When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
When you work the soil, it will no longer give you good crops. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.
God is telling Cain that as punishment for killing his brother Abel, the ground won't produce crops for him anymore and he'll have to wander without a permanent home.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Genesis, after Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy because God favored Abel's offering, God pronounced a judgment on Cain for his sin. As a farmer who worked the ground, Cain was cursed so that the earth would no longer produce abundantly for him, symbolizing the direct consequences of his actions. This punishment turned Cain into a wanderer, highlighting the early biblical theme of sin leading to separation from God's intended provision and security.
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