The Land of Nod: Bible Story and Meaning

　　"Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden." ~ Genesis 4:16

　　Easton's Bible Dictionary gives the following definition of Nod, saying that it means "exile; wandering; unrest, a name given to the country to which Cain fled. It lay on the east of Eden."

　　The Book of Genesis was written by Moses during Israel’s 40-year wilderness exile. Ancient writers, such as Moses, did not write with the intent or manner of modern-day writers. Bible readers today come to Genesis 4:16, “Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden,” and likely start thinking what is this "Land of Nod"?

Land of Nod: Its Name or Description?

It is probable that Moses took some scholarly privilege in telling the story because the name of that land likely did not exist until much later. It is also possible that “Nod” was not the actual name of a location but a description of Cain's entry there.

　　The Orthodox Study Bible comments on this verse in the footnote of Genesis 4:16 saying, “The name Nod means ‘one who wanders away from God.’ Such was Cain’s state.” There were many places to wander but the condition of wandering away from God could be anywhere. Therefore, it could also be said that Cain went away from the Lord and went to a place of wandering exile.

Bible Story of Cain and Abel

The Bible story of Cain and Abel is the only reference to the Land of Nod in scripture, found in Genesis 4:

　　Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD." And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

　　The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."

　　Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

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Bible Commentary on the Land of Nod

According to the Commentary of Matthew Henry:

　　"Cain endeavored to confront that part of the sentence by which he was made a fugitive and a vagabond; for,

　　He chose his land. He went and dwelt on the east of Eden, somewhere distant from the place where Adam and his religious family resided, distinguishing himself and his accursed generation from the holy seed, his camp from the camp of the saints and the beloved city, Revelation 20:9. On the east of Eden, the cherubim were, with the flaming sword, ch. 3:24. There he chose his lot as if to defy the terrors of the Lord. But his attempt to settle was in vain; for the land, he dwelt in was to him the land of Nod (that is, of shaking or trembling), because of the continual restlessness and uneasiness of his own spirit. Note, Those who depart from God cannot find rest anywhere else. After Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, he never rested. Those that shut themselves out of heaven abandon themselves to a perpetual trembling. "Return therefore to thy rest, O my soul, to thy rest in God; else thou art forever restless."

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