Cain and Abel
Cain and Abel are sons of Adam and Eve in Genesis, whose story tells of the first murder. After God favours Abel’s offering, Cain kills his brother. The story matters for its treatment of jealousy, responsibility for others, punishment, and protection from revenge.
Key stories of Cain and Abel
The brothers’ offerings
Cain grows crops, while Abel keeps sheep. God favours Abel and his offering but not Cain and his offering; the account gives no explicit reason for the difference.
In Genesis, Cain becomes angry after the offerings, and God warns him that he must resist the sin threatening to master him.
In Genesis by Traditionally attributed to Moses
The murder of Abel
Cain kills Abel in the field. When God asks where Abel is, Cain denies knowing and rejects responsibility for his brother.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Claudius connects his own murder of his brother with the ancient crime of Cain.
In Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Cain’s punishment and protection
God condemns Cain to a wandering life, with the ground no longer yielding crops to him. When Cain fears being killed, God gives him a protective mark, whose appearance is not described.
In Genesis, God places a mark on Cain to prevent others from killing him, and Cain leaves God’s presence to live east of Eden.
In Genesis by Traditionally attributed to Moses
How to recognise Cain and Abel in stories
- Look for brothers divided by jealousy or unequal favour.
- Notice fields, offerings, spilled blood, and a protective mark.
- Ask whether a character denies responsibility for another person.
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Why did Cain kill Abel?
Cain kills Abel out of anger and jealousy after God favours Abel’s offering rather than his own. In Genesis, God warns Cain before the murder that he must resist sin. The story does not explicitly explain why the offerings receive different responses.
What does the mark of Cain mean?
The mark of Cain is a sign of protection against anyone who might kill him. Genesis does not describe its appearance. Although later usage often treats it simply as a sign of guilt, its purpose in the story is to prevent revenge.
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