King James Bible
"And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD."
The Hebrew verb 'knew' (yada) is a euphemism for sexual intimacy, emphasizing the personal and covenantal nature of marital union. This marks humanity's first procreation after the Fall, fulfilling God's command to multiply despite their exile from Eden. The name 'Cain' likely derives from the Hebrew 'qanah' (to acquire or create), directly connecting to Eve's declaration. This firstborn son represents both the continuation of human life and the beginning of life outside Paradise. Eve acknowledges God as the ultimate source of life, recognizing divine involvement in human procreation. Her statement may reflect hope that this child could be the promised seed who would defeat the serpent (Genesis 3:15), though this hope would prove tragically misplaced.