Genesis 4:9

KJV1611 – Modern English

And the LORD said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־קַ֔יִן אֵ֖י הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי הֲשֹׁמֵ֥ר אָחִ֖י אָנֹֽכִי׃

Transliteration

And-yomer YHWH to-Qayin where Hebel your-brother and-yomer not yadaʿti ?-shomer my-brother ʾanoki

Grammar Details

• *yomer*: qal imperfect with waw-consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - said
• *YHWH*: divine name
• *Qayin*: proper noun, masculine singular - Cain
• *ʾey*: interrogative particle - where
• *Hebel*: proper noun, masculine singular - Abel
• *ʾaḥiyka*: noun, masculine singular + 2nd masculine singular suffix - your brother
• *yadaʿti*: qal perfect, 1st singular - I know
• *ha-shomer*: interrogative particle + qal participle, masculine singular construct - keeper of
• *ʾaḥi*: noun, masculine singular + 1st singular suffix - my brother
• *ʾanoki*: 1st singular personal pronoun - I

Word Meanings

• *ha-shomer ʾaḥi ʾanoki*: am I my brother's keeper/guardian/watchman?

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' He replied, 'I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Jehovah{H3068} said{H559} unto Cain,{H7014} Where{H335} is Abel{H1893} thy brother?{H251} And he said,{H559} I know{H3045} not: am I my brother's{H251} keeper?{H8104}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Cain{H7014}, Where{H335} is Abel{H1893} thy brother{H251}? And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, I know{H3045}{(H8804)} not: Am I my brother's{H251} keeper{H8104}{(H8802)}?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And ye LORde sayd vnto Cain: where is Abell thy brother? And he sayd: I can not tell am I my brothers keper?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Then sayde the LORDE vnto Cain: Where is Abell thy brother? He sayde: I can not tell. Am I my brothers keper?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then the Lorde said vnto Kain, Where is Habel thy brother? Who answered, I cannot tell. Am I my brothers keeper?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And the Lorde said vnto Cain: where is Habel thy brother? Which sayde I wote not: Am I my brothers keper?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

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

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Yahweh said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?" He said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Jehovah saith unto Cain, `Where `is' Abel thy brother?' and he saith, `I have not known; my brother's keeper -- I?'

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And the Lord said to Cain, Where is your brother Abel? And he said, I have no idea: am I my brother's keeper?

• World English Bible (2000)

  Yahweh said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?" He said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then the LORD said to Cain,“Where is your brother Abel?” And he replied,“I don’t know! Am I my brother’s guardian?”

Referenced Verses

• Prov 28:13 : 13 He who covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
• John 8:44 : 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not abide in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
• Gen 3:9-9 : 9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you? 10 And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?
• Ps 9:12 : 12 When he avenges blood, he remembers them; he does not forget the cry of the humble.
• Ps 10:13-14 : 13 Why does the wicked despise God? He has said in his heart, You will not require it. 14 You have seen it; for You behold mischief and spite, to repay it with Your hand; the poor commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
• Acts 5:4-9 : 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own power? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came on all who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wrapped him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours later, when his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8 And Peter answered her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. 9 Then Peter said to her, How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.