Who Did Cain Marry KJV – Exploring the Biblical Account
One of the most frequently asked questions about the early chapters of Genesis in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is: "Who did Cain marry KJV?" and similarly, "Who did Cain and Abel marry KJV?" These questions arise because the Bible mentions Adam and Eve, their sons Cain and Abel, and Cain’s wife — but does not immediately clarify where Cain’s wife came from.
This article offers a deep and scripturally grounded exploration of this mystery, using the KJV Bible as the primary source, along with historical, theological, and scholarly context. We aim to answer this question while maintaining biblical integrity.
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Cain and Abel: The First Sons of Adam and Eve
The story of Cain and Abel begins in Genesis 4:1–2 (KJV):
“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.”
Cain and Abel were the first two sons of Adam and Eve. Cain, the elder, was a farmer, and Abel was a shepherd. The Bible narrates that Cain killed Abel out of jealousy because God accepted Abel’s offering but not his (Genesis 4:3–8). After this tragic event, Cain is punished by God and exiled. But then we encounter an intriguing verse.
The Mystery Verse: Cain's Wife
Genesis 4:16–17 (KJV):
“And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.”
Here is where the question arises: Where did Cain get his wife from? At this point, the only people explicitly mentioned in Scripture are Adam, Eve, Cain, and the deceased Abel.
Who Did Cain Marry KJV – The Biblical Explanation
1. Cain Married His Sister or a Close Relative
The most widely accepted and biblically consistent explanation is that Cain married his sister — a daughter of Adam and Eve.
This may sound strange by modern standards, but it is supported by biblical logic:
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Genesis 5:4 (KJV) says:
“And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters.”
This clearly states that Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters over centuries.
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Cain would have married one of these unnamed daughters, which aligns with the ancient custom and necessity, considering the population was just beginning.
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Inter-family marriages were not yet forbidden. The prohibition against marrying close kin came later under Mosaic Law (Leviticus 18), long after Cain’s time.
2. The Timeline Suggests Generations Were Growing
Adam lived to be 930 years old (Genesis 5:5), and during that long life, he and Eve likely had many children.
Cain’s wife could have been:
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His full sister,
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A niece, or
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A great-niece, depending on how long Cain waited before marrying.
In a world starting from a single couple, inter-family marriage was not only unavoidable but divinely permitted during the initial generations.
Addressing the Keyword: Who Did Cain and Abel Marry KJV?
While Scripture never mentions Abel having a wife or children, it's reasonable to speculate he may have been married or engaged, though there is no direct mention of Abel's marriage in the KJV Bible.
This absence suggests:
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Abel may have died before marriage or having children.
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The Bible focuses on key theological themes rather than providing a full genealogical record.
So, while we can say Cain married one of his sisters, Abel’s marital status remains unknown.
Why Was Marrying a Sibling Acceptable Then?
Genetic Purity in Early Humanity
One theological explanation is that Adam and Eve were created perfect, and thus their immediate descendants had fewer genetic mutations.
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Interbreeding in the early generations would not have posed the genetic risks seen today.
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As time passed and mutations increased, God gave laws (like Leviticus 18) to prohibit incestuous unions for health and moral reasons.
Cain’s City and Lineage
After marrying, Cain builds a city and names it after his son Enoch.
Genesis 4:17 (KJV):
“And he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.”
This indicates that Cain’s descendants multiplied, supporting the idea that a growing population was already forming — through siblings and cousins marrying each other.
Historical and Theological Consensus
Early Jewish and Christian Commentators
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Josephus, a 1st-century Jewish historian, wrote that Adam had 33 sons and 23 daughters.
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Church Fathers like Augustine, Luther, and Calvin accepted the explanation that Cain married a sister.
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Modern scholars across denominations agree that in the earliest generations, marriages among siblings were part of God's provision for the propagation of humanity.
Who Did Cain Marry KJV?
Cain most likely married his sister or a close female relative, a daughter of Adam and Eve, as implied by Genesis 5:4 and the necessity of early human reproduction.
Who Did Cain and Abel Marry KJV?
Cain married his sister or niece. Abel's marriage is not mentioned in the KJV Bible, so we cannot confirm if Abel married.
While the KJV Bible does not explicitly name Cain's wife, careful reading of Scripture (especially Genesis 5:4) and theological reasoning lead to the conclusion that Cain married one of his sisters or possibly a niece — a daughter or granddaughter of Adam and Eve.
This was acceptable in the early chapters of human history, before the giving of the Mosaic Law, and was part of God’s design to populate the earth.
FAQ on Who Did Cain Marry KJV
Q1. Why doesn't the Bible list all of Adam and Eve’s children?
The Bible focuses on key genealogical and theological lines, not exhaustive lists.
Q2. Was Cain’s marriage sinful?
No. At that time, marriage between siblings was necessary and not yet forbidden.
Q3. How many children did Adam and Eve have?
Genesis 5:4 says they had “sons and daughters.” Jewish tradition (Josephus) claims at least 56 children.
Q4. Could Cain’s wife be from another people group?
Not biblically supported. According to Genesis, all humans descended from Adam and Eve.


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