KJV ORIGINAL
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' And Cain replied, 'I don't know. Am I supposed to be responsible for my brother?'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
God is confronting Cain about his brother Abel's whereabouts, and Cain responds defensively by denying responsibility for his brother's wellbeing.
📚 Historical Context
This conversation occurs immediately after Cain murdered his brother Abel out of jealousy because God accepted Abel's sacrifice but not his own. God, being all-knowing, asks this question not for information but to give Cain an opportunity to confess. This is one of the first recorded crimes in human history and shows how quickly sin spread after Adam and Eve's disobedience.
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