Cain's Wife!

[rcorlew]

I have heard this common question asked over and over again....

"Where did Cain get his wife from?"

This question is often used as a pseudo-attack on fundamentalist Christianity posing as an unanswerable question which would somehow disprove either creationism or God in general.

I did some contextual research to answer this question that is used as a stumbling block so many times and I have answered this over-used question.

I post my answer with full knowledge that many on this forum will accuse me gross misinterpretations and misguided exegesis. This answer also incorporates a sidebar answer to the similar question:

"Who was Cain afraid of?"

Answer 1: Cain's wife
When people read Genesis they do not understand the writing style of Moses, in particular how he follows one trail for a little while but then jumps back to the story exactly where he previously left off. (See Genesis chapters 1&2 along with Genesis 8:7 & 8:8) So when read Genesis 4:16 and 4:17 appear to be in chronological order which is a misunderstanding of how it was written. Not only is it a misunderstanding it is also putting things into the story that are not there, a point to which I will return later.

How did I come to the conclusion that Genesis 4:16 and 4:17 are not in chronological order? There are 8 generations of Cain's descendants listed, not out of the ordinary to say the least but this poses a mathematical problem. You see, in Genesis 4:25 we have Adam and Eve having another child named Seth, now in Genesis 5:3 Adam is 130 years old when he has Seth.

What's the mathematical problem you ask?

In order for there to be a full 9th generation (including of course Adam as generation 1) in a mere 130 years, the average age to which a man would be born a child is 14.44444444(etc.) years old.

The correct chronological order for the verses would go from 4:16 straight to 4:25, then through to the end of the generations. The story of Cain is a fork that is followed for a while then let go. Now when I say that to put them into chronological order as they appear in the Bible you have to insert many things that are not there, and I will post these in the most relevant order:

How old Adam was when he had Cain and Abel
How old Cain was when he killed Abel
How old Cain was when he had Enoch

These are all undefined ages, the only age given was when Adam had Seth, and that was 130. So by deduction we can ascertain that Cain was less than 130 years old, that is all. The other big misconception for lack of a better word about Cain and his wife are that he immediately had a wife. There could have been a period of 300 years go by before he ever met her, let alone have a child with her.

So there you have it, Cain's wife could have come along, according to the scriptures, anytime between years 131 and who knows maybe year 800 or later.

Now on to ......

Question 2: Who did Cain fear?
This one is very simple to answer and is found in Genesis 6:2

The sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were good, and they took wives for themselves from all those whom they chose.

Who were these Sons of God? Nephilim, the fallen angels.

 

[marktheblake]

You are right, but i think you have overcomplicated the way of determining that the verses are not strictly chronological. The simple reading of the text conveys that also.

I dont think Cain was afraid of Nephilim though. I think its clear that the only people that existed at the time were his immediate and potentially extended family, and he rightfully thought that they woudl all be angry.

Obviously we do not know who Cain's wife is, as we were not told in scripture. But we can put forward possibilities, of which there are many. But most will have a contradiction, so they are invalid, and that leaves really only one possibility!

Unfortunately for the skeptic, they only raise the contradictory possibilities and claim that invalidates the account as history.

 

[Senix]

rcorlew,

"Where did Cain get his wife from?"

You don't think that Adam and Eve only had three children, do you? The answer is in Genesis 5:4 where it says Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. I would venture to guess that it could have been a hundred plus years after their birth that Cain murdered his brother. By that time there would be plenty of other children and grandchildren around. Any close relative of Abel or his family in particular would want blood - vengeance for his death. Ergo, those were the ones whom Cain was afraid of.

So Cain married his sister, that's incest! you may say. Well, incest is a modern term and one that incorporates a variety of relationships, some which have always been immoral. It wasn't until the time of Moses that God outlawed the marriage of brothers and sisters. There are probably several reasons for this, but one that I think is that at this point the human race has been suffering the negative effects of the fall for over two thousand years, with more and more genetic errors coming about. Thus, by forcing people to go marry people who were not closely related, the chances of deformed children and the effects of genetic diseases was limited. Shortly after the fall there would have been very few such defects.

 

[juvenissun]

How do we know that Adam and Eve did not have children when they were still in the Garden? Assume that there were no birth pain for Eve before the sin.

Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; ...

If there were no original, then there will be no "multiplying".

 

[Senix]

How do we know that Adam and Eve did not have children when they were still in the Garden? Assume that there were no birth pain for Eve before the sin.

Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; ...

If there were no original, then there will be no "multiplying".

That's a good point, I guess we don't know for sure, but I would venture to guess that man's fall happened pretty soon after creation, and his exile from the Garden immediately thereafter. Also, I feel that because of Adam's sin, all humanity have become sinners, and death through sin has come upon the entire human race. It would seem to be unfair for God to punish any kids of Adam and Eve pre-fall with the same punishment for sin that was endured by Adam and Eve and their post-fall children, for some decision that they wouldn't or didn't make.

That's just my guess though...

 

[1whirlwind]

God created mankind, all races, on the 6th day. Adam, the line to Christ, was formed after the seventh day. Cain married someone of the 6th day creation. Cain feared others of the 6th day creation.

 

[Senix]

God created mankind, all races, on the 6th day. Adam, the line to Christ, was formed after the seventh day. Cain married someone of the 6th day creation. Cain feared others of the 6th day creation.

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth (Acts 17:26). God didn't create different races, there is only one race: the human race. Asians, Europeans, Africans, Arabs, we are all one race, descended from the two people created by God: Adam and Eve. The distinction between people is then categorized as different "people groups" based on which characteristics that they share in common.

 

[1whirlwind]

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth (Acts 17:26). God didn't create different races, there is only one race: the human race. Asians, Europeans, Africans, Arabs, we are all one race, descended from the two people created by God: Adam and Eve. The distinction between people is then categorized as different "people groups" based on which characteristics that they share in common.

Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
​

One "blood" was mistranslated. We are not all of one blood. We are all of one clay. We are all dust of the earth. "Nations," many times when given as plural refers to the ethnic nations....Gentiles.

Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
​

Certainly God created different races. Must we be so politically correct we can't see what we see?

 

[juvenissun]

God created mankind, all races, on the 6th day. Adam, the line to Christ, was formed after the seventh day. Cain married someone of the 6th day creation. Cain feared others of the 6th day creation.

May I ask how do you figure that out?

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

 

[archaeologist2]

It is amazing at how little people know and how much they think they can answer questions. Do you not study? do you not investigate? do you not read those who know more than you?

ther Op is clearly wrong on all accounts. we know that Cain married a sister but when is not germane to the story and bears no credible influence upon the modern christian life. when people answer that question, they need to couple their response with, 'incest was not made sin till long after the flood.'

How do we know that Adam and Eve did not have children when they were still in the Garden? Assume that there were no birth pain for Eve before the sin.

we know because we know that each person born intothis world is born into sin, if they had children prior to their expulsion, those whicldren would have to commit original sin to become like the Bible says. also, the curse was made upon adam and eve, no children were involved, and we know that only 2 people were expelled from the garden, if there were children and they had not sinned they would not have to go with their parents for banishment was part of the punishment and if the children had not sinned then they would not be punished.

the account is very clear that only 2 people sinned that day (whenever that was)

then there will be no "multiplying

one does not have to have experienced pain to have it multiplied.

Certainly God created different races. Must we be so politically correct we can't see what we see?

God did NOT create different races. the Bible is very clear on this as it states "all men descended from Adam...' there is only 1 race of people. genetics and the corruption that enteredinto the world at adam's sin takes care of the rest.

 

[juvenissun]

It is amazing at how little people know and how much they think they can answer questions. Do you not study? do you not investigate? do you not read those who know more than you?

ther Op is clearly wrong on all accounts. we know that Cain married a sister but when is not germane to the story and bears no credible influence upon the modern christian life. when people answer that question, they need to couple their response with, 'incest was not made sin till long after the flood.'



we know because we know that each person born intothis world is born into sin, if they had children prior to their expulsion, those whicldren would have to commit original sin to become like the Bible says. also, the curse was made upon adam and eve, no children were involved, and we know that only 2 people were expelled from the garden, if there were children and they had not sinned they would not have to go with their parents for banishment was part of the punishment and if the children had not sinned then they would not be punished.

the account is very clear that only 2 people sinned that day (whenever that was)



one does not have to have experienced pain to have it multiplied.



God did NOT create different races. the Bible is very clear on this as it states "all men descended from Adam...' there is only 1 race of people. genetics and the corruption that enteredinto the world at adam's sin takes care of the rest.

I would suggest that even Adam and Eve had millions of offsprings in the Garden, when Adam and Eve sinned, all their offsprings (in the Garden) will be treated as sinned in God's eye. The reason is the same as all the children of Adam and Eve are sinned when they are born outside the Garden. When Adam sinned, all his children sinned all together, no matter where were they born (inside or outside the Garden). There is no human right issue in God's eye.

 

[archaeologist2]

would suggest that even Adam and Eve had millions of offsprings in the Garden, when Adam and Eve sinned, all their offsprings (in the Garden) will be treated as sinned in God's eye

you would be wrong as you ignore the passage in the pentateuch that states that the children should not be punished for their parent's sin. God does not punish innocent people and it has nothing to do with 'man's view of human rights'.

when adam and eve sinned, there children did not do so unless they did the exact same act as adam did. PLUS you ignore the fact that children aren't mentioned till AFTER the expulsion

 

[juvenissun]

you would be wrong as you ignore the passage in the pentateuch that states that the children should not be punished for their parent's sin. God does not punish innocent people and it has nothing to do with 'man's view of human rights'.

when adam and eve sinned, there children did not do so unless they did the exact same act as adam did. PLUS you ignore the fact that children aren't mentioned till AFTER the expulsion

The Old Testament is full of examples of that sons bear the sin of fathers. Your concept belongs to the New Testament time.

 

[max1120]

First of all Genisis, like all creation stories which are found in almost all religions, was an oral tradition that someone wrote down somewhere in antiquity. It was most likely was not written by Moses but we have no proof of that one way or the other. No surviving copy of Genisis by the origional author exist.

As far as Cain's wife, we really cannot say for certain. If we are to accept by tradition that Adam and Eve were the only created persons and everyone was decended from them, than it is reasonable to believe that indeed Cain had to have married his sister. Thus they produced offspring by incest. Having said this it has been pointed out that incest was not at that time a sin. Well nor was murder? Cain seemed to be held liable for committing murder (his brother Able) yet no where prior to that was it spelled out in Genisis that murder was a sin. The point is that there are a lot of inconcistancies in Genisis and in the bible in general. Why would god create a world where he knew people would have to reproduce by means he felt was wrong (incest). Why would he indeed not create a supply of mates that could be available for Cain and his others relatives who were not related by blood? The fact is the book of Genisis is not a "inerant" work. It is not word for word divine from god's lips. It was written by a man who was trying to explain creation as it had been told to him.

 

[alexross8]

you would be wrong as you ignore the passage in the pentateuch that states that the children should not be punished for their parent's sin. God does not punish innocent people and it has nothing to do with 'man's view of human rights'.

when adam and eve sinned, there children did not do so unless they did the exact same act as adam did. PLUS you ignore the fact that children aren't mentioned till AFTER the expulsion

Sin comes from defiance.
God shows he is God by obeying his own rules.
The only reason Children of Adam will sin , is because they are a separate entity from God.
Sin= Death .
Sin cannot be taken away.

But Jesus payed the price for everyone by paying the parking ticket of sin , and dying for us.
He lived sinless , but died to pay our debts.
Jesus didn't have to die.
But he did , and went to hell , so we could live forever.


But God , being righteous as he is , gives us salvation even if we do not deserve it , only by believing in Jesus.

Imagine Death is community service , and hell is jail.
If we lived forever , we would have sinful nature forever.
Our eternal sinful nature causes us to go to jail.
We will do community service and will still have to go to jail.

Jesus is our lawyer.
Even though he gets us free from Jail , we still have to do community service , Death.

First of all Genisis, like all creation stories which are found in almost all religions, was an oral tradition that someone wrote down somewhere in antiquity. It was most likely was not written by Moses but we have no proof of that one way or the other. No surviving copy of Genisis by the origional author exist.

As far as Cain's wife, we really cannot say for certain. If we are to accept by tradition that Adam and Eve were the only created persons and everyone was decended from them, than it is reasonable to believe that indeed Cain had to have married his sister. Thus they produced offspring by incest. Having said this it has been pointed out that incest was not at that time a sin. Well nor was murder? Cain seemed to be held liable for committing murder (his brother Able) yet no where prior to that was it spelled out in Genisis that murder was a sin. The point is that there are a lot of inconcistancies in Genisis and in the bible in general. Why would god create a world where he knew people would have to reproduce by means he felt was wrong (incest). Why would he indeed not create a supply of mates that could be available for Cain and his others relatives who were not related by blood? The fact is the book of Genisis is not a "inerant" work. It is not word for word divine from god's lips. It was written by a man who was trying to explain creation as it had been told to him.

Incest isn't a sin.
It's an abomination , as with eating unclean foods like pork.
It's not sinful , just very bad end results like deformities in incest and diseases from pork.

Adam and eve were probably very different in genetics , which let them have children who could interbreed without having deformities.
Murder was a sin , but incest wasn't considered an abomination of God because it produced something good at the time.

But around Moses's time , Incest would be harmful , thus would be considered an abomination , because of the effects it could have on children.

Abominations may be sinful , and may not be sinful.
Incest at the time of Adam was good, and was not sinful.
But as soon as it was bad for you , and you had knowledge of that , then it became sinful.

Homosexuality is an abomination.
It's not a sin , but it's sinful if it affects someone's faith or life in a negative way.

Same with pork.
Eating raw pork will cause you to sin if you actively know it's bad for you , but if you don't know if its bad for you or you cooked it , then it isn't sinful , because you know not the consequences or the harm it could cause.

In modern times , homosexuality makes people become atheists , so I would say it's a sinful act , because it affects negatively.

If a man has sex with a man , they have committed the sin of adultery.
But if a man dreams about being with a man in a homosexual way , they haven't committed a sin as long as they haven't done any physical or faith-based damage.

 

[divine137]

Cain's married his niece...that's according to the BOok of Jasher, which is the Book that 2 Samuel and the Book of Joshua reference when speaking of events that are also in the Book of Jasher.

Secondly, Moses did not write Genesis. Moses wrote the LAW. Scribes put together the writings of MOses, Adam, Seth, Noah, Abraham...etc and created what we know today as the Torah....

But its obvious as a nose on someone's face that Moses did not author the actual Books. Moses wouldn't had known that he died and God buried him here...and the Israelites crossed without him etc...

Moses also wouldn't had wrote in Genesis the quote..."...this is before there were any kings in Israel..." Moses died way before any kings of Israel.

No, Moses wrote down the LAW....Adam wrote some things, Seth, Noah, etc....the scribes and priests put them together in books....Ezra (revised it, as accounted in the Book of Ezra)...etc...just to chime in...

 

[marlowe007]

Cain's married his niece...that's according to the BOok of Jasher, which is the Book that 2 Samuel and the Book of Joshua reference when speaking of events that are also in the Book of Jasher.

We don't have in existence the original Book of Jasher, though, only an interpolated one.

 

[marktheblake]

Secondly, Moses did not write Genesis. Moses wrote the LAW. Scribes put together the writings of MOses, Adam, Seth, Noah, Abraham...etc and created what we know today as the Torah....

That is the Documentary Hypothesis, the view that Moses wrote Genesis is explained quite well here. Did Moses really write Genesis?

 

[juvenissun]

Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; ...

If Eve did not give birth in the Garden, what is then the "multiply" based on?

So, my understanding is that Eve gave birth in the Garden like a chicken lay eggs, not much pain.

 

[juvenissun]

Again, this MUST be related to the nature of the Garden.

God put Adam and Eve (and their offsprings) in the Garden. But God does not say: you are confined to the Garden. I would say that nothing is restricted to the Garden before the sin. They can stay in, or they can take an adventure or a vacation out, and come back to the Garden.

So, many of their children might simply walk out and scattered around places outside of the Garden. They do not play a role in God's purpose of setting up the Garden.