CAIN AND ABEL
in the Bible, two brothers, sons of Adam and Eve. According to the Book of Genesis, Cain was history's first murderer and Abel was history's first murder victim. Hebrew name Cain shows similarities with the verb “kana” (to bring into being), used by Eve, who said: “I brought forth man” (Gen. 4:1), as well as with the words “cain” (blacksmith) and “kana” (jealous). The name Abel (Hevel in Hebrew) may be derived from the Hebrew word hevel (breath). The story of Cain and Abel is found in Genesis 4 and is not mentioned anywhere else in the Hebrew Bible. Abel was a cattle breeder, Cain was a farmer. Cain brought a gift to God from the fruits of the earth, while Abel sacrificed the firstborn animals of his flock. Cain, angry that God favored Abel's sacrifice, killed his brother. The Bible says that Cain married, had children, and built the first city (Gen. 4:17-24). Apparently, Cain's wife was one of his sisters (Gen. 5:4). Cain's descendants in the male line did not survive the flood, but the "Keneites", a tribe of blacksmiths and metallurgists, are mentioned as contemporaries of Abraham (Gen. 15:19), Moses (Judg. 1:16), Deborah (Judg. 4:11), and Saul (1 Sam. 15:6), possibly descended from Cain. In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, the monster Grendel is a descendant of Cain.

Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

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In the Bible, the sons of the first human couple, Adam and Eve. Cain the farmer and Abel the shepherd each made an offering to God. He despised the gifts of Abel and despised the sacrifices of Cain. Offended, Cain rebelled against his brother Abel and killed him. For this he was... Historical Dictionary

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Cain and Abel- Ka/ina and A/vel, m. In biblical mythology: the sons of Adam and Eve, the eldest of whom Cain is a farmer, the younger Abel is a shepherd of sheep. While the Earth is still spinning, Lord, your power! let the one striving for power dominate to his heart’s content, give a break to the generous... Popular dictionary of the Russian language

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And Abel (Cain, Hebrew qajin, from the Aramaic and Arabic root qjn, “forge”, Greek Κάιν; Abel, Hebrew hebel, etymology unclear; Greek Άβελ), according to the Old Testament tradition (Gen. 4, 1 17), sons the first human couple Adam and Eve: “And... ... Encyclopedia of Mythology

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CAIN AND ABEL, in the Bible, two brothers, sons of Adam and Eve. According to the Book of Genesis, Cain was the first murderer in history, and Abel was the first murder victim. The Hebrew name Cain is similar to the verb kana (to bring into being), used by Eve when she said, “I have brought forth man” (Genesis 4:1), as well as to the words “kain” (blacksmith) and “kana” (jealous). . The name Abel (Hebrew Hevel) may be derived from the Hebrew word hevel (breath).

The story of Cain and Abel is found in Genesis 4 and is not mentioned anywhere else in the Hebrew Bible. Abel was a cattle breeder, Cain was a farmer. Cain brought a gift to God from the fruits of the earth, while Abel sacrificed the firstborn animals of his flock. Cain, angry that God favored Abel's sacrifice, killed his brother. When God asked him: “Where is Abel your brother?” - he answered: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). God punishes Cain with a curse: “You will be an exile and a wanderer on the earth” (Gen. 4:12), but at the same time marks him with the “Seal of Cain” so that no one will kill him. Cain goes to the "land of Nod" (land of wandering), east of Eden.

Running throughout the Bible is the motif of God's preference for younger brothers, such as Jacob, Joseph or David; Abel is the first in this row. Some researchers see in the biblical story a reflection of the conflict between two ways of life, pastoral and agricultural. More significantly, however, the gifts brought by Cain and Abel are the first sacrifices mentioned in the Bible. It has therefore been suggested that this tradition reflected the belief that God was more pleased with animal offerings rather than plant offerings.

It is especially important that in this story the theme of moral responsibility, first heard in the previous story about Adam and Eve, is further developed. When Cain begins to envy his brother, God says to him: “If you do good, don’t you raise your face? and if you do not do good, then sin lies at the door; he draws you to himself, but you must rule over him” (Gen. 4:7). This is the first appearance of the word “sin” (“het”) in the Bible. Cain's sin is especially striking because it is not just murder, but fratricide.

According to rabbinic tradition, Cain repented of his sin and was subsequently accidentally killed by his descendant, the blind Lamech. If Cain in the New Testament is mentioned as an example of villainy (1 John 3:12), then Abel is mentioned as the first righteous man to suffer a violent death (Matthew 23:35), and as an example of faith (Heb 11:4). In the Christian exegetical tradition, Abel is a typos (type) of Christ. On the other hand, there is evidence that some Gnostics worshiped Cain as the enemy of Israel's Creator God, whose worship they rejected.

The Bible says that Cain married, had children, and built the first city (Gen. 4:17-24). Apparently, Cain's wife was one of his sisters (Gen. 5:4). Cain's descendants in the male line did not survive the flood, but the "Keneites", a tribe of blacksmiths and metallurgists mentioned as contemporaries of Abraham (Gen 15:19), Moses (Judg 1:16), Deborah (Judg 4:11) and Saul (1 Sam. 15:6), possibly descended from Cain. In Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf The monster Grendel is a descendant of Cain.

Everything in the world happens for the first time. The biblical Book of Genesis in the fourth chapter tells how for the first time in the history of mankind the greatest atrocity was committed. Abel and Cain? the story of the first murder. At that time, the newly created world was still young, but no longer innocent. Human nature original sin damaged, and man, born in the image and likeness of the Creator, crossed out his likeness in himself.

Cain and Abel? a story that has since been repeated countless times, in a wide variety of variations. There will be a long line of endless lines of murderers and their victims. If you think about it, you can call victims both those who fell at the hands of a criminal and those who committed this crime. The latter, as a rule, are victims of their dark spiritual passions. Greed, anger, envy and other creatures of Satan seething in them? these are the true culprits of the crimes.

Expelled from Paradise

But let's return to the pages of the Bible, on which the story of Cain and Abel appears before us. After Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise, they found themselves in a world that was very similar to the one where we all live. The similarity was that, like us, its inhabitants became mortal, subject to disease and old age, and for the first time learned what suffering is. Besides, there was nothing free in this world; everything had to be earned through hard work. Soon their sons were born? Cain and Abel.

The story told in the Bible begins with each of them choosing his own career in life. Senior? Cain became a farmer, and he younger brother Abel? a shepherd. The brothers had no doubts in matters of faith, since the existence of God seemed to them an obvious reality, and when the time came for the sacrifice, each of them began it with a sincere desire to please the Almighty. Both laid the fruits of their labors on the altar: Cain - the firstfruits of the harvest, and Abel - the firstborn lamb from his flock.

Abel and Cain: the story of a rejected victim

We are not given the opportunity to comprehend the motives why the Lord preferred Abel’s sacrifice to the sacrifice made by his elder brother, but this is exactly what happened. Cain, instead of humbly bowing before the will of God, was filled with envy and a feeling of wounded pride. He even darkened his face and changed in appearance. The Holy Scripture says that the Lord tried to reason with him and turn away evil thoughts. He literally warns him that sin awaits a person who does not do good, but even in this case he must find the strength to refrain from it.

Abel and Cain? the story of a person's responsibility for his actions. Each of us at some point in our lives faces temptations, but it’s one thing to want something, and quite another? give free rein to your desires. Cain allowed the sin that had arisen in his soul to completely take control of him. Choosing a moment when, in his opinion, there were no witnesses, he killed Abel.

Any murder? It’s a sin, but shedding the blood of your own brother is doubly sinful. Apparently, the feeling of anger clouded Cain’s mind so much that it did not even occur to him that there was no place in the world where he could hide from the eyes of the all-seeing God. There were no people nearby at that terrible moment, but the Spirit of God was invisibly present.

Last chance to repent

The crime was committed, but the all-merciful Lord does not deprive the unfortunate Cain of his last hope for forgiveness. With your question: “Where is Abel, your brother?” ? he gives him the opportunity to admit what he has done and repent. But sin had already completely taken possession of the murderer. Answering that he does not know where his brother is, he lies to God himself, thereby finally breaking with him. Abel and Cain? the story of two brothers, related by blood, but so different in their mental structure. Half-brothers who became symbols of righteousness and sin. This storyline will find endless continuation in the world.

Punishment? harsh and inevitable

As punishment, the Lord curses Cain and dooms him to eternal wanderings on earth and eternal rejection. He even marks the killer with a special mark, which is called the seal of Cain, so that everyone he meets knows who is in front of him and does not dare to take his despicable life from him. Contains deep philosophical meaning biblical story about Cain and Abel. Who killed whom? vulgar simplification of the problem inherent in this passage Holy Scripture. IN in this case What is important are the motivating reasons that prompted the crime, the consciousness of responsibility for one’s actions and the duty of resistance to sin, as well as the inevitability of retribution for what one has done.

The same need and the same labors continued when Eve became a mother. The children also had to share the labors of their parents: their eldest son Cain was a farmer, and the second, Abel, tended sheep.

One day, according to the established situation in his father’s house, “Cain brought a gift to the Lord from the fruits of the ground, and Abel also brought from the firstlings of his flock and from their fat. And the Lord looked upon Abel and his gift, but did not look upon Cain and his gift. Cain became very sad, and his face fell” (Genesis 4:3-5).

The Lord did not abandon people even after their fall, and did not completely deprive them of communication with Him. By His omniscience, He knew that in Cain’s soul there was an unkind feeling and his sacrifice was not sincere, and so, in His goodness, He seemed to warn him not to do anything bad. But God’s warning did not affect Cain, who was already infected with sin and, by his own evil will, could not restrain himself from sin.

“And the Lord (God) said to Cain: Why are you upset? and why did your face droop? If you do good, don’t you lift your face? and if you do not do good, then sin lies at the door; he attracts you to himself, but you dominate him.

And Cain said to Abel his brother: (let's go into the field). And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

And the Lord God said to Cain: Where is Abel your brother? He said: I don’t know; Am I my brother's keeper?

And the Lord said: What have you done? the voice of your brother's blood cries to Me from the earth; and now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened its mouth to receive the blood of thy brother at thy hand; when you cultivate the land, it will no longer give its strength to you; you will be an exile and a wanderer on earth.

And Cain said to the Lord God: My punishment is more than can be endured; behold, You are now driving me from the face of the earth, and I will hide from Your presence, and I will be an exile and a wanderer on the earth; and whoever meets me will kill me.

And the Lord God said to him: For this reason, whoever kills Cain will have sevenfold revenge. And the Lord God made a sign to Cain, so that no one who met him would kill him.

And Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden.”

(Genesis 4:6-16)

Condemned by the curse of God to exile, Cain chose the path to the east, where, living in constant fear under the influence of remorse, he built a fence around himself - the first city, for protection from any supposed attacks on him, and named this city after the name of his father. there is the son of Enoch. From this son there were five generations until Lamech, who was the first violator of unity in marriage, since he had not one, but two wives: “And Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Ada, and the name of the second was Zillah (Sella) "

“Adah ​​gave birth to Jabal: he was the father of those who lived in tents with their flocks. His brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all those who played the harp and pipe. Zillah also gave birth to Tubalcain (Thovel), who was a forger of all tools of copper and iron. And Tubalcain's sister Noema."

(Gen. 4, 19-22)

Lamech, who violated the unity of marriage, also turned out to be a murderer, like his ancestor Cain, although for less criminal reasons. He did not hide this crime from his wives: “And Lamech said to his wives: Ada and Zillah! listen to my voice; the wives of Lamech! listen to my words: I killed a man for my wound and a boy for my wound.” And at the same time he added: “If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech is avenged seventy times sevenfold” (Gen. 4:23-24).

From the previous one we can conclude that sin had a contagious effect on the offspring of Cain. But the long-suffering Lord watched and did not retreat from fallen humanity and mysteriously guided and saved it through His instruments - the chosen people who used the freedom given to them by God to live righteously and shun evil.

During the very fall of the first people in paradise, God, having handed them over to punishment in fulfillment of His predetermined law, at the same time, out of His infinite mercy, did not leave them without the consoling hope that it would be possible for them to return to Him with the help of the Savior Whom He would send into the world to save people. In the menacing words of God addressed to the serpent-tempter that the seed of the woman “will bruise his head” (Gen. 3:15), what can one see other than God’s promise that from the seed of the Woman (the Mother of God) the Savior will come, Which one will defeat the evil spirit that has destroyed people?

Thus, the first people lived and were saved by faith in the Savior who would come into the world, and they consoled themselves in their exile from paradise with the promise that this exile should not be eternal.

The memory of this promise of God was passed on from father to children, from ancestors to descendants, until it was fulfilled “in the fullness of time.” Until then, between all people, although infected original sin, such righteous and pious people stood out in whom the memory of God’s promise aroused the saving fear of not earning the fulfillment of this promise for them and, inseparably with this, the desire to direct the freedom given to them by God in a good direction pleasing to God.

Such was Seth, who was born to Adam after the death of Abel, as if to console the grief of his parents for their dead meek and innocent son.

The Holy Scripture does not mention the other children of Adam and Eve, but speaks of Seth as the pious ancestor of the offspring, from whom came many equally pious people who preserved and supported the memory of the ancient Covenant or union of God with people, on the basis of which they were saved by faith in fulfillment of this Testament, faith in the coming Savior, faith with which they conformed their actions, inclining their will to good and avoiding evil.

The descendants of Cain were not like that. These were for the most part people who do not remember God, vicious, wicked - in contrast to the pious descendants of Seth, and their influence on the descendants of Seth, with whom they, as people multiplied, entered into relations was disastrous.

Relations between such different people turned out to be more harmful for the good than beneficial for the evil. Evil prevailed. The corruption of morals spread especially because mixed marriages took place, and women from the descendants of Cain could not maintain piety in the family. Therefore, the children were even worse than their parents. Having reached adulthood, they amazed with their monstrous actions and quickly spread the infection of their depravity around.

But the Lord’s long-suffering towards people did not run out. God warned the people and threatened them with punishment. Meanwhile, evil spread and prevailed on earth. Humanity forgot God, and all people were destined to perish amid general depravity.

“And the Lord God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And the Lord God said: My Spirit will not forever be despised by men, because they are flesh. I will destroy from the face of the earth man whom I have created, from man to beast, and every creeping thing, and the birds of the air, I will destroy.”

(Genesis 6, 5, 3, 7)

However, there remained on the land cursed by God one righteous man who remembered God. His name was Noah. He was the great-grandson of the pious Enoch and the son of Lamech, who, at the birth of his son, “and called his name Noah, saying, “He will comfort us in our work and in the labor of our hands in cultivating the land which the Lord God has cursed.”

(Genesis 5:29)

This son of Cain, Enoch, should not be confused with another descendant of Adam, also Enoch, of whom it is mentioned that “all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was no more, because God took him” (Genesis 5:23-24). Righteous Noah was the great-grandson of this Enoch.

04 / 01 / 2007

WHO IS CAIN IN THE BIBLE?

Cain- the first son of Adam and Eve, i.e. the first person born on Earth. Cain is the father of Enoch and the founder of his line. He became famous for becoming the first murderer on Earth in history(he took the life of his brother Abel).

The name Cain has become a household word for an evil, envious person, capable of meanness (not necessarily murder) towards those closest to him.

We learn the story of Cain from the Book of Genesis.

After being expelled from paradise, Adam and Eve had their first child. They believed that the promises of God given in paradise were coming true, when He said that from the seed of the woman they would be saved and that this seed of the woman would bruise the serpent “on the head” - that is, it would defeat the consequences of the Fall that happened to them. Therefore, Eve named her firstborn “Cain,” which means “a man from the Lord.”

But everything turned out to be much more complicated than they initially thought. And so after some time, when Eve gave birth to another boy, she named him Abel, which means “dust, crying,” that is, like smoke, like dust, her hopes, her dreams for a speedy deliverance dissipated. Perhaps it was only at that moment that they fully realized the enormity of the consequences that the Fall entailed.

Abel became a cattle breeder, and his brother Cain became a farmer.

The conflict began with a sacrifice to God (these were the first sacrifices mentioned in the Bible). Abel sacrificed the firstborn heads of his flock, and Cain sacrificed the fruits of the ground. (Gen. 4:2-4)

Abel was of a kind and meek disposition, he made a sacrifice from a pure heart, with love and faith in the promised Savior, with a prayer for mercy and hope for the mercy of God; and God accepted Abel’s sacrifice—the smoke from it rose to the sky.

Cain was of an evil and cruel disposition. He made a sacrifice only according to custom, without the love and fear of God. The Lord did not accept his sacrifice; smoke from it spread across the ground. (Gen. 4:4-5)

Here we see that not all sacrifices are pleasing to God. Sacrifice to God must be combined with the inner sacrifice of a good heart and a virtuous life. And drawing a parallel to us today, it must also be said that not everything that we sacrifice for God, for the temple, not all of it is accepted by God, not all of it is used for future use. Probably what matters is the heart with which we bring our gift, the state of our soul, why we do it, with what feeling we do it. This is probably what is meant as the main condition. And if something is not right in our hearts, then perhaps the Lord will not accept the gift from us either.

Seeing that his sacrifice was not accepted, Cain became angry with his brother and began to envy him. His face darkened. The Lord, seeing Cain’s embitterment, turns to him as to his own son, but standing on the edge of an abyss, warning him against the already planned fratricide. “And the Lord said to Cain: Why were you sad, and why did your face droop?”(Gen. 4:6)It feels like the Lord doesn’t know something... He knows everything. These are the questions the Lord asks Cain to ask himself: “Think about why you were upset, why did your face droop? think about it..."

“If you do good, you don’t raise your face. And if you do not do good, then sin lies at the door, it attracts you to itself, but you rule over it.” (Gen. 4:7)

Great words! “It (sin) attracts you to itself, but you rule over it.” Yes, sin will lie at the door, and for each of us, at some point in our lives, sin will definitely lie at the door, and it attracts us to itself. But "you rule over him" and don't let it dominate you, be the master of the situation, remain free from it.And the Lord directly addresses Cain, speaks directly to him, admonishes him, guides him, tries to somehow educate him.

But Cain did not heed God’s admonition and, calling Abel into the field, killed him. (Gen. 4:8)

Then the Lord turned to Cain, wanting him to repent, and asked him: “Where is your brother Abel?” But the devil finally took possession of Cain’s heart, and he boldly replied: "Don't know; Am I my brother’s keeper?”(Gen. 4:9) This denial of guilt no longer gave hope for correction.The answer is completely arrogant, completely unceremonious, rude and very indecent: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cynical answer. What does this mean? The fact that Cain’s soul has already become embittered to such an extent and is imbued with sin that, in general, it is no longer possible to cry out for his correction, for repentance. Just maybe, some difficult life conditions over a long period of time can force him to reconsider his attitude, his position, and change something.

Then God said to him: "What did you do? Your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground. For this you will be cursed, and the earth will not bear fruit for you, and you will wander the earth.”(Gen. 4:11-12)

This is such a harsh punishment - Cain was deprived of the fruits of the earth and doomed to continuous wandering.

“And Cain said to the Lord: My punishment is more than can be endured. "(Gen. 4:13) These are not words of repentance, these are not the words of a person who is sorry. These are the words of a man who believes: “Well, what have I done that You are punishing me like this? You are punishing me too much. I don’t see that I have sinned so badly that You would punish me so much. What have I done? That is, he does not understand, does not realize the extent of his terrible act.

This is how the story of two brothers - Cain and Abel - ended sadly.

After the murder, Cain is cursed by God and banished to the land of Nod (Gen. 4:11-14). And so that the first person he meets does not kill the criminal - the first born of a woman man and the first murderer - God marked Cain with a special sign. In modern language, the expression “Seal of Cain” has the meaning of “seal of crime.” As a punished murderer, Cain should have served as a warning to others. His drooping face, distorted by villainy, served as a sign so that no one would kill him, nor wild animal, nor a person.

Great was the crime of Cain and the insult inflicted on the purity and holiness of love. But, despite this, there were people who decided to follow Cain into exile. He had a wife who also followed him. According to the Bible, in the land of Nod (Gen. 4:16), Cain had a son, Enoch, and Cain’s offspring then also spread throughout the earth.

This story opens up two paths for us: the path with God and the path without God, the path of goodness and love and the path of evil, pride and tyranny. One leads to eternal life- another to death...

Human life is a gift from God, therefore a person has no right either to take his own life or to take it from others. Taking the life of a neighbor is called murder and is one of the most serious sins.

...And God gave Adam and Eve another son. Their joy was immeasurable. In the hope that he would not be like Cain, but would replace Abel, he was named Sif, What means "base"- the foundation of a new humanity, peaceful, pious, in which there will be no fratricide and malice, which for centuries will, step by step, return to the path of the righteous, leading man through overcoming sin to God.

The material was prepared based on an article in the magazine "FOMA"