Genesis 4:12 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.”

Genesis 4:12

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. {blood: Heb. bloods}

And now {art} thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment {is} greater than I can bear. {My...: or, Mine iniquity is greater than that it may be forgiven}

Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, {that} every one that findeth me shall slay me.

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Genesis 4:1

"And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. {Cain: that is, Gotten, or, Acquired}"

Genesis 4:2

"And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. {Abel: Heb. Hebel} {a keeper: Heb. a feeder}"

Genesis 4:3

"And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. {in process...: Heb. at the end of days}"

Genesis 4:4

"And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: {flock: Heb. sheep, or, goats}"

Genesis 4:5

"But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."

Genesis 4:6

"And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?"

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