Génesis 4:13

13 Y dijo Caín al SEÑOR: Grande es mi iniquidad para ser soportada

Génesis 4:13 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 4:13

And Cain said unto the Lord
In the anguish of his spirit and the distress of his mind: my punishment is greater than I can bear;
thus complaining of the mercy of God, as if he acted a cruel part, inflicting on him more than he could endure; and arraigning his justice, as if it was more than he deserved, or ought in equity to be laid on him; whereas it was abundantly less than the demerit of his sin, for his punishment was but a temporal one; for, excepting the horrors and terrors of his guilty conscience, it was no other than a heavier curse on the land he tilled, and banishment from his native place, and being a fugitive and wanderer in other countries; and if such a punishment is intolerable, what must the torments of hell be? the worm that never dies? the fire that is never quenched? and the wrath of God, which is a consuming fire, and burns to the lowest hell? some render the words, "my sin is greater than can be forgiven" ^F21; as despairing of the mercy of God, having no faith in the promised seed, and in the pardon of sin through his atonement, blood, and sacrifice; or, "is my sin greater than can be forgiven" ^F23? is there no forgiveness of it? is it the unpardonable sin? but Cain seems not to be so much concerned about sin, and the pardon of it, as about his temporal punishment for it; wherefore the first sense seems best, and best agrees with what follows.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F21 (avnm ynwe lwdg) "major est iniquitas mea, quam ut veniam merear", V. L. "iniqutas mea? major est quam ut remittatur", Tigurine version, Fagius; "quam ut remittat, sub. Deus mihi", Vatablus; so the Targum of Onkelos, Sept. Syr. & Ar.
F23 "Ergone majus est delictum meum, quam ut remittatur"; Schmidt.

Génesis 4:13 In-Context

11 Ahora pues, maldito seas tú de la tierra que abrió su boca para recibir la sangre de tu hermano de tu mano

12 Cuando labrares la tierra, no te volverá a dar su fuerza; fugitivo y vagabundo serás en la tierra

13 Y dijo Caín al SEÑOR: Grande es mi iniquidad para ser soportada

14 He aquí me echas hoy de la faz de la tierra, y de tu presencia me esconderé; y seré fugitivo y vagabundo en la tierra; y será que cualquiera que me hallare, me matará

15 Y le respondió el SEÑOR: Cierto que cualquiera que matare a Caín, siete veces será castigado. Entonces el SEÑOR puso señal en Caín, para que no lo hiriera cualquiera que le hallara