The meaning of the idiom "mark of Cain": how to understand it

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2018-03-23 08:56:10

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Meaning of the idiom “the mark of Cain" refers to the biblical tradition. According to him, it was a special sign, the mark imposed by God on Cain, son of Adam and eve, after he committed fratricide. What does the expression "mark of Cain"? It is usually used in a figurative sense when talking about something perverse in human form, any special, often negative and ominous terms.

History

Cain was the first born and not created by God man. He was the firstborn of Adam and eve born after the fall and expulsion from Paradise. Cain had a younger brother named Abel. He became a herdsman and shepherd, while Cain tilled the fields and worked in the garden.

the mark of Cain the meaning of the idiomOne day, as they say in the tradition, Cain and Abel brought to God their victims. Abel – lamb, but Cain – the first ears of wheat and the fruits of the new harvest. But the Lord the gifts of Abel received favorably, whereas Cain's sacrifice left unattended. Some of the comments to the old Testament indicate that the older brother acted inappropriately, bringing to the altar the bread unripe and spoiled fruit. However, the Bible itself is silent about it.

After God has accepted the sacrifice of Cain, the one being envious and morose from birth, holding on brother's resentment. Cain believed that because he was the first born on earth, and has more rights, so his sacrifice is, of course, favorably accepted by God, whatever it was. But this did not happen. And embittered Cain lured Abel to a field and killed him. This was the first attempt of man to fix in the world that didn't like him personally. Thus Cain became the series of murders perpetrated on earth.

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Then the Lord cursed Cain by putting a seal on it pariah and killer. However, the purpose of the seal was not only to recognize who is in front of them, but that no one was able to harm the criminal, because the Lord said that whoever raises a hand on Cain, waiting for a terrible fate.

Version on the essence of Kainic printing

In the words of Pope John XXIII, which he expressed during one of the oral interviews, “disfigured Cain, with the mark of rejection, inspired fear, horror and disgust". But what we invested in the meaning of the idiom “the mark of Cain"? This expression can be understood a kind of “shadow of a crime” on the face of the person has committed a wrong, and present a stigma similar to that which later burned on the forehead of criminals.

what does the mark of CainHowever, you cannot with any degree of certainty, what exactly do you mean "mark of Cain" and how God put on Cain. The Bible text is concise and therefore difficult to interpret. Some scholars, particularly English orientalist and Bible student, William Robertson Smith, in the late XIX century, claimed that the insignia is similar to the Cain of the press, were distributed among the tribes of different peoples. It could be hair or drawing on the body (tattoo). But hardly it is possible, if we are not talking about a narrow tradition, and the event that is valid for all mankind – according to St. John Chrysostom, the fratricide of its kind had to convince all “not to encroach on such matters, so as not to suffer the same punishment" (complete works of SV. John Chrysostom). Moreover, according to the old Testament, the curse fell not only on Cain, but on the ground where he walked and on which he shed his blood brother. She could no longer feed him. So Cain was forced to become a wanderer.

The mark of Cain – a metaphor.

Thus, answering the question: "What does the mark of Cain?" - speak, you probably need a metaphorical mark of the monster and murderers, "the stigma of the crime" of the symptom of human depravity. One of the commentators of the Scriptures and of the Talmud, Shlomo Yitzhaki (Rashi) explained that perhaps it was one of the letters of the name of God, which he had inscribed on the forehead of Cain. This sign was supposed to inspire others-both people and wild animals – fear of him. However, the name of God – the name of the taboo, so-called "Tetragrammaton" (the unutterable four-letter word). For the first time this concept is found in the Torah. The name of the Lord and could not be named because it is – an expression of the essence, and God, according to the Book of books, the ubiquitous and indefinable. Thus, the meaning of the expression "mark of Cain" leads us to a deeper understanding of the meaning of this idiom.

the mark of Cain the meaning of the idiomThe same phenomena either way, the sign became a blessing, God's protection because had to return to the criminal-confidence. First of all, in order to dissipate anger and despair, and he found the strength to repent. Therefore, another expert on the Talmud, Abraham Ibn Ezra, there was every reason to say that the mark of Cain – “the sign of God”, “miracle”, which he did for Cain. This sign appears on the face of the one who has fulfilled the commandment and acknowledged, is entirely in the power of God and under his protection.

Given all this, it becomes clear that the meaning of the idiom "mark of Cain" can be interpreted much wider than is customary.

“mark of Cain" in modern usage

So, briefly: the meaning of the idiom"Mark of Cain" reports about the criminal intentions of any person, or that it is already a shadow of the perfect crime. And the name Cain is a household word to denote a spiteful, envious person, capable of the baseness, treachery, often already committed a crime.

what is the mark of CainNot by chance the ancient language parallel leads us to the word Ocate (“curse”), the ancient equivalent of the words Damned And restless. And in Church Slavonic language there is the word Repent, i.e., confess their sins, to admit them.

Other similar expressions

The Idiom “the mark of Cain" together with its initial value and spawned a set of related expressions. This, for example, and “Cain's seed”, “Cain offspring”, “the line of Cain”, “children of Cain" (bad, bad people); “Cain to repentance" (the confession under the influence of irrefutable evidence); “Cain civilization" (amoral, immoral ideology, in which one person is elevated over others on any grounds-economic, social, racial).


Article in other languages:

BE: https://tostpost.com/be/mastactva-zabavy/24533-znachenne-abavyazak-vyaduchaga-mtv-ka-navy-znak-yak-yago-razumec.html

DE: https://tostpost.com/de/kunst-und-unterhaltung/24545-wert-frazeologizma-kains-drucken-wie-es-zu-verstehen.html

ES: https://tostpost.com/es/arte-y-entretenimiento/24573-el-valor-de-la-frazeologizma-kainova-impresi-n-como-su-entender.html

KK: https://tostpost.com/kk/ner-zh-ne-oyyn-sauy/24519-znachenie-frazeologizma-kainova-pechat-ony-t-s-nu.html

PL: https://tostpost.com/pl/sztuka-i-rozrywka/24443-warto-frazeologizma-kainova-drukuj-jak-go-rozumie.html

PT: https://tostpost.com/pt/artes-e-entretenimento/24455-o-valor-frazeologizma-caim-impress-o-como-entender.html

TR: https://tostpost.com/tr/sanat-ve-e-lence/24523-de-er-frazeologizma-kainova-bask-onu-anlamak.html

UK: https://tostpost.com/uk/mistectvo-ta-rozvagi/24497-znachennya-frazeolog-zmu-ka-nova-pechat-yak-yogo-rozum-ti.html






Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."

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