Category: Cain and Abel

Genesis: Cain’s Curse

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Genesis Chapter 4

I always viewed the Mark of Cain as a negative. Cain was marked because he had killed his brother. The mark of Cain has been interpreted to mean “the curse of Cain,” which could be passed down from generation to generation. Throughout history, people have used the “mark of Cain” as a basis for discrimination and racism.

For example, many Americans during the Civil War believed the mark of Cain was dark skin, which they used as justification for slavery; i.e., descendants of Cain were cursed. Slavery was the result of Cain’s curse passed from generation to generation. See PBS’ series “This Far by Faith” for information on how the issue of slavery divided Protestants.

I wasn’t aware of how the issue of slavery led to the formation of the Northern and Southern Baptists or created the division within the Methodist Episcopal Church. The PBS series gives a fascinating look into the impact of church doctrine on society as a whole.

Protection

As I read these verses in Genesis, I see the mark of Cain as a way for God to protect Cain as he wandered the earth. It wasn’t a mark to separate him from the rest of the world. It was a way to give Cain another chance.

One reason I think God was giving Cain a second chance is based on verse 4:13. The NIV, as do most versions, translates the verse as “punishment is too great.” However, the word for punishment can also mean iniquity or guilt. If guilt is substituted for punishment, Cain is saying that his guilt is overwhelming. Because he is sorry for what he has done, God is willing to protect him.

A second reason also rests on how a verse is translated. As discussed, verse 4:8 is translated differently in the Christian verses Masoretic texts. If Cain lured Abel into the field as the Christian translations suggest, the murder would have been premeditated and the punishment should have been death, according to the Old Testament laws. Since God didn’t kill Cain, I think the Hebrew and Aramaic texts are correct. Cain came upon Abel in the field; they may have argued and Cain killed him in anger. It was a crime of passion.

Genesis: Who me?

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Genesis Chapters 3

From the beginning, humans were trying to pass the buck. Adam blames Eve; Eve blames the serpent. We never want to take responsibility for our poor choices. Let’s face it. If things had turned out differently and God was pleased with the disobedience, do you think Adam would have said “Eve made me do it”? Yeah, right.

Then, look at Cain and Abel. What’s the most quoted verse out of the Cain and Abel chapters? Yep. Cain’s response of: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Just a different way of deflecting blame.

What I find curious about Cain and Abel are all the assumptions that have been made and how those assumptions have been passed down from generation to generation.

  • Cain and Abel were firstborn. The Bible doesn’t indicate the birth order of Cain or Abel. In fact, the Bible doesn’t mention the birth order of any of Adam and Eve’s children, nor does it indicate the number of children they had. Just because they are the first ones mentioned doesn’t mean they were the firstborn. Individuals may be able to deduce the order, but those deductions are based on assumptions.
  • Rejection of Cain’s offering. For some reason, I thought sacrifices should be blood sacrifices so Cain’s offering was not acceptable. But, it was Cain’s attitude that was at fault. Verse 7 says that “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?” Clearly, something wasn’t right with Cain.
  • Cain as a murderer. Was Abel’s murder a crime of passion or of premeditation? Most Christian translations have Cain luring Abel to his death while the Hebrew and Aramaic texts have Cain coming upon Abel by accident. Since Christian translations have Cain luring Abel, most theologians believe it was premeditated murder. I think there is a case for a crime of passion.
  • Cain’s punishment. The infamous mark of Cain. Cain’s punishment was not death. He was to become a wanderer, marked by God. Precisely what the mark of Cain was is not stated although speculation abounds.

I’m only four chapters in and already I’ve found so many misconceptions about what the Bible really says. Am I the only one who had these misconceptions?