Genesis 4:17 (KJV)

What does Genesis 4:17 mean?

Genesis 4:17 describes how Cain had a wife, and together they had a son named Enoch. Cain then built a city and named it after his son, Enoch, marking a significant moment in the early generations after Adam and Eve.

This verse comes after Cain was sent away for killing his brother Abel. The verse shows Cain starting a family and building a city, which is notable because it is the first mention of city-building in the Bible. Naming the city after his son suggests Cain wanted to establish a legacy or lasting name through his family line.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 4:17

• "knew" (יָדַע, yada‘): This word often means to know intimately or have sexual relations. Here, it simply means Cain and his wife had a child together.
• "builded" (בָּנָה, banah): This word means to build or construct. The verse highlights that Cain was the first person in the Bible described as building a city, showing a move from wandering to establishing a settled place.
• "city" (עִיר, ‘ir): This term refers to a settlement or town, not necessarily a large city by modern standards. It marks a shift from rural or nomadic life to organized community living.
• "called" (קָרָא, qara’): This word means to name or proclaim. Cain naming the city after his son shows an intention to honor Enoch and perhaps to secure his own legacy.

Why Genesis 4:17 matters

• Genesis 4:17 clears up a common question about early human society by showing that city-building and family lines began very soon after Adam and Eve, even among those who had done wrong.
• The verse emphasizes Cain’s desire for legacy and stability after his punishment, showing a human impulse to create something lasting despite past mistakes.
• This verse connects to the wider passage by showing the development of civilization and how the descendants of Adam and Eve began to spread out, build, and name places, setting the stage for later stories in Genesis.