Daily Bible Verse - 12/8/2007 - Genesis 4:9

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

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

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

Genesis 4:9

Commentary
Cain's evil attitude of jealous rage was soon translated into evil action, the murder of his brother. Though Abel is dead, he still witnesses to us that the life of faith is the life that counts (Heb. 11:4). When the Lord's loving question was met by an unrepentant, insolent reply, He pronounced Cain's judgment-he would no longer be able to make a living from the soil, but would wander as a fugitive in the desert.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Ge 4:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

"Am I my brother's keeper?"
Cain's sarcasm was a play on words, based on the fact that Abel was the "keeper" of sheep.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Ge 4:9). Nashville: Word Pub.