My Punishment Is Too Great to Bear: Raising Cain

Abstract

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.