Cain and Abel
Genesis 4:1-16
Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve, brought offerings to God. Cain, in his anger, killed his brother. God called him to account and, even so, protected him with a mark. Genesis 4:1-16
The story, in plain words
Adam and Eve had a son, Cain. Eve said she had him with the help of God. Genesis 4:1
Then she had Abel, Cain’s brother. Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain was a farmer. Genesis 4:2
In time, Cain offered the Lord some of the fruits of the ground. Abel offered some of the firstborn of his flock, the best ones. Genesis 4:3-4
The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but not on Cain and his. Genesis does not say why. Genesis 4:4-5 Cain became very angry, and his face…
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See the mapWhat the Bible says
Genesis 4:1-16
1And Adam knew Eve his wife: who conceived and brought forth Cain, saying: I have gotten a man through God. 2And again she brought forth his brother Abel. And Abel was a shepherd, and Cain a husbandman. 3And it came to pass after many days, that Cain offered, of the fruits of the earth, gifts to the Lord. 4Abel also offered of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat: and the Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offerings. 5But to Cain and his offerings he had no respect: and Cain was exceedingly angry, and his countenance fell. 6And the Lord said to him: Why art thou angry? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7If thou do well, shalt thou not receive? but if ill, shall not sin forthwith be present at the door? but the lust thereof shall be under thee, and thou shalt have dominion over it. 8And Cain said to Abel his brother: Let us go forth abroad. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and slew him. 9And the Lord said to Cain: Where is thy brother Abel? And he answered, I know not: am I my brother’s keeper? 10And he said to him: What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth to me from the earth. 11Now, therefore, cursed shalt thou be upon the earth, which hath opened her mouth and received the blood of thy brother at thy hand. 12When thou shalt till it, it shall not yield to thee its fruit: a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be upon the earth. 13And Cain said to the Lord: My iniquity is greater than that I may deserve pardon. 14Behold thou dost cast me out this day from the face of the earth, and I shall be hidden from thy face, and I shall be a vagabond and a fugitive on the earth: every one, therefore, that findeth me, shall kill me. 15And the Lord said to him: No, it shall not be so: but whosoever shall kill Cain, shall be punished sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, that whosoever found him should not kill him. 16And Cain went out from the face of the Lord, and dwelt as a fugitive on the earth, at the east side of Eden.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
To talk about together
- God spoke to Cain when he was angry, before he hurt anyone. What do you think Cain could have done differently?
- Cain asked if he was his brother’s keeper. What would you say to him?
- For the child: when you get angry with someone, what helps you calm down?