King James Bible
"And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden."
Cain's departure marks a tragic separation from God following his murder of Abel and subsequent curse. The phrase emphasizes voluntary exile from divine fellowship, representing the ultimate consequence of unrepentant sin in the biblical narrative. "Nod" means "wandering" in Hebrew, reflecting Cain's curse to be a restless wanderer. The irony is that Cain "dwells" in a place named for wandering, suggesting an attempt to establish permanence despite God's judgment. The eastward direction continues the biblical pattern of movement away from God's presence (Adam and Eve also went east from Eden). This geographical detail reinforces Cain's spiritual distance and exile from the place of original blessing.