Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Genesis 4:10 mean when it says 'the voice of your brother’s blood cries to Me from the ground'?
A: According to Rashi, the verse uses the plural 'bloods' (דְּמֵי) instead of 'blood' to teach that not only was Abel murdered, but all his potential descendants were lost as well. The 'cry' symbolizes that injustice does not go unnoticed by Hashem, even if no human witnesses it.
Q: Why is this verse important in Judaism?
A: This verse establishes the gravity of murder in Jewish law. The Rambam (Hilchot Rotzeach 1:1) cites this as the source for the severity of killing another person, as the earth itself 'cries out' against such an act. It also teaches that Hashem is aware of all human actions.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Genesis 4:10 today?
A: The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 22:9) explains that this teaches us about divine justice - no wrongdoing is hidden from Hashem. Even when people think their actions are unseen, like Cain thought when he killed Abel, Hashem knows everything. This should inspire us to act righteously at all times.
Q: How does the Torah show that murder is wrong in this verse?
A: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 37a) derives from this verse that killing one person is like destroying an entire world (as Rashi explains about the plural 'bloods'). The dramatic language of the blood 'crying out' emphasizes how seriously the Torah views the sanctity of human life.
Q: What does it mean that the blood cries 'from the ground'?
A: The Kli Yakar explains that the ground, which was cursed after Adam's sin (Genesis 3:17), now becomes a witness against Cain's crime. This shows how sin compounds upon sin - the earth that was meant to be worked for good now testifies about evil done upon it.
The Cry of the Blood
The verse (Bereshit 4:10) states, "the voice of thy brother’s blood cries to Me from the ground." Rashi explains that the word "דְּמֵי" (blood) is written in the plural form to indicate that not only was Abel's blood spilled, but also the blood of his potential descendants—emphasizing the gravity of murder, which extinguishes an entire lineage (Rashi on Bereshit 4:10). The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 22:9) elaborates that the earth refused to absorb Abel's blood, leaving it exposed as a testimony to Cain’s sin.
Divine Justice and Accountability
Rambam (Hilchot Rotzeach 1:4) derives from this verse that murder is a capital offense because human life is sacred, created in the image of G-d. The phrase "cries to Me from the ground" teaches that even when human justice fails, divine justice prevails—no crime, especially bloodshed, goes unaccounted for (Sforno on Bereshit 4:10). The Talmud (Sanhedrin 37a) further connects this idea to the principle that one who destroys a single life is considered as if they destroyed an entire world.
The Moral Lesson
The Kli Yakar highlights that Cain’s sin was not merely the act of murder but his callousness afterward—he denied responsibility, prompting G-d to declare that the earth itself would testify against him. This teaches that moral accountability extends beyond human courts; creation itself bears witness to injustice (Kli Yakar on Bereshit 4:10). The Netziv adds that the "voice" of the blood symbolizes the unceasing demand for justice, urging repentance and rectification (Ha'amek Davar on Bereshit 4:10).