I remember thinking that Cain’s punishment for murder wasn’t very severe. Murder, as a capital crime, should carry a much more severe penalty. But Cain did not think God’s punishment was too light. In Genesis 4:13, we read, “Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is greater than I can bear.’” Banishment of Cain is no light thing. Westermann researched this issue and quotes from several experts. He concludes, “W. Schottroff, following Musil, O. Procksch, J. Scharbert, and others, points out ‘that it is the practice among the Arab Bedouin even to the present day to punish one who sheds the blood of a member of the family by outlawing him.’ This punishment could be regarded as the equivalent of the death penalty.”[1]
However, there is some serious discussion over the Hebrew word that is translated as “punishment” in the English Standard Version as quoted above. It is frequently translated as “iniquity.” Cain is either sorry that he got caught and must pay the “penalty” and focuses on the penalty itself, or he is overcome with grief because of his sin. Most seem to see it as the first option. Leupold says, “Cain’s answer, however, gives no indication of a repentant spirit. There is no grief over sin in the word, ‘My punishment is greater than I can bear.’ Cain is very sorry to have gotten into such a mess. He does deplore the set of miserable consequences that he has brought down upon his head. All he speaks about is the punishment that has fallen to his lot.” Leupold acknowledges that it could mean “guilt,” but “here the context demands the common enough meaning ‘punishment for sin.’ Cain merely cringes at the thought of what he must bear. This is a relatively common experience in the psychology of sinners: bold impudence becomes a whining fear and complaint.”[2]
Some will argue that the verse should say, “My iniquity is greater than I can bear.” M’Caig prefers this translation and says, “… his iniquity became his punishment.”[3]Robinson expands on this view and writes, “When sin makes a man a burden to God, he is likely to become a burden to himself. A sinner left to himself is the greatest burden that can be laid upon him. Suffering is often a heavy burden; sin a thousand times more so.” He then quotes Luther, who takes this view also. Luther said, “I had rather go into hell without sin, than into heaven with it.” This kind of burden is what Judas carried after selling Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Robinson continues, “Judas thought to throw off the burden by hanging himself, but only made it faster and heavier.”[4]
I’m not sure which commentators Ibn Ezra was reading in his day, but he gives another dynamic to the translation of verse 13. Cain is not complaining about the punishment, and he’s not lamenting his guilt. Instead, he’s acknowledging the severe nature of his crime. Ibn Ezra says, “All the commentators agree that he is confessing and saying, ‘My sin is too great to be forgiven!’” Nahmanides agrees, “In fact, Cain is confessing. ‘It’s true! My sin is too great to be forgiven! For, ‘You are righteous, O Lord; Your rulings are just’ [Ps. 119:137], even though You have punished me so severely.’”[5]
[1] Westermann, Claus. 1994. A Continental Commentary: Genesis 1–11. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.
[2] Leupold, H. C. 1942. Exposition of Genesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
[3] M’Caig, Archibald. 1915. “Retribution.” In The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, edited by James Orr, John L. Nuelsen, Edgar Y. Mullins, and Morris O. Evans, 1–5:2570. Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company.
[4] Robinson, Thomas. 1892. Job. The Preacher’s Complete Homiletic Commentary. New York; London; Toronto: Funk & Wagnalls Company.
[5] Carasik, Michael, ed. 2018. Genesis: Introduction and Commentary. Translated by Michael Carasik. The Commentators’ Bible. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society.