Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Genesis 4:15 So the LORD said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 4:15 And the LORD said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, a sevenfold vengeance [that is, punishment seven times worse] shall be taken on him [by Me]." And the LORD set a [protective] mark (sign) on Cain, so that no one who found (met) him would kill him. [Gen 4:24] |
Bible Question: why didn't God sentence Cain to death? |
Bible Answer: Elice Fox: First of all, when we ask the question "why did God?" we put ourselves in the position of the creature questioning the Creator. Cain was given a fate possible worse than death "Cain went out from the presence of the Lord".Genesis 4:16 At this point in God's revelation of truth to humans God had not specifically set down laws regarding murder. It was not until after the flood that this law was given in Gen. 9:6 I find it interesting that even after this law was given that God made provision for manslaugher by providing cities of refuge for the person who killed a person by accident. Another example of God's grace is King David who took another man's wife, committed adultry with her and then sent her husband into the heat of the battle with orders to his men that Urriah should be killed. David's sin cost him dearly, but did not cost him his life. In Genesis 18:25 we read Abraham's words " Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" In a more general sense we could ask "why did God not wipe all humankind from the earth after the fall? Or why does God put up with humans today?" I believe it is all of his Mercy Love and Grace, he is the one whose ways are past finding out. Robert |