Κάϊν (Kain)
Kain
Cain
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The proper noun Kain refers to Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve in the Genesis narrative. The name itself carries significant weight, derived from Hebrew roots that suggest a maker or fabricator, often associated with skilled work like smithing. This etymology hints at his role as a tiller of the ground, establishing him not just as a historical figure but as a symbol of early human labor and ambition.
In the New Testament, Kain appears sparingly but powerfully in three key passages: Hebrews 11:4, 1 John 3:12, and Jude 11. These references do not recount his life story but rather use his actions as a theological warning. Hebrews highlights his offering as an example of faithlessness compared to Abel, while 1 John and Jude warn believers against adopting the spirit of envy and murder that led him to kill his brother.
The consistency of these citations underscores a specific moral lesson: the danger of allowing jealousy to corrupt one’s relationship with God and neighbor. Translators retain the name Kain rather than translating it, preserving its identity as a cautionary archetype. This approach allows readers to connect the New Testament warnings directly back to the foundational account in Genesis 4.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Kain appears in the New Testament not to retell a history lesson, but to hold up a mirror to our own hearts. In Hebrews 11:4, his offering stands as a quiet warning against the kind of worship that lacks genuine faith. It reminds us that God looks beyond the ritual or the gift itself to the posture of the one bringing it.
When 1 John and Jude mention him, they describe a path marked by envy and violence. This is not just about ancient anger; it is a warning against letting jealousy take root in our relationships. The text shows how quickly resentment can turn destructive when we stop trusting God’s goodness in the lives of others.
Yet this word also points us toward what we must guard against. By recognizing the danger of Cain’s spirit, we are invited to choose the path of righteousness and peace. It is a call to examine our own motives and to seek a faith that truly honors God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Cain2×
- of Cain1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Κάϊν3×
Key Verses
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Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
This verse contrasts Abel’s faithful offering with Cain’s, highlighting that true worship requires genuine faith rather than mere ritual.
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I John 3:12
unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
Here the author uses Cain as a direct example of someone whose evil deeds stemmed from being aligned with the evil one, warning believers against such envy.
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Jude 1:11
Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
Jude groups Cain with Balaam and Korah to illustrate the destructive consequences of following a path driven by selfish ambition and rebellion.