Westermann in the classic Continental commentary series says it best It must have been something visible, but that is all that can be said”.(1)Ĭ. “ In spite of much scholarly speculation, the precise nature of the mark is uncertain. The big question is this: What exactly what this mark put on Cain? Of all the commentaries I have read, the ESV Study Bible notes gave a concise and helpful summary that succinctly answers this question. This is key to understanding this strange mark for it is in response to this concern that God put a mark on Cain so that “no one who finds him would kill him”( Gen. He was concerned that people will murder him if they find him. “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 (Genesis 4:14, KJV) He goes further and states one of his concerns regarding his punishment: However, unlike his parents, Cain objected that his punishment was too much for him!Īnd Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear (Genesis 4:13, KJV) He killed his brother Abel and God pronounced his judgment, just as He had done to his parents Adam and Eve. Well, Cain was so furious that he committed the first murder in human history. Their two sons Cain and Abel went to offer sacrifices to God and God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but rejected Cain’s.

And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him ( KJV)Īdam and Eve had just been driven from the Garden of Eden after the fall. The Biblical account comes from Genesis 4:17Īnd the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. I will briefly touch on these questions and provide relevant references for further study for those who want to go deeper. The speculations amongst Biblical scholars on what this mark was are endless.ĭoes the Bible give us an answer to this question? The mark of Cain refers to the sign or mark that God put on Cain in Genesis 4:15.

Download though you slay me scripture