The Meaning of Genesis 4:1 Explained

Genesis 4:1

KJV: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

YLT: And the man knew Eve his wife, and she conceiveth and beareth Cain, and saith, 'I have gotten a man by Jehovah;'

Darby: And Man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have acquired a man with Jehovah.

ASV: And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with the help of Jehovah.

What is the context of Genesis 4:1?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Adam  knew  Eve  his wife;  and she conceived,  and bare  Cain,  and said,  I have gotten  a man  from  the LORD. 

What does Genesis 4:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Cain
Cain ("acquisition") is a type of the mere man of the earth. His religion was destitute of any adequate sense of sin, or need of atonement. This religious type is described in 2 Peter 2. Seven things are said of him:
(1) he worships in self-will (2) is angry with God (3) refuses to bring a sin offering (4) murders his brother (5) lies to God (6) becomes a vagabond (7) is, nevertheless, the object of the divine solicitude.

Context Summary

Genesis 4:1-8 - Offerings By Cain And Abel
It was good that man should be driven from Eden. Soft comfort enervates. The natives of the South Sea Islands are moral pulp. Man goes forth from the Eden of innocence, of home, of the land of his birth, to create gardens out of deserts, and to become a pilgrim to the abiding City of God. Angels of Love forbid our return. Heaven lies before us, the City gleams with light on the far horizon. For the Tree of Life see Revelation 2:7. The inner motive of Cain's ruthless deed is supplied in 1 John 3:12. Abel, deeply conscious of sin, felt that a sacrifice was needed; therefore his faith saved him and links him with all who believe. See Hebrews 11:4. Cain had no sense of sin, and thought a gift of produce enough. But all the while sin was crouching at the door, like a hungry tiger, waiting for the chance to enter. Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation! "Thou shouldst rule." [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 4

1  The birth, occupation, and offerings of Cain and Abel
8  Cain murders his brother Abel
11  The curse of Cain
17  Has a son called Enoch, and builds a city, which he calls after his name
18  His descendants, with Lamech and his two wives
25  The birth of Seth,
26  and Enos

What do the individual words in Genesis 4:1 mean?

And Adam knew - Eve his wife and she conceived and bore Cain and said I have acquired a man from Yahweh
וְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם יָדַ֖ע אֶת־ חַוָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֙הַר֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד קַ֔יִן וַתֹּ֕אמֶר קָנִ֥יתִי אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־ יְהוָֽה

וְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם  And  Adam 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
יָדַ֖ע  knew 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
חַוָּ֣ה  Eve 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַוָּה  
Sense: the first woman, wife of Adam.
אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ  his  wife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
וַתַּ֙הַר֙  and  she  conceived 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: הֹור 
Sense: to conceive, become pregnant, bear, be with child, be conceived, progenitor.
וַתֵּ֣לֶד  and  bore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
קַ֔יִן  Cain 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: קַיִן 
Sense: eldest son of Adam and Eve and the first murderer having murdered his brother Abel.
וַתֹּ֕אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
קָנִ֥יתִי  I  have  acquired 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: קָנָה 
Sense: to get, acquire, create, buy, possess.
אִ֖ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 4:1?

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