John Calvin Commentary Genesis 4:10

"And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother`s blood crieth unto me from the ground." — Genesis 4:10 (ASV)

What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood—Moses shows that Cain gained nothing by his evasion. God first inquired where his brother was; He now more closely urges him, in order to extort an unwilling confession of his guilt. For in no racks or tortures of any kind is there so much force to constrain evildoers, as there was efficacy in the thunder of the Divine voice to cast Cain down in confusion to the ground.

For God no longer asks whether he had done it, but, pronouncing in a single word that he was the doer of it, He aggravates the atrocity of the crime. We learn, then, in the person of one man, what an unhappy outcome of their cause awaits those who desire to extricate themselves by contending against God. For He, the Searcher of hearts, has no need of a long, circuitous course of investigation, but with one word, so fulminates against those whom He accuses as to be sufficient, and more than sufficient, for their condemnation.

Advocates place the first kind of defense in the denial of the fact; where the fact cannot be denied, they turn to the qualifying circumstances of the case. Cain is driven from both these defenses, for God both pronounces him guilty of the slaughter and, at the same time, declares the heinousness of the crime. And we are warned by his example that pretexts and subterfuges are heaped together in vain when sinners are summoned to the tribunal of God.

The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth. God shows several things:

1. That He is aware of the deeds of men, though no one should complain of or accuse them.
2. That He holds the life of man too dear to allow innocent blood to be shed with impunity.
3. That He cares for the pious not only while they live, but even after death.

However earthly judges may sleep unless an accuser appeals to them, yet even when the one who is injured is silent, the injuries themselves are alone sufficient to arouse God to inflict punishment. This is a wonderfully sweet consolation to good men, who are unjustly harassed, when they hear that their own sufferings, which they silently endure, go into the presence of God of their own accord to demand vengeance.

Abel was speechless when his throat was being cut, or in whatever other manner he was losing his life; but after death the voice of his blood was more vehement than any eloquence of the orator. Thus, oppression and silence do not hinder God from judging, or the cause which the world supposes to be buried.

This consolation gives us most abundant reason for patience. We learn that we shall lose nothing of our right if we bear injuries with moderation and equanimity. Furthermore, God will be all the more ready to vindicate us the more modestly we submit ourselves to endure all things, because the placid silence of the soul raises effectual cries which fill heaven and earth.

Nor does this doctrine apply merely to the state of the present life, to teach us that among the innumerable dangers by which we are surrounded, we shall be safe under the guardianship of God; but it elevates us by the hope of a better life, because we must conclude that those for whom God cares shall survive after death.

On the other hand, this consideration should strike terror into the wicked and violent. God declares that He undertakes the causes deserted by human help, not because of any external prompting, but from His own nature. He also declares that He will be the sure avenger of crimes, even if the injured make no complaint.

Murderers indeed often exult, as if they had evaded punishment. But eventually God will show that innocent blood has not been mute, and that He has not said in vain, the death of the saints is precious in his eyes (Psalms 115:17). Therefore, as this doctrine brings relief to the faithful, so that they are not too anxious concerning their life (over which they learn that God continually watches), so too does it vehemently thunder against the ungodly who do not hesitate wickedly to injure and to destroy those whom God has undertaken to preserve.