Friend of StrangersSýnishorn

The story of Cain is an important part of the fall that is sometimes forgotten. Adam and Eve's sin was a sin against God; they did not listen to the Word of God and had to leave the garden as a consequence. Cain's sin was against his fellow man - he killed his brother and had to leave the field as a consequence.

God created us not only as human beings but also as 'fellow human beings.' God said to the lonely Adam in the Garden, “It is not good that the man should be alone,” And later, He asks Cain, “Where is your brother?”

The fact that human beings feel better in community and that we need to take care of each other is something fundamentally human since creation.

But Cain made his brother a stranger and committed the second sin: xenophobia.

"Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" (Ge 4:8-9)

Cain's answer reveals the selfishness and disinterest of a worldly man in his fellow man. Genesis 4:9 says, "Am I my brother's “shamar”?"

“Shamar” is a wonderful Hebrew word sometimes translated as "take care of, keep, observe, careful, preserve, guard, or to be a guardian. Shamar is used when God tells Adam to watch over the Garden of Eden. God commands Abraham to keep the covenant and keep the way of the Lord. God makes a promise to the patriarch Jacob to "watch over" him wherever he goes, and Jacob, in turn, makes a promise to God that if God is the “Shamar” of Jacob, then the Lord will be the God of Jacob.

Cain is supposed to be his brother's “Shamar." God wants us to care for each other - to preserve, watch over, guard against dangers, and protect each other. We are each other's “fellow man." God expects that of us.