Cain is characterized as a murderer. He killed his brother Abel, but when ELOHIM questioned him about Abel, Cain's haughty response made him guilty of two transgressions: haughtiness and lying.

• Genesis 4:9 “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Interestingly, some ancient texts considered apocryphal describe the skin tone of Cain. And as with Japhet and Canaan, white skin seems to be a distinctive feature associated with Cain.

It's important to understand that whenever the Scriptures insist on describing a person's skin color, it implies that the skin complexion of that individueal was markedly different from the rest of his family or the people around him.

• "Eve arose as the angel had instructed her: she gave birth to an child and his color was like that of the stars. He fell into the hands of the midwife and at once he began to pluck up the grass, for in his mother's hut grass was planted. The midwife replied to him and told him: "ELOHIM is just that he did not at all leave you in my hands. For, you are Cain, the perverse one, killer of the good, for you are the one who plucks up the fruit-bearing tree, and not him who plants it. You are the bearer of bitterness and not of sweetness." |La Vita Adae and Evae, 21.3a - 21.3b|

Why would Cain's skin color be different?

​First of all, scientific research supports the idea that black skin is the ancestral and original skin color of the human race, making it the blueprint from which all other skin tones have evolved. It would therefore be logical to assert that Adam and Eve lived on Earth as black individuals, and that their sons Abel and Cain were also black.

According to the biblical account and apocryphal texts, as a result of the curse that befell him, a mark was placed upon Cain. And since black skin is the foundation of all other variations in skin color, several experts have hypothesized that the mark of the curse placed upon Cain as a sign could have been a total loss of melanin in his skin.

The hypothesis of melanin loss is based on accounts of divine punishments, in which God stripped the skin of all its protective properties by completely removing its melanin.

This hypothesis is also substantiated by certain biblical figures, notably Naaman, Gehazi, and Miriam (Aaron’s sister), whose skin was stripped of melanin as a sign of a curse. The Bible refers to this condition or transformation as impurity or leprosy.

• Numbers 12:10 "And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper"

• 2 Kings 5:27 "Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow."

Now, if you read the texts carefully, you will realize that the mark placed on Cain was indeed a visible sign or a change in his physical appearance. However, although this was a sign or mark of a curse, it also bestowed considerable value upon Cain’s life (and that of his descendants), such that anyone inclined to harm him would face grave consequences—namely, sevenfold vengeance on earth.

• Genesis 4:15 "replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him."

Why such a paradox? Because God always upholds equity in His judgment. His Justice is always balanced in all fairness even when it seems unfair according to our human standards. What may look like a blessing to our eyes is not always what it seems, and what may be perceived as a curse may actually be a blessing in disguise.

There are also apocryphal texts, such as “The Story of Cain and Abel, Sons of Adam,” which mention a change that occurred in Cain's skin.

The other theory is that the mark placed on Cain was terror and trembling, and he remained a wanderer on earth. The image of wandering symbolizes spiritual errancy. In other words, Cain (and his descendants) would not cling to spiritual values, but only to earthly and material things, fully aware of the consequences of his actions yet fearful and trembling over his fate.

First Theory: The descendants of Cain are descended from fallen angels.

Some texts, such as the Ethiopian Book of the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth, state that angels are essentially celestial beings endowed with male genitalia, which they cover with their wings, but that they are neither male nor female.

However, the nature of the fallen angels was altered when they lost their garments of holiness. Appearing to these women at the moment they were having intimate relations with their husbands, these fallen angels were exposing their genitals to these women, which troubled them and inflamed their desire for the fallen angels.

There are also apocryphal texts, such as the Book of Enoch, which mention that Noah did not look like other humans of his time, as his appearance resembled that of the offspring of fallen angels. This deeply frightened his father, Lamech, who hurried to consult Methuselah.

It is important to understand that the text implies that Noah was possibly an albino because he was born with white skin. In other words, the fallen angels fathered children who were born with white skin.

Second Theory: The descendants of Cain did not originate from fallen angels.

Some texts claim that angels could not have sexual relations with humans or procreate because they do not possess sexual attributes. But in reality, Cain underwent a metamorphosis during which he was stripped of melanin, and his descendants were born with skin devoid of melanin.

Japheth: The Heroes of Antiquity

It is known that women from the line of Cain married men from the line of Seth. Scriptural sources teach that some women from the line of Cain had intimate relationships with angels and gave birth to the Nephilim. The Bible states that the Nephilim were the heroes of antiquity. It should be noted that “antiquity” refers to the period from the 5th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. in the Mediterranean region. And yet, these heroes, who are said to be descended from the line of Cain, are also said to be descended from Japheth, who is associated with the white race.

• Genesis 6:4 "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown.."

You be the judge, and we encourage you to do your own research.