The phrase “my brother’s keeper” comes from the biblical story of Cain and Abel. Cain, who killed his brother, claimed he had no responsibility for him. The phrase is often used to suggest that people have a responsibility to care for their fellow humans.
The phrase “my brother’s keeper” is a reference to the biblical story of Cain and Abel from the book of Genesis. It is generally understood to be responsible for the welfare of a sibling or other sibling, or by extension other human beings in general. Cain, who is said to have made this claim, claimed he did not bear this responsibility. The phrase, however, is often used with the suggestion that people have such a responsibility to care for and watch over their fellow humans.
Cain and Abel
The story of Cain and Abel appears in the first 16 verses of the fourth chapter of Genesis. The phrase “my brother’s keeper” appeared in the 1530 English translation by William Tyndale. Tyndale’s translation was one of those incorporated into the King James Version of the Bible, which was completed in the early 1600s and has been one of the most widely used versions of the Bible.
Abel murdered
Cain and Abel were sons of Adam and Eve. Cain, a farmer, and Abel, a shepherd, sacrificed the fruits of their labor to God. God viewed Abel’s sacrifice favorably, but not Cain’s, and in his anger at the incident, Cain killed his brother.
Cain’s answer
God later asked Cain where his brother was, and Cain replied, according to the King James Version, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” God, who knew that Cain had killed Abel, punished the murderer by making him a “fugitive and vagabond.” When Cain complained that anyone who met him would kill him because of his actions, God declared that he would take revenge on anyone who killed Cain, and God marked Cain as a sign that he was not to be harmed.
Personal application
With his question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” — Cain attempted to cover up his misdeed by claiming no responsibility for his brother. Followers of biblical teachings often interpret this story as a reminder that they are, in fact, responsible for other people’s well-being. Someone who is her or her sibling keeper cares and looks after others, even if they are not actually related to him or her. For example, a person trying to be a “sibling’s keeper” might donate their time or resources to help others and put others’ needs before their own.
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