“[The LORD] said: ‘What have you done? Your brother’s blood is screaming to Me from the ground. Now, you are cursed. From the ground that opened its mouth to take your brother’s blood from your hand. When you [Cain] work the ground, it will not give you any of its strength. You will be restless and a wanderer in the land.’” (Genesis 4:10-12)
Why is the ground the focus of Cain’s punishment? Cain killed his brother and used the ground to cover the blood, hoping to hide his deed. The LORD punished Cain measure for measure. Since Cain tried to use the ground to “cover his tracks,” The LORD cursed Cain so that anything that he tries to cover with earth will be uncovered. Instead of the ground covering Abel’s blood and Cain’s deed, it will now expose Cain’s action to the world. In addition, anything that Cain tries to seed and plant will stay on top and not take root—(Ramban).
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Author: Zev S. Itzkowitz
Keywords: Cain, Cain and Abel, Cain kills Abel, Cain slays Abel, Cain cursed, God curses Cain, Cain's punishment, Ground cursed, Cain punished
Bible reference(s): Genesis 4:10-12
Source: Zev S. Itzkowitz (ed.), A Byte of Torah, Volume IV, Issue I.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.