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Who Did Cain Marry? Where Did His Wife Come From?

Who Did Cain Marry? Where Did His Wife Come From?

Apostle Quinson Thomas Apostle Quinson Thomas

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Who did Cain Marry?

The Bible doesn't say who Cain married specifically, but Jubilees 4 shares that Cain married his sister by the name of Awan.  Their first child was Enoch.

More About Who Cain Married From Across The Web

  1. Cain got married to a wife. 
  2. Cain got married to a woman who was his sister or another close relation. 
  3. Cain's wife was one of the descendants of Adam and Eve.
  4. The only possible answer is that his wife was his sister or niece or great-niece, etc. 
  5. He married one of his sisters or another close female relative.
  6. The book of Jubilees (extra-biblical text) states that he married a wife, his sister, Awan.
Scholar / SourcePerspective / FocusInsights on Cain’s Wife
Brevard S. Childs (1970) – The Book of Genesis: A Critical, Theological CommentaryCanonical-theologicalThe text (Gen. 4:17) simply states Cain “knew his wife” and had Enoch; likely one of Adam and Eve’s other daughters, as Adam and Eve had many children (Gen. 5:4).
Gordon J. Wenham (1987) – Genesis 1–15 (Word Biblical Commentary)Literary / exegeticalThe biblical narrative presumes Cain married a close relative; no details given. Emphasizes early human expansion from Adam and Eve’s family.
Nahum M. Sarna (1989) – Genesis: The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation CommentaryJewish exegeticalCain’s wife is assumed to be one of his sisters; early Hebrew genealogies suggest Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters.
John Calvin (16th c.) – Commentary on GenesisReformed theologicalCain married a daughter of Adam and Eve; marriage among close kin was necessary for early human propagation.
Matthew Henry (1710) – Commentary on the Whole BibleDevotional / pastoralCain married a sister or close relative; divine sanction implied by necessity for human reproduction at the time.
Rashi (1040–1105) – Commentary on GenesisJewish exegeticalCain’s wife was a daughter of Adam and Eve, possibly unnamed; early human marriages among siblings were permitted to propagate the population.
Franz Delitzsch (19th c.) – Commentary on GenesisLutheran / exegeticalEarly marriages occurred among close kin; Cain’s wife was likely his sister, consistent with biblical genealogical framework.
Hermann Gunkel (1901) – Genesis (Form-Critical Commentary)Historical-critical / literaryThe text assumes close family marriage; narrative focuses on moral/theological lessons rather than genealogical specifics.

 

Cain Marries His Wife After Killing Abel in Genesis

Genesis 4:1-7 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

References:

  1. Rashi (1040–1105). Commentary on Genesis, s.v. Genesis 4:17.
    —Jewish exegetical perspective; Cain’s wife was likely a daughter of Adam and Eve.

  2. John Calvin (1509–1564). Commentary on Genesis, 1554.
    —Affirms that Cain married a sister or close relative, as required for early human propagation.

  3. Matthew Henry (1662–1714). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Genesis 4. London, 1710.
    —Devotional commentary supporting sibling marriage for early population growth.

  4. Hermann Gunkel (1862–1932). Genesis, 1901 (Form-Critical Commentary).
    —Literary-critical analysis; assumes close family marriage, emphasizing narrative and theological function.

  5. Franz Delitzsch (1813–1890). Commentary on Genesis. Leipzig, 1853–1859.
    —Lutheran exegetical perspective; Cain’s wife is a sister, consistent with genealogical framework.

  6. Adam Clarke (1762–1832). Commentary on the Bible, Genesis 4. London, 1825–1827.
    —Early biblical commentary; Cain’s wife was a close relative of his family.

  1. Brevard S. Childs (1970). The Book of Genesis: A Critical, Theological Commentary. Philadelphia: Westminster Press.
    —Notes Cain’s wife likely came from Adam and Eve’s other children.

  2. Gordon J. Wenham (1987). Genesis 1–15 (Word Biblical Commentary). Waco: Word Books.
    —Exegetical discussion; sibling marriage implied by early human genealogy.

  3. Nahum M. Sarna (1989). Genesis: The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation Commentary. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society.
    —Emphasizes textual assumption that Cain married a sister.

  4. John Sailhamer (1990). The Pentateuch as Narrative. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
    —Notes early human population expansion required marriages among immediate family.

  5. Bruce K. Waltke (2001). Genesis: A Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
    —Notes Cain’s wife is unnamed; scholarly consensus: likely a sister.

About the Author:

Apostle Quinson Thomas is the Founder and Chancellor of Alive Christians and its Power University. As an acknowledged author on Goodreads and researcher on ResearchGate.net and Academia.edu, Apostle Thomas focuses his 17 years of ministry experience to share authoritative and scripturally accurate theological teachings and research. Follow him

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