Genesis 4: The Seed of the Woman

A Man Knows a Woman

In Genesis 3:20 it is established that Eve (aka Life) was the mother of all living, and the following passages in Genesis 4 make it clear that the man, who is the father, also known as the progenitor, is the sower of seed.

And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and brought forth Cain and said, I have gained a man through God. (Genesis 4:1 Brenton LXX)

And Cain knew his wife, and having conceived she bore Enoch; and he built a city; and he named the city after the name of his son, Enoch. (Genesis 4:17 Brenton LXX)

And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Seth, saying, For God has raised up to me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. (Genesis 4:25 Brenton LXX)

So, the Natural Order being established here is that a man knows a woman, and with the help of God the woman conceives and brings forth new life.

The Greek word translated in these three verses as “conceived” is sullambano (G4815), which means to seize, take: one as prisoner; to conceive, of a woman; to seize for one’s self; to take hold together with one, to assist, help, to succour.

Apparently, the woman is seizing for one’s self, taking hold together with one the seed of the man that was sown in her.

Notice, Seth is identified as another seed to replace Abel in verse 25, who was evidently also considered a seed.

Why are these offspring of the woman considered “seed“?

The Hebrew word translated as seed is “zera” (H2233), which means seed, sowing, offspring. It comes from a verb that means to sow, scatter seed. The Greek word used in the Septuagint is “sperma” (G4690), which is where we get the English word “sperm”.

I believe “seed” is used because Seth and Abel, being male in particular, are the sowers of seed.

The Natural Order is that the man is who sows seed, and the woman is in whom the seed is sown. Without the man knowing his woman, it is impossible for her to conceive.

And then, it is YHVH God who forms the flesh from the seed sown in the woman’s womb, and He gives breath and spirit, in order for the woman to bring forth life.

And in this case, the life she brings forth are more sowers of seed, aka sons.

A Son: One Who Builds and Causes to Continue

The Hebrew word translated as “son” is “ben” (H1121), and it comes from the verb root “banah” (H1129), which means “to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue“, according to Brown-Driver-Briggs. Both words appear in verse 17.

It appears that the idea behind having sons is to build a house and to cause to continue the name of the father.

All throughout the Bible, we see men given names to be called by which typically identifies something particular about them. But then these men are also identified as being “the son of” a notable father’s name (but not necessarily their immediate father’s).

Cain vs. Seth

After Cain slew Abel, Cain went forth from the presence of God and later began to build his household when Cain knew his wife, and having conceived, she bore Enoch.

Then in this same chapter a genealogical record of his sons is laid out, with some detail given as to what becomes of those in the last generation.

Then, we’re told of Seth being born, and that he had a son named Enosh.

Verse 26 says, he hoped to call on the name of the LORD God, drawing, I believe, a contrast between the two housebuilders of Adam: Cain was sent forth from the presence of God, and Seth hoped to call on His name.

And in the next chapter of Genesis, we read about the house that Seth built.