King James Bible
"And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him."
God declares divine protection over Cain despite his murder of Abel, establishing that any vigilante justice against him will result in severe retribution. The 'sevenfold' indicates complete or perfect vengeance in Hebrew numerology, showing God reserves the right to judge rather than allowing human retaliation. The Hebrew word for 'mark' (oth) typically means sign or signal, though its exact nature remains unspecified in the text. This mark serves as a visible indicator of both Cain's guilt and paradoxically God's protection, making him recognizable to others. The mark's purpose is explicitly protective, preventing blood revenge as Cain becomes humanity's first wanderer. This reveals God's mercy even in judgment, preserving Cain's life while he bears the consequences of exile and alienation from the ground.