My Punishment Is Too Great to Bear: Raising Cain | Zendy

Zucker David J. | Zendy

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My Punishment Is Too Great to Bear: Raising Cain

Author(s) -

Zucker David J.

Publication year - 2020

Publication title -

biblical theology bulletin

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 0.123

H-Index - 13

eISSN - 1945-7596

pISSN - 0146-1079

DOI - 10.1177/0146107919892839

Subject(s) - raising (metalworking) , punishment (psychology) , context (archaeology) , statement (logic) , phrase , law , history , philosophy , psychology , epistemology , political science , social psychology , linguistics , archaeology , engineering , mechanical engineering

This article considers how some selected ancient Jewish and Christian sources as well as some contemporary commentators have dealt with the background context for Cain’s enigmatic statement in Genesis 4:13b, “My punishment is too great to bear!” These responses are framed broadly as different ways to interpret the phrase “Raising Cain.” Raising Cain can mean raising/starting trouble, in this context essentially seeing Cain as a negative figure; or it could mean Raising Cain as in lifting up Cain, seeing him as someone flawed but not inherently malevolent. The vast preponderance of material takes the former viewpoint, castigating Cain as wicked and vindictive.

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