Lexical Summary Qayin: Cain Original Word: קַיִן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Cain, Kenites The same as qayin (with a play upon the affinity to qanah); Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe -- Cain, Kenite(-s). see HEBREW qayin see HEBREW qanah Brown-Driver-Briggs II. קַ֫יִן proper name 1. of a people (see StaG i. 151 f. MeyEntstehung 115; compare Arabic proper name, of family 2. location הַקַּ֫יִן in southern Judah (a settlement of II.׳ק 1 ?); — Joshua 15:57, [Ζακαν]αειμ, A [Ζανω] Ακειμ, ᵐ5L [Ζανου] Ακεν; possibly= Yª†în southeast from Hebron [RobBR ii.85] (see BuhlGeogr. 162 f. who, however, compare קִינָה Joshua 15:22). III. קַ֫יִן proper name, masculine Cain, Kain eldest son of Adam and Eve (explanation Genesis 4:1 from קָנָה acquire; but in fact = II. ׳ק, as heros eponymos, according to Wecompare11 StaG 285 ff. BuUrg. 193 HolzGenesis 50f. especially StaZAW xiv (1894), 250 ff.; xv (1895), 157 ff., CheEncy.Bib.CAIN); — ׳ק Genesis 4:1,2,3,5 (twice in verse); Genesis 4:8 (twice in verse); Genesis 4:9,13,15 (twice in verse); Genesis 4:16,17, קָ֑יִן Genesis 4:6; Genesis 4:24; Genesis 4:25 (all J). Topical Lexicon Name and Scriptural Introduction Genesis 4:1 records: “Now Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, ‘I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.’” The name קַיִן (Qayin, Cain) is therefore linked in the text to Eve’s acknowledgement of divine assistance in acquiring her firstborn son. Narrative Overview (Genesis 4) Cain and his brother Abel each bring an offering to the LORD (Genesis 4:3–5). Abel’s sacrifice, offered “from the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions,” is accepted; Cain’s offering “from the fruit of the soil” is not. The divine warning that follows—“sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:7)—highlights personal accountability. Ignoring the warning, Cain murders Abel in the field (Genesis 4:8), becoming the archetypal murderer and inaugurating human bloodshed. Confronted by God, Cain replies, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9), exposing a hardened heart. Judgment and mercy are both displayed: the ground is cursed against him, yet God places a protective sign upon Cain so that “whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance sevenfold” (Genesis 4:15). Cain then settles “east of Eden, in the land of Nod” (Genesis 4:16). Genealogy of Cain Genesis 4:17–24 presents the earliest human civilization through Cain’s line. Cities (Enoch), livestock husbandry (Jabal), musical arts (Jubal), and metallurgy (Tubal-cain) arise from his descendants. Lamech’s boast of seventy-sevenfold vengeance (Genesis 4:24) portrays the intensification of violence in a line unrepentant before God. Theological Significance 1. Worship and Heart Posture: Hebrews 11:4 contrasts the brothers—“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.” The outward act of worship is inseparable from inward faith. The Mark of Cain While Scripture withholds its nature, the mark demonstrates God’s continued sovereignty over life and His restraining grace even toward the guilty, thereby preserving the unfolding human account that will culminate in redemption. Kain in Balaam’s Oracle (Numbers 24:21–22) Balaam prophesies over the Kenites: “Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in the rock; yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.” Here קַיִן designates a Kenite clan renowned for its seemingly impregnable location. The prophecy affirms that no human security can withstand God’s decreed judgment, but also places the Kenites within Israel’s prophetic horizon, reminding Israel that God’s purposes encompass surrounding peoples. Kain, Town in Judah (Joshua 15:57) Within the allotment of Judah’s hill country, “Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah” are listed among ten towns. Located likely southwest of Hebron, this settlement of Kain shows the name becoming part of Judah’s territorial heritage. The inclusion attests to the divine fulfillment of land promises and the absorption of various populations and place-names into the covenant people’s geography. Ministerial Applications • Guard the heart in worship; God regards the worshiper before the gift. Thus קַיִן threads through Scripture as person, clan, and place, consistently testifying to the seriousness of sin, the necessity of faith-filled worship, and the surety of divine justice and mercy. Forms and Transliterations הַקַּ֖יִן הקין וְקַ֕יִן וקין לְקַ֙יִן֙ לקין קַ֔יִן קַ֖יִן קַ֙יִן֙ קַ֛יִן קַ֜יִן קַ֥יִן קָ֑יִן קָֽיִן׃ קין קין׃ hakKayin haq·qa·yin haqqayin Kayin lə·qa·yin leKayin ləqayin qa·yin qā·yin qayin qāyin veKayin wə·qa·yin wəqayinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 4:1 HEB: וַתֵּ֣לֶד אֶת־ קַ֔יִן וַתֹּ֕אמֶר קָנִ֥יתִי NAS: and gave birth to Cain, and she said, KJV: and bare Cain, and said, INT: conceived and gave to Cain said have gotten Genesis 4:2 Genesis 4:3 Genesis 4:5 Genesis 4:5 Genesis 4:6 Genesis 4:8 Genesis 4:8 Genesis 4:9 Genesis 4:13 Genesis 4:15 Genesis 4:15 Genesis 4:16 Genesis 4:17 Genesis 4:24 Genesis 4:25 Numbers 24:22 Joshua 15:57 18 Occurrences |
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Nabataean, Sinaitic proper name, masculine and feminine קינו; tribe of smiths?); — tribe of Mose's father-in-law