Genesis 4:9
“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?”Read in Context
Modern Meaning
What Does “My brother's keeper” Mean?
Responsible for the well-being of others.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
After murdering Abel, Cain deflected God's question with a question of his own. His rhetorical evasion — "Am I my brother's keeper?" — was meant to deny responsibility. Ironically, the phrase has been adopted to affirm the opposite: that we are indeed responsible for each other.
The phrase appears in Genesis 4:9 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Used to affirm social responsibility. "We are our brother's keeper — we can't ignore homelessness in our community."
The KJV Verse
Genesis 4:9
“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?”
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