What was the mark on Cain?

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Researcher said:
I do not believe it is God who does the vengeance.
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Let Scripture interpret Scripture:

Genesis 4:23-24 - And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

In the above verse, Cain is referenced regarding the vengeance that is taken by Lamech:

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If Lamech does his own vengeance, then this is strong evidence that Cain does his own vengeance as well. But how can Cain seek revenge after his own death? A deadly wound that is healed would be needed.

Note that there is something extremely profound and supernatural occurring with regards to crops. Don't forget that whenever Cain tries to plant something, it either dies or doesn't grow:

Genesis 4:12 (New International Version) - When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.

What is it about the Mark of Cain that kills plants or prevents plants from growing? There is more to the story here than a simple tattoo or whatever.

 
Researcher said:
Very good. You are asking the right question. If you can prove who does the vengeance, you will have your answer.

A curious verse to ponder if you so choose...

Revelation 9:6 - And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

A Mark can do funny things to a person it would seem.

OT concealed. NT revealed.



What you are implying is that Cain was rewarded for murdering. According to your logic, God didn't mean it when he gave us the Ten Commandments. Cain having God's Seal of Salvation. Yikes.



The implication of your idea is that God is a hypocrite.
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It is possible to wish you were dead, but not to be willing to commit suicide. Job is an example of that kind of torment.

No, God is not a hypocrite. Before the Mosaic law men’s sins were not credited to them by God. If they were not credited, then God was not punishing anyone. However, free will people did still reap consequences from free will men and angels reacting to their bad behaviour and from going against the laws of nature God has built int the universe.

Rom 5:13
(For until the law, sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Cain was not rewarded for murdering. He did not have a blessed life as a reward for his murder. But neither was he treated with eye for eye.
 
Researcher said:
There is a subtle contradiction that everyone needs to solve:
  • On one hand, Cain *IS* 'protected' via the Mark, thus he cannot be killed.
  • On the other hand, Cain *IS NOT* protected via the Mark, thus he can be killed.
So, which is it? Can Cain be killed or not? If Cain can be killed, then God's Mark did nothing. God is either weak or a liar or both. See the problem?

Look at how this verse sounds contradictory as it introduces a paradox:

Genesis 4:15 - And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
  • Whoever slays Cain will have sevenfold vengeance taken on him
  • Cain has a Mark, preventing anyone from slaying him
How can both be true at the same time without making God a liar? The answer, I believe, lies in how the Mark of the Beast works.

In other words, if someone seeks death for Cain, death will 'flee' from Cain. This leaves Cain to be the one who performs the sevenfold vengeance.
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Gen 4:15 וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ יְהוָה לָכֵן כָּל־הֹרֵג קַיִן שִׁבְעָתַיִם יֻקָּם וַיָּשֶׂם יְהוָה לְקַיִן אוֹת לְבִלְתִּי הַכּוֹת־אֹתוֹ כָּל־מֹצְאוֹ׃
And said (waw-Qal imperfective וַיֹּאמֶר) to him (לוֹ) Yahweh (יְהוָה) therefore (לָכֵן) anyone slaying (Qal participle active כָּל־הֹרֵג) Cain (קַיִן) sevenfold (שִׁבְעָתַיִם) he shall cause to be avenged (hophal imperfective יֻקָּם). And set (waw-Qal imperfect וַיָּשֶׂם) Yahweh (יְהוָה) on Cain (לְקַיִן) a mark (אוֹת) for unless (לְבִלְתִּי) to cause to be killed him (hiphil infinitive construct הַכּוֹת־אֹתוֹ) anyone finding him (Qal participle active כָּל־מֹצְאוֹ).

“He shall cause to be avenged" is the hophal form of the verb NaaKaM to avenge, and signifies a passive causative action. Hence, the one who slays Cain is causing Cain to be avenged. He will stir up Cain’s tribe to retaliate on Cain’s killer seven times worse. The verb is not in the Hithpael or reflexive form, which would indicate that Cain was avenging himself. It is not Cain causing himself to be avenged, but Cain’s killer who is causing Cain to be avenged.

“To cause to be killed him” is the hiphil infinitive construct form of the verb NaakaH, to kill, and signifies an active causative action. Hence, by the mark God is warning off not only the person who would kill cain, but also a person who would cause Cain’s death indirectly by engaging some other person to kill him, or by arranging an “accident" for Cain.

Gen 4:15 And Yahweh said to Cain, “ Whoever slays Cain shall cause sevenfold vengeance in retaliation"
And Yahweh set a mark on Cain, in case anyone finding Cain should intend to cause him to die somehow.

Cain does not have a mark that prevents anyone from slaying him. It is a mark that warns of dire consequence for anyone who does kill Cain. The mark was intended to discourage would be vigilantes from taking vengeance on Cain. "Vengeance is mine," says the Yahweh “I will avenge… in My time and in My way.” God will judge Cain on the last day. If Cain died trusting and worshipping God, he will be spared. If he did not, he will be cut off. he was not rewarded. His judgment was deferred so that he could have time to repent. It is not God’s will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and be reconciled to Him.



Researcher said:
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I do not believe it is God who does the vengeance.
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It is God who will do vengeance eventually in His time, but not immediately after a crime. He wants to give time for repentance and restoration. Man is less patient and would often exact vengeance without any grace period.
 
The better question would be who would be around to kill him and how would they know what he had done to Abel? Why is the mark even needed?

Cain is later said to start a city, clearly more people had to have existed. Probably created in Genesis 1.
 
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