Genesis 4:13

4:13 Then Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment ¹  is too great to endure! ² 

Genesis 4:16-17

4:16 So Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and lived in the land of Nod, ³  east of Eden.

The Beginning of Civilization

4:17 Cain had marital relations ⁴  with his wife, and she became pregnant ⁵  and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was building a city, and he named the city after ⁶  his son Enoch.

[4:13]  ¹ tn The primary meaning of the Hebrew word עָוֹן (’avon) is “sin, iniquity.” But by metonymy it can refer to the “guilt” of sin, or to “punishment” for sin. The third meaning applies here. Just before this the Lord announces the punishment for Cain’s actions, and right after this statement Cain complains of the severity of the punishment. Cain is not portrayed as repenting of his sin.

[4:13]  ² tn Heb “great is my punishment from bearing.” The preposition מִן (min, “from”) is used here in a comparative sense.

[4:16]  ³ sn The name Nod means “wandering” in Hebrew (see vv. 12, 14).

[4:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “knew,” a frequent euphemism for sexual relations.

[4:17]  ⁶ tn Or “she conceived.”

[4:17]  ⁷ tn Heb “according to the name of.”