Bible Strands
Genesis 4:2
Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Eve’s subsequent childbirth immediately after Cain’s birth, identifying the new son as Abel and noting the distinct occupations of both brothers.
The words — The verb וַ/תֹּסֶף (va./To.sef) literally means “and she repeated,” marking a second birth event, while הֶ֙בֶל֙ (he.vel) names the second son.
The thread — This narrative foundation for fratricide is referenced in 1 John 3:12 and 1 John 3:15 as a warning against hatred, and is cited in Luke 11:51 as the first blood shed in the righteous line.
Why it lands — The text establishes the occupational divide between shepherd and farmer while introducing the first recorded murder, demanding recognition of how sibling rivalry corrupts human relationships.
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 she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Cross-references
- 1 John 3:12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
- 1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.
- Luke 11:51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.
- Genesis 47:3 “What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.”
- John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
- 1 John 3:10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
- Exodus 3:1 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
- Psalms 78:70 He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;
- Genesis 3:23 Therefore the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
- Genesis 4:25 And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”