Genesis 4:14 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Cain expresses his terror at exile from God's presence and from human fellowship, fearing execution by others.
The Context of Genesis 4:14
Cain fears he will be killed as punishment for his crime.
What Does Genesis 4:14 Mean?
Cain elaborates his plight: he is driven from the earth's face (from the land he knew) and from God's face (separated from divine presence). He will wander as a fugitive, and—most frighteningly—anyone who finds him may kill him. His fear suggests a principle of justice: blood shed deserves blood in return. He faces death at the hands of strangers as penalty for Abel's murder.
Cain's fear reveals the moral order. The shedding of innocent blood creates a debt that creation itself demands be repaid. He expects, and nearly accepts, that vengeance will find him. His protest is less about injustice than about the terrible isolation—from land, from God, from safety—that is his sentence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 4:14
What does Genesis 4:14 mean?
Cain expresses his terror at exile from God's presence and from human fellowship, fearing execution by others.
What is the context of Genesis 4:14?
Cain fears he will be killed as punishment for his crime.