Just Who Was Cain's Wife Anyway ?

In Genesis 4:17, the Bible says that Cain "knew" his wife and had a son. The question now is: Who was this wife? There is no mention of any  person before this who he could marry. The human race was new. So, what is the answer?

Quick Answer:

If we have a look at Genesis 5:4, we see that Adam had sons and...DAUGHTERS!! Cain thus had to marry one of his sisters or one of his cousins.

The immediate question of incest now arises. Was this not sinful?

NO!!

Remember that only by the time of Moses was it sin to marry your sister! If one studies Leviticus this becomes clear. Prior to this, God did not condemn this as sin.

Before the time of Moses, as we go back in time, the genetic line grows less corrupt. When Adam and Eve were created, they were made genetically perfect. With the Fall, corruption in the WHOLE of nature set in, but with their children, the corruption would have been very small. Thus there would be no problem with marrying a close relative and thus no chance of genetic defects. However, as the generations wore on, the genetic defects accumulated and thus by the time of Moses, God had to make the incest law.

Other Issues:

Could God not have made another group of people from which Cain could choose a wife?

Gen 2:20  And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet  [i.e. a partner or helper] for him.

From the above we get the idea that there were NO WOMEN on earth for Adam. Genesis 2:21,22 tells us that God had to MAKE a wife for Adam. Thus Eve became the mother of all living people, (Gen 3:20).

Remember also:

Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

1Cor 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

We see that Adam was the first human - everyone is a descendant of him, not some other group. According to Scripture, only a descendant of Adam can be saved by Jesus' atonement on the Cross. (If we think about it, Eve was ALSO a descendant of Adam, since she was made from him!)

Gospel

Act 17:26(a)  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth...

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

1Cor 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

THEREFORE : EVERYONE ultimately comes from Adam. Everyone has sinned. The Gospel thus only makes sense if everyone comes from the same man, Adam.

In summary : Adam + Eve >>> Cain, Seth, their other brothers and sisters >>> US!