by: Joel Villaraza

Cain was one of the sons of Adam and Eve. He is a dark figure and a man who committed the first murder as mentioned in the Bible. When Cain killed his brother Abel, God drove him from the land he was living. He went away from the presence of the Lord and became a restless wanderer. He settled in Nod, east of Eden, and then took a wife. One of the most frequently asked questions about him is where did he get his wife? Where did the woman come from? Didn't we learn that Cain's family was the first people who lived on the earth? Cain’s wife is one of the most intriguing questions where many believers struggle to give a biblical answer. It is clear however that the Bible did not mention that Cain committed incest by marrying his sister.

To answer the question, one does need not look for other reference because the answer is already in the Book of Genesis. Readers should be careful in reading it and should refer one's answer base on the CHRONOLOGY.  The sequence and time of events as to how the story unfolded should be well examined. I believe there are two accounts of human creation where God created human beings. The first one is in chapter 1 which reads, 

       "Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

As we read further, the second creation account of man was written in Genesis 2:7-9. This was the time when God created Adam and put Him in the Garden of Eden. It says, 

       "Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed." 

As we read on, Adam was by himself and needed a suitable helper. It was not good for him to be alone and then God brought Eve to Adam. The story is recorded in Genesis 2:21-23. Reading from Genesis chapters 1 to 2 gives us an idea that there are 2 events in different times where God created human beings. It is my understanding that during the time of Adam and Eve, humans had also existed outside the Garden of Eden. As we continue to read the succeeding chapters of Genesis, it will give us a clue that there were other men who also lived besides them. Chapter 4 can help us better understand when we read about Cain when he was talking to God after he murdered his brother Abel.

       Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and WHOEVER finds me will kill me.”

       But the Lord said to him, “Not so, ANYONE who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that NO ONE who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

       Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. (Genesis 4:13-17)

There are 3 words which I wrote in upper cases which should get your attention. The words WHOEVER, ANYONE, and NO ONE. These words undoubtedly refer to people who also existed during the time of Cain. These were the people whom Cain was afraid about that could take his life after he slew his brother. 

I read about many articles and even listened to some commentaries about the wife of Cain. Some scholars don't believe in the 2 creation accounts. They said that the woman whom Cain met and married was probably his sister or niece. There are conflicting arguments when they assume this belief. First, when talking about the Bible, it is no longer truthful when one uses the words probably, it could be, it is likely, possibly or maybe. Second, how can Cain marry his sister when according to the CHRONOLOGY of the Bible he took a wife after Cain was driven from his land and went east of Eden. At that time there was no mention in the scripture that he had a sister. Third, having a sister or niece as a wife is incest. It is wickedness and detestable in the sight of God as stated in the book of Leviticus. God's moral standard can not change. Fourth, Genesis mentioned about Cain having other sibling was only after 130 years. This was the time when Seth was born, after Abel was slain. Let's look at the passage, 

      Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel since Cain killed him.” Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. 

       At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 4:25-26)

As you go on further, one will know that AFTER Seth was born, it is the only time that Genesis wrote about Adam and Eve having other sons and daughters. This one is in chapter 5.

      When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.  

       Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died. (Genesis 5:3-5)

The command for the first man and woman was to be fruitful and to multiply. The words were not  given to Adam and Eve. God's instruction for Adam was to take care of the Garden of Eden and for Eve to be a suitable helper for Adam. The only time they began to have children was the time when they were driven out of the garden.

The Timeline

Genesis 1:26-28
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." God created man and woman, male and female. God told them to be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.

Genesis 2:7-9. 
God created Adam and put Him in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:21-23
God brought Eve to Adam to have a suitable helper.

Genesis 4:13-17

Cain departed from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden and took a wife.

Genesis 5:3-5

When Adam had lived 130 years, Seth was born. Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.