Genesis 4:11
Genesis 4:11 in Multiple Translations
Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
And now you are cursed from the earth, whose mouth is open to take your brother's blood from your hand;
Consequently you are more cursed than the ground because you soaked it with your brother's blood.
Now therefore thou art cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receiue thy brothers blood from thine hand.
and now, cursed [art] thou from the ground, which hath opened her mouth to receive the blood of thy brother from thy hand;
Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
Now, therefore, cursed shalt thou be upon the earth, which hath opened her mouth and received the blood of thy brother at thy hand.
You have killed your younger brother, and the ground has soaked up his blood. So now I will expel you from this land and curse your efforts to produce crops.
So now I’m going to curse you. You killed your brother, and his blood is on the ground. So I will make the ground bad for you.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 4:11
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Genesis 4:11 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 4:11
Study Notes — Genesis 4:11
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 4:11 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 4:11
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 4:11
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 4:11
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 4:11
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 4:11
- Cambridge Bible on Genesis 4:11
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 4:11
- Sermons on Genesis 4:11
Context — Cain and Abel
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.” 13But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galatians 3:10 | All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” |
| 2 | Job 16:18 | O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest. |
| 3 | Genesis 3:14 | So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat, all the days of your life. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 28:15–20 | If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. Your basket and kneading bowl will be cursed. The fruit of your womb will be cursed, as well as the produce of your land, the calves of your herds, and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out. The LORD will send curses upon you, confusion and reproof in all to which you put your hand, until you are destroyed and quickly perish because of the wickedness you have committed in forsaking Him. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 27:16–26 | ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ |
| 6 | Job 31:38–40 | 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, then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job. |
| 7 | Revelation 12:16 | But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that had poured from the dragon’s mouth. |
| 8 | Isaiah 26:21 | For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain. |
| 9 | Genesis 4:14 | Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” |
| 10 | Deuteronomy 29:19–21 | because when such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself, saying, ‘I will have peace, even though I walk in the stubbornness of my own heart.’ This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. The LORD will never be willing to forgive him. Instead, His anger and jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse written in this book will fall upon him. The LORD will blot out his name from under heaven and single him out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law. |
Genesis 4:11 Summary
[Genesis 4:11 tells us that Cain is cursed and banished from the ground because of his sin, which means he will no longer have the same blessings and relationship with the earth that he once had. This is similar to what happened to Adam in Genesis 3:17-19, where he was cursed and had to work hard to get food from the ground. Cain's actions have consequences, and this verse shows us that our actions can affect our relationship with God and the world around us. We can learn from Cain's mistakes and strive to be good stewards of the earth, using our resources to glorify God, as seen in Genesis 1:28.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be cursed and banished from the ground?
In Genesis 4:11, being cursed and banished from the ground means that Cain will no longer have the same relationship with the earth that he once had, and this is a result of his sinful actions, as seen in the consequences of Adam's sin in Genesis 3:17-19. This curse is a physical and spiritual separation from the blessings of God.
How does the ground opening its mouth to receive blood relate to the concept of bloodguilt?
The image of the ground opening its mouth to receive blood in Genesis 4:11 signifies that the earth itself is a witness to the crime and is now polluted by the blood of the innocent, which is a concept also seen in Numbers 35:33-34, where bloodguilt defiles the land.
Is Cain's punishment a result of God's wrath or His justice?
Cain's punishment in Genesis 4:11 is a result of God's justice, as He is a righteous Judge who must punish sin, as seen in Psalm 89:14, where righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne.
How does this verse relate to the concept of stewardship of the earth?
Genesis 4:11 shows that our actions have consequences on the earth and our relationship with it, emphasizing the importance of being good stewards of the earth, as seen in Genesis 1:28, where God gives humanity dominion over the earth to care for it.
Reflection Questions
- What are the consequences of my actions, and how do they affect my relationship with God and the world around me?
- How can I ensure that my actions are pleasing to God and do not lead to spiritual and physical separation from His blessings?
- In what ways can I be a good steward of the earth, and how can I use my resources to glorify God?
- What can I learn from Cain's mistakes, and how can I apply those lessons to my own life to avoid similar consequences?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 4:11
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 4:11
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 4:11
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 4:11
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 4:11
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 4:11
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 4:11
Sermons on Genesis 4:11
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Genesis) Genesis 4:11-15 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Cain and Abel from the book of Genesis. He highlights how Cain's sin of offering an unacceptable sacrifice to God led to him be |
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Two Types of Sins & Two Types of Blessings by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the distinction between two types of sins and blessings in his sermon. He explains that Adam's sin harmed only himself, while Cain's sin harmed others, highli |
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(Hebrews) 1-Overview-1 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher begins by discussing the book of Revelation and its portrayal of the end times. He expresses sorrow over the degradation and perversion in society, emp |
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The Greatest Text in the Bible by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the choices we make in life and compares the idea of being confronted by a huge, intimidating man versus a small Martian. The speaker emphasiz |
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Beware of Dogs - Part 1 by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker delves into the importance of defending the true gospel of Jesus Christ and warns against false teachings that add human effort to salvation. Paul's str |
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Esther #4 Ch. 8-10 by Chuck Missler | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being diligent and responsible in our actions, rather than using religious excuses for laziness. He uses the examples of Jo |
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Se Pt2 - What Is the Grace of the Gospel? by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing our desperate need for salvation and the lack of tears in modern-day conversions. He highlights the need to wee |






