Cain is known as the firstborn son of Adam and Eve and the first murderer in Scripture. In Genesis 4:3-5, both Cain and his brother Abel brought offerings to the Lord, but “He did not respect Cain and his offering.” The reason is revealed later in Scripture, Cain’s heart was not right. Hebrews 11:4 says Abel offered a better sacrifice “by faith,” which Cain lacked.
Cain became angry, and the Lord warned him in Genesis 4:7, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.” Rather than repent, Cain murdered his brother Abel in the field.
As a result, God judged him. Genesis 4:11-12 declares, “So now you are cursed from the earth… a fugitive and a vagabond you shall be.” Yet, in mercy, God marked Cain to prevent his murder (Genesis 4:15), though the nature of the mark is not specified.
Cain represents those who reject God’s ways. 1 John 3:12 says, “Not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.”
He stands as a warning against envy, disobedience, and unrepentant sin. Jude speaks of false teachers who have “gone in the way of Cain” (Jude 1:11), indicating rebellion and spiritual corruption.
