Genesis 4:10
Genesis 4:10 in Multiple Translations
“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And he said, What have you done? the voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the earth.
“What have you done?” the Lord asked. “Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground.
Againe he said, What hast thou done? the voyce of thy brothers blood cryeth vnto me from the earth.
And He saith, 'What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood is crying unto Me from the ground;
The LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth to me from the ground.
And he said to him: What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth to me from the earth.
Yahweh said, “You have done a terrible thing [RHQ]! So now it is as though your younger brother’s voice is crying to me from the ground, demanding that his death must be avenged.
God said to Cain, “You did a really bad thing. Your brother’s blood is on the ground. It’s like his blood is calling out to me. It is telling me you killed him.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 4:10
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 4:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יֹּ֖אמֶר
מֶ֣ה
עָשִׂ֑יתָ
ק֚וֹל
דְּמֵ֣י
אָחִ֔י/ךָ
צֹעֲקִ֥ים
אֵלַ֖/י
מִן
הָֽ/אֲדָמָֽה
וַ/יֹּ֖אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
מֶ֣ה
mâh
H4100
what?
Part
עָשִׂ֑יתָ
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
ק֚וֹל
qôwl
H6963
voice
N-ms
דְּמֵ֣י
dâm
H1818
blood
N-mp
אָחִ֔י/ךָ
ʼâch
H251
brother
N-ms | Suff
צֹעֲקִ֥ים
tsâʻaq
H6817
to cry
V-Qal
אֵלַ֖/י
ʼêl
H413
to(wards)
Prep | Suff
מִן
min
H4480
from
Prep
הָֽ/אֲדָמָֽה
ʼădâmâh
H127
land
Art | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 4:10
וַ/יֹּ֖אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
מֶ֣ה
mâh
H4100
"what?"
Part
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.
עָשִׂ֑יתָ
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
ק֚וֹל
qôwl
H6963
"voice"
N-ms
A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.
Definition: : sound/noise 1) voice, sound, noise 1a) voice 1b) sound (of instrument)
Usage: Occurs in 436 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell. See also: Genesis 3:8; Judges 5:11; Job 4:10.
דְּמֵ֣י
dâm
H1818
"blood"
N-mp
Blood refers to the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life. In the Bible, blood is often used to symbolize life, guilt, or sacrifice, as seen in the story of Jesus' crucifixion.
Definition: 1) blood 1a) of wine (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 295 OT verses. KJV: blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent. See also: Genesis 4:10; Numbers 19:5; Psalms 5:7.
אָחִ֔י/ךָ
ʼâch
H251
"brother"
N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a brother or male sibling, but it can also refer to a close relative, friend, or someone with a similar relationship. It is used to describe the bond between brothers, like the relationship between Cain and Abel in Genesis.
Definition: : male-sibling 1) brother 1a) brother of same parents 1b) half-brother (same father) 1c) relative, kinship, same tribe 1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship) 1e) (fig.) of resemblance
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. See also: Genesis 4:2; Genesis 42:13; Numbers 25:6.
צֹעֲקִ֥ים
tsâʻaq
H6817
"to cry"
V-Qal
To cry or cry out is the meaning of this verb, often used to express distress or need, as seen in the Psalms where people cry out to God for help.
Definition: 1) to cry, cry out, call, cry for help 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cry, cry out (for help) 1a2) to cry, cry out (in distress or need) 1a3) to make outcry, clamour 1b) (Niphal) to be summoned 1c) (Piel) to cry aloud (in grief) 1d) (Hiphil) to call together
Usage: Occurs in 53 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, call together, cry (out), gather (selves) (together). See also: Genesis 4:10; 1 Samuel 13:4; Psalms 34:18.
אֵלַ֖/י
ʼêl
H413
"to(wards)"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
מִן
min
H4480
"from"
Prep
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Definition: prep 1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than 1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of 1b) out of 1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling) 1b2) (of material from which something is made) 1b3) (of source or origin) 1c) out of, some of, from (partitively) 1d) from, since, after (of time) 1e) than, more than (in comparison) 1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or 1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons) 1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive) conj 2) that Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)
Usage: Occurs in 1094 OT verses. KJV: above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, [idiom] neither, [idiom] nor, (out) of, over, since, [idiom] then, through, [idiom] whether, with. See also: Genesis 2:6; Exodus 16:32; Leviticus 14:26.
הָֽ/אֲדָמָֽה
ʼădâmâh
H127
"land"
Art | N-fs
This Hebrew word refers to the earth or soil, often describing the ground as a source of sustenance. It is used to describe the physical earth, a plot of land, or even a whole country. The KJV translates it as 'country', 'earth', or 'land'.
Definition: : soil 1) ground, land 1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance) 1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land 1c) earth substance (for building or constructing) 1d) ground as earth's visible surface 1e) land, territory, country 1f) whole inhabited earth 1g) city in Naphtali
Usage: Occurs in 211 OT verses. KJV: country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land. See also: Genesis 1:25; 1 Kings 8:40; Psalms 49:12.
Study Notes — Genesis 4:10
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 4:10 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 4:10
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 4:10
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 4:10
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 4:10
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 4:10
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 4:10
- Cambridge Bible on Genesis 4:10
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 4:10
- Sermons on Genesis 4:10
Context — Cain and Abel
8Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
9And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
11Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebrews 12:24 | to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. |
| 2 | Psalms 72:14 | He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight. |
| 3 | Hebrews 11:4 | By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. |
| 4 | Isaiah 5:7 | For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress. |
| 5 | James 5:4 | Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. |
| 6 | Psalms 9:12 | For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. |
| 7 | Numbers 35:33 | Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. |
| 8 | Revelation 6:9–10 | And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?” |
| 9 | Job 31:38–39 | if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together, if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants, |
| 10 | Job 16:18 | O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest. |
Genesis 4:10 Summary
In Genesis 4:10, God is saying that He knows what Cain has done, and that the blood of Abel is crying out to Him for justice. This means that God sees and knows everything, and that He will hold us accountable for our actions (as seen in Romans 14:12). It also shows that God values human life and is deeply concerned when it is taken unjustly, as stated in Genesis 9:6. This should remind us to respect and value the lives of those around us, and to seek to live in a way that honors God and promotes justice and compassion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that 'the voice of your brother's blood cries out' in Genesis 4:10?
This phrase means that the shedding of innocent blood has a profound impact on God, and He hears the cry of the victim, as seen in Genesis 4:10, and it is a reminder of the value God places on human life, as stated in Genesis 9:6.
Is God literally hearing the blood of Abel crying out from the ground?
No, this is a figurative expression that conveys God's awareness of and response to the injustice and violence that has been committed, similar to how God sees and responds to the cry of the oppressed in Exodus 2:23-25.
How does this verse relate to the concept of justice and accountability?
Genesis 4:10 shows that God holds individuals accountable for their actions, and that He is a just God who will not ignore the shedding of innocent blood, as also seen in Psalm 9:12 and Psalm 72:14.
What does this verse teach us about God's character?
This verse reveals that God is a God of justice, compassion, and awareness, who is deeply concerned with the well-being and safety of His creation, as seen in Genesis 4:10 and other verses like Psalm 103:8 and Jeremiah 9:24.
Reflection Questions
- How does the fact that God hears the cry of the oppressed and the blood of the innocent affect my understanding of His character and my relationship with Him?
- In what ways can I be more mindful of the value and sanctity of human life, as reflected in Genesis 4:10 and Genesis 9:6?
- How can I apply the principle of accountability and justice from this verse to my own life and relationships?
- What does this verse teach me about the consequences of sin and violence, and how can I seek to live a life that honors God and respects the dignity of all people?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 4:10
And he said,.... Not Cain, the last speaker, but the Lord God, what hast thou done? what an heinous crime hast thou committed! how aggravated is it!
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 4:10
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground - Hebrew, bloods.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 4:10
I hear thy words, but what say thy actions? What a hideous crime hast thou committed! In vain dost thou endeavour to hide it or deny it. In the Hebrew it is bloods, either to aggravate the crime, or to show the plenty of the blood split, or to charge him with the murder of all those that might naturally have come out of Abel’ s loins; which was a far greater crime in the nonage of the world, when the world greatly wanted people. From the ground, upon which it was spilt by thy bloody hands.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 4:10
Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’ s blood crieth unto me from the ground.Ver. 10. What hast thou done?] Here God appeals to the murderer’ s conscience, which is instead of a thousand witnesses. As oft as we feel the secret smitings of our own hearts for sin, think we hear him that is greater than our hearts, saying to us as here, What havae you done? And that there is no good to be done by denying or dawbing, for he knows all things, and requires that we should see our sins to confession, or we shall see them to our confusion. The voice of thy brother’ s blood.] The blood of one Abel had so many tongues as drops, and every drop a voice to cry for vengeance. "Give them blood to drink, for they are worthy." Charles IX. of France, author of that bloody massacre of Paris, died of exceeding bleeding. Richard III. of this kingdom, and Queen Mary, had the shortest reigns of any since the Conquest; according to that, "Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days," anno 1586. Walsh, Bishop of Ossery, in Ireland, a man of honest life, with his two servants, were stabbed to death by one Dulland, an Irish old soldier, while he gravely admonished him of his foul adulteries; and the wicked murderer escaped away, who had now committed forty-five murders with his own hand. At length, revenge pursuing him, he was by another bloody fellow, Donald Spaniah, shortly after slain himself, and his head presented to the Lord Deputy of Ireland. Mr Camden’ s Elisab., p. 165.
Mr Camden’ s Elisab., p. 241.
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 4:10
(10) Thy brother’s blood crieth unto me.—The sight he has seen of death cleaves to him, and grows into a terror; and from above the voice of Jehovah tells him that the blood he has shed calls aloud for vengeance. Thus with the first shedding of human blood that ominous thought sprang up, divinely bestowed, that the earth will grant no peace to the wretch who has stained her fair face with the life stream of man. But “the blood of Jesus speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24). The voice of one cried for justice and retribution: the other for reconciliation and peace.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 4:10
Verse 10. The voice of thy brother's blood] It is probable that Cain, having killed his brother, dug a hole and burled him in the earth, hoping thereby to prevent the murder from being known; and that this is what is designed in the words, Thy brother's blood crieth unto me FROM THE GROUND-which hath opened her mouth to receive it from thy hand. Some think that by the voice of thy brother's blood the cries of Abel's widow and children are to be understood, as it is very probable that he was father of a family; indeed his occupation and sacrifices seem to render this probable, and probability is all we can expect on such a subject. God represents these as calling aloud for the punishment of the murderer; and it is evident that Cain expected to fall by the hands of some person who, from his consanguinity, had the right of the avenger of blood; for now that the murder is found out, he expects to suffer death for it. See Genesis 4:14.
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 4:10
10. What hast thou done?] The same question as that put to Eve (Genesis 3:13). This question has been put by the voice of conscience to every murderer since Cain; it had a special force in reference to the first man done to death by his brother. the voice of thy brother’s blood] Probably it would be more accurate to translate, as Driver, “Hark! thy brother’s blood, &c.” The word “blood” in the Hebrew is plural, and the word “crieth” is in the plural agreeing with it. The Hebrew for “voice” (ḳ ?ôl) should similarly be rendered “Hark!,” instead of “noise,” in Isaiah 13:4, and instead of “the voice of,” in Isaiah 52:8; see Heb. Lexicon. The Hebrew idea was that blood shed, for which there was no avenger, cried to Jehovah for vengeance against the murderer. Jehovah has learned of Abel’s murder from the cry of his blood spilt upon the ground. Another Hebrew belief was that, if only the blood were covered with earth, it would be silent. Cf. Job 16:18, “Oh! earth, cover not thou my blood and let my cry have no resting-place”; Isaiah 26:21, “The earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain”; Ezekiel 24:7.
To this ancient supposition there is an allusion in Hebrews 12:14, “the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.” “In the picturesque legend of the Arabs, there rose from the blood (or bones) of the slain man the ‘death-owl,’ which shrieked, ‘Give me to drink,’ until it was appeased by the blood of vengeance.” (Gordon’s Early Traditions of Genesis, p. 203.)
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 4:10
10. What hast thou done — In this verse it is well to emphasize and compare together the words thou, thy brother, me.
Sermons on Genesis 4:10
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Voice of Jesus Blood by A.W. Tozer | The sermon transcript discusses various topics, including the consequences of breaking rules and the importance of having plans for the future. It also highlights the transformatio |
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Principles of the Most Holy War by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the destructive power of the tongue and the importance of refraining from engaging in harmful conversations. He highlights the need for holi |
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God Only by Norman Grubb | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of being a slave to what we choose. He emphasizes that our ability to choose is our royalty, and we are fixed by the choices we ma |
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Watch Your Heart - the Wellspring of Life by Erlo Stegen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of guarding one's heart above all else. He uses examples such as taking care of livestock and being attentive while driving to |
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Message to Ministers by Ray Brubaker | In this sermon, the commentator, Ray Brubaker, discusses the importance of cherishing and protecting our God-honoring freedoms. He references Haggai 1:8 to highlight the consequenc |
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Speaking a Better Word by Gary Wilkerson | Gary Wilkerson emphasizes the significance of speaking and hearing a better word, particularly in the context of our relationships with our earthly fathers and God. He contrasts th |
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The Blood of Sprinkling, and the Blood of Abel by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar emphasizes the profound contrast between the blood of Abel and the blood of Christ, illustrating how Abel's blood cries out for vengeance while Christ's blood speaks |