet the punishment of Cain reveals a judgment mingled with mercy. His brand, perhaps some kind of stigma, made Cain realize the awfulness fo the sin of fratricide, but acted as a protection against the violence of the avenger of blood. The narrative seems to affirm that Cain’s mark was not consigning him to perpetual punishment, but was a token of God’s redemptive compassion.