And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
- BSB “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen?
- NKJV So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
- NASB Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy?
- NLT “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God graciously questions Cain about his anger and downcast face. It shows God reaching out to warn and correct before sin takes hold.
Overview
Rather than abandoning Cain, God comes to him with searching questions, inviting self-examination. This divine confrontation is an act of mercy, giving Cain opportunity to turn from his rising resentment. God's pursuit of the sinner before he falls reflects the patient grace that runs throughout Scripture.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Isa 1:18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
- Job 5:2For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
- Luke 15:31–32And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
- Jer 2:31O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
- Mic 6:3–5O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
- Matt 20:15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
- John 4:8–11(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
- Jer 2:5Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
- John 4:1–4When therefore the LORD knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
- 1 Chr 13:11–13And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 4:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.