Introduction
Cain is the eldest son of Adam and Eve, a tiller of the ground, remembered in Genesis as the first murderer: his killing of his brother Abel, out of jealousy that God had favoured Abel's offering over his own, is the Bible's first recorded act of violence between humans.
This article follows the biblical account in Genesis. Where later Jewish, Christian or Islamic tradition adds detail not found in the text itself, the article identifies it as such.
Family
The offerings
Cain, a farmer, brought an offering of the fruit of the ground; his brother Abel, a shepherd, brought the firstborn of his flock. Genesis states that God had regard for Abel's offering but not for Cain's, without giving a stated reason in the text itself, and Cain grew angry.
The murder
Despite God's warning that sin was "lurking at the door" and that Cain must master it, Cain lured Abel into a field and killed him. When God asked where Abel was, Cain replied with the now-proverbial question, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
The curse and the mark
God cursed Cain to wander the earth, unable to successfully farm the ground that had absorbed his brother's blood. Fearing he would be killed by others, Cain was given a protective mark by God, with a warning that anyone who killed him would suffer sevenfold vengeance.
Descendants
Cain settled in the land of Nod, "east of Eden", married (his wife's origin is not stated in the text), and fathered a line of descendants, including Enoch, after whom he named a city, down to Lamech, whose own children are credited with founding pastoral life, music and metalworking.