Genesis 4:17
in Genesis 4And Cain had relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
KJV
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
⋯
This verse in Genesis 4
Commentary
13 notes on this verseAnd Cain knew his wife,.... Who this woman was is not certain, nor whether it was his first wife or not; whether his sister, or one that descended from Adam by another of his sons, since this was about the one hundred and thirtieth year of the creation.
This site's exposition
went out from the presence of the LORD
on Genesis 4:16-17
Cain settles east of Eden, in the land of Nod, where the way back to the garden was barred. He builds a city and names it after his son Enoch. Settled life in Genesis starts in the line of the man under judgment. Cain's line is the first to build.
This site's exposition
Cain built a city
Cain's wife is never named. John Gill left open whether she was a sister or a later descendant of Adam. Matthew Henry set Cain's city against the tents of those who looked for a heavenly one, and saw in it a man seeking his settlement here below.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Now, it is recorded of Cain that he built a city, while Abel, as though he were merely a pilgrim on earth, built none. For the true city of the saints is in heaven, though here on earth it produces citizens in whom it wanders as on a pilgrimage through time looking for the kingdom of eternity. When that day comes, it will gather together all those who, rising in their bodies, shall have that kingdom given to them in which, along with their Prince, the King of Eternity, they shall reign forever and ever.
Consider now the text: "And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived, and brought forth Enoch; and he built a city and called the name thereof by the name of his son Enoch." It does not at all follow from these words that we must believe Cain's first son was Enoch, as though "Cain knew his wife" must refer to their first intercourse. You have the same expression used of the first father, Adam, but not only in reference to the conception of Cain, who seems to have been his firstborn, since a little later Scripture records, "Adam knew his wife, and she conceived and brought forth a son and called his name Seth."
The Medieval Church1 voice
Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. He built a city, and he called its name after his son's name, Enoch.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And here is an account of his posterity, at least the heirs of his family, for seven generations. His son was Enoch, of the same name, but not of the same character with that holy man that walked with God. The names of more of his posterity are mentioned, and but just mentioned, as those of the holy seed, chap. v, 1-32.
Those who looked for the heavenly city chose, while on earth, to dwell in tabernacles; but Cain, as one that minded not that city, built himself one on earth. Those that are cursed of God are apt to seek their settlement and satisfaction here below, Ps. xvii. (3.) See what method Cain took to defend himself against the terrors with which he was perpetually haunted.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And here is an account of his posterity, at least the heirs of his family, for seven generations. His son was Enoch, of the same name, but not of the same character with that holy man that walked with God. The names of more of his posterity are mentioned, and but just mentioned, as those of the holy seed, chap. v, 1-32.
And Cain knew his wife,.... Who this woman was is not certain, nor whether it was his first wife or not; whether his sister, or one that descended from Adam by another of his sons, since this was about the one hundred and thirtieth year of the creation.
Those who looked for the heavenly city chose, while on earth, to dwell in tabernacles; but Cain, as one that minded not that city, built himself one on earth. Those that are cursed of God are apt to seek their settlement and satisfaction here below, Ps. xvii. (3.) See what method Cain took to defend himself against the terrors with which he was perpetually haunted.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
She - bare Enoch - As חנוך Chanoch signifies instructed, dedicated, or initiated, and especially in sacred things, it may be considered some proof of Cain’s repentance, that he appears to have dedicated this son to God, who, in his father’s stead, might minister in the sacerdotal office, from which Cain, by his crime, was for ever excluded.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
- XIX. The Line of Cain 17. חניך chenôk, Chanok, “initiation, instruction.” 18. עירד ‛ı̂yrād, ‘Irad, “fleet as the wild ass, citizen.” מחוּיאל mechûya'el, Mechujael, “smitten of ‘El, or life of ‘El.” מתוּשׁאל metûshā'ēl, Methushael, “man of ‘El, or man asked.” למך lāmek, Lemek, “man of prayer, youth.” 19. עדה 'ādâh, ‘Adah, “beauty.” צלה tsı̂lâh, Tsillah, “shade or tinkling.” 20. יבל yābāl, Jabal, “stream, leader of cattle, produce, the walker or wanderer.” אהל 'ohel plural: אהלים 'ohālı̂ym for אהלים 'ăhālı̂ym “tent, awning, covering” of goats’ hair over the poles or timbers which constituted the original booth,” סכה sŭkâh.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּ֤דַע | vaiyeda' | and he knew | H3045 → | 945 times |
| קַ֙יִן֙ | kayin | Cain | H7014 → | 19 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ | ʾishto | wife his | H802 → | 781 times |
| וַתַּ֖הַר | vatahar | and she conceived | H2029 → | 43 times |
| וַתֵּ֣לֶד | vateled | and she bore | H3205 → | 496 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| חֲנ֑וֹךְ | chanokh | Enoch | H2585 → | 16 times |
| וַֽיְהִי֙ | vayhi | and he was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בֹּ֣נֶה | boneh | building | H1129 → | 376 times |
| עִ֔יר | ʾir | a city | H5892 → | 1090 times |
| וַיִּקְרָא֙ | vaiyikra' | and he called | H7121 → | 733 times |
| שֵׁ֣ם | shem | [the] name of | H8034 → | 864 times |
| הָעִ֔יר | hair | the city | H5892 → | 1090 times |
| כְּשֵׁ֖ם | keshem | according to [the] name of | H8034 → | 864 times |
| בְּנ֥וֹ | beno | son his | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| חֲנֽוֹךְ׃ | chanokh | Enoch | H2585 → | 16 times |
וַיֵּ֤דַעand he knew
vaiyeda'H3045 →945 times
קַ֙יִן֙Cain
kayinH7014 →19 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
אִשְׁתּ֔וֹwife his
ʾishtoH802 →781 times
וַתַּ֖הַרand she conceived
vataharH2029 →43 times
וַתֵּ֣לֶדand she bore
vateledH3205 →496 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
חֲנ֑וֹךְEnoch
chanokhH2585 →16 times
וַֽיְהִי֙and he was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
בֹּ֣נֶהbuilding
bonehH1129 →376 times
עִ֔ירa city
ʾirH5892 →1090 times
וַיִּקְרָא֙and he called
vaiyikra'H7121 →733 times
שֵׁ֣ם[the] name of
shemH8034 →864 times
הָעִ֔ירthe city
hairH5892 →1090 times
כְּשֵׁ֖םaccording to [the] name of
keshemH8034 →864 times
בְּנ֥וֹson his
benoH1121 →4930 times
חֲנֽוֹךְ׃Enoch
chanokhH2585 →16 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Daniel 4:30the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Revelation 18:10
In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
- Proverbs 16:18
Through
Psalms 49:11Their graves are their eternal homes— their dwellings for endless generations— even though their lands were their namesakes.
it leads to
- Psalms 64:6
They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.
- Psalms 5:9
For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.
- Ezekiel 38:10
This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
- 2 Samuel 18:18
During his lifetime, Absalom had set up for himself a pillar in the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the…
- Psalms 64:6
Through
Genesis 5:18When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch.
it leads to
- Jude 1:14–15
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones
- Jude 1:14–15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, City of God 15.1; Augustine of Hippo, City of God 15.8; Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.