Κάϊν (G2535) — Greek Lexicon

Κάϊν

Káïn

G2535 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A proper noun used as a personal name referring specifically to the biblical figure Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve. Represents the individual known for being the first human born and for committing the murder of his brother Abel. In Koine Greek texts, the name functions as a direct transliteration of the Hebrew given name and carries no inherent descriptive meaning outside of its referent.

Semantic Range

Cain (the biblical figure), proper name, firstborn son of Adam and Eve

Root / Etymology

Direct transliteration from the Hebrew קַיִן (Qayin), with etymological links to the Hebrew root ק-נ-ה meaning 'to acquire, get, possess,' though this meaning is not active in the Greek usage. Káïn as used in Greek is a loanword, not developed within Greek morphology.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Κάϊν is not a native Greek word but a transliterated proper name of Hebrew origin. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the name is employed without translation, simply designating the biblical figure. Hellenistic and early Christian texts use Κάϊν as an emblematic example of fratricide and moral failure, often in discussions of sin or archetypal human wrongdoing (cf. LXX Genesis 4; 1 John 3:12; Jude 11; Philo and later patristic literature). English translations have universally rendered Κάϊν as 'Cain,' thus aligning with its original referent and not introducing alternative meanings. Contextually and semantically distinct from other personal names, and never used generically or to indicate a class of people. The name does not imply any of the meanings of the Hebrew verb from which it may have originated in Hebrew literature. No evidence exists in Hellenistic Greek sources for usage apart from biblical reference.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (קַיִן); Cain, (i.e. Cajin), the son of Adam:--Cain.

Root Family

Κάϊν (Káïn) — proper name, Cain (Hebrew Qayin)

Root (proper name, no Greek root; Hebrew: ק-נ-ה) personal name, to acquire (Hebrew root; not Greek)

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2535-01`	Κάϊν	kain	`N ACC M SG`	Cain	Cain	Kain	3

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2535-01`	Hebrews 11:4	Κάϊν	kain	`N ACC M SG`	Cain	Cain	Kain
`G2535-01`	1 John 3:12	Κάϊν	kain	`N NOM M SG`	Cain	Cain	Kain
`G2535-01`	Jude 1:11	Κάϊν	kain	`N GEN M SG`	Cain	Cain	Kain

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