Bible Strands
Genesis 4:16
So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative voice records Cain's departure immediately after God pronounces a protective mark and a curse of displacement. This moment closes the direct confrontation between Yahweh and Cain following Abel's murder.
The words — The Hebrew וַיֵּצֵא (va.ye.tze') translates literally as "and he went out," paired with מִלִּפְנֵי (mi.li.fnei), meaning "from the face/presence of." These terms structurally mark Cain's physical relocation as a direct result of divine judgment.
The thread — This pattern of fleeing God's presence directly parallels Genesis 3:8 and Genesis 4:14, where both Adam and Cain experience hiding and displacement from Yahweh. The motif of human fear before divine presence reappears in Exodus 20:18 during the Sinai theophany.
Why it lands — The verse states a factual exile without providing comfort or immediate reversal. It demands the reader acknowledge the irreversible geographical and relational rupture that follows rebellion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Cross-references
- Genesis 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
- Genesis 4:14 Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
- Exodus 20:18 When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance.
- 2 Kings 13:23 But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day, the LORD has been unwilling to destroy them or cast them from His presence.
- 2 Kings 24:20 For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.
- Job 2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
- Jeremiah 23:39 therefore I will surely forget you and will cast you out of My presence, both you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers.
- Jeremiah 52:3 For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.
- Job 1:12 “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
- Job 20:17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.