The Mark of Cain
What is the essence of the mark on Cain’s forehead? Also, Genesis says Cain traveled to the east of Nod and married. Who were the people who lived there at that time?
Actually, the Bible never says that a “mark” was set upon Cain’s forehead (Gen. 4:15). Mark comes from the Hebrew word oth, which means “sign” or “token.” Thus, what’s actually said is that the Lord showed or gave Cain a “sign” to convince and assure him that none would be allowed to kill him.
Many things are said about Cain, truth is found in the Bible.
Cain traveled to the east of Eden into the land of Nod, literally the “place of wandering” (Gen. 4:16-17). There he “knew his wife” (v. 17), a phrase not referring to him meeting her for the first time, but rather to physical marital relations. Cain probably was already married to his wife when he killed Abel and was exiled. Eve, “the mother of all living” (Gen. 3:20), had sons and daughters with Adam (Gen. 5:4). From these Cain found his wife, and from these came those who eventually inhabited the city Cain built in the “place of wandering.”