"Am I My Brother'S Keeper?"

[zielkee]

That Cain, a murderer, asked "Am I my brother's keeper?" does not mean the opposite, "I am my brother's keeper," is good. I submit that Cain meant it in the same sense as Able was a "keeper" of sheep, or very much like a zookeeper. (Genesis 4:2) Interestingly, the zookeeper sense is how it plays out when governments use the word today.

[Deborah]

Interesting because years ago I heard a religion professor express this same idea and I cringe every time I hear "I am my brother's keeper" even though I understand the sense in which it is used (and yes even our prophets have expressed it this way).

Note that the Lord did not say to Cain, yes you are your brother's keeper. We, who read of the Lord's anger for the murder, interpret that as a positive answer that yes we are our brother's keeper. It would be more correct to say "I am my brother's brother." This of course is the meaning it is given when people say it but it does make one think about the proper use of terms.

[thesometimesaint]

We were never meant to be totally independent people(No man is an island). There is an interdependency that binds us all to each other.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

That Cain, a murderer, asked "Am I my brother's keeper?" does not mean the opposite, "I am my brother's keeper," is good. I submit that Cain meant it in the same sense as Able was a "keeper" of sheep, or very much like a zookeeper. (Genesis 4:2) Interestingly, the zookeeper sense is how it plays out when governments use the word today.

It was comment by someone who knew God to mock God...words given him by whom he really served.

[Mansquatch]

That Cain, a murderer, asked "Am I my brother's keeper?" does not mean the opposite, "I am my brother's keeper," is good. I submit that Cain meant it in the same sense as Able was a "keeper" of sheep, or very much like a zookeeper. (Genesis 4:2) Interestingly, the zookeeper sense is how it plays out when governments use the word today.

I was just thinking about this the other day. IIRC when I looked through at scriptural usage when used to describe people other than the Savior the word means either keeping sheep or animals and the Savior is frequently referred to as the keeper. Good questions for the Greek and/or Hebrew word folks are, what word was used for "keeper", does it imply herding animals, was the same word used to describe Abel as a keeper of sheep as was used by Cain about his brother in earlier versions of the text?

Not being your "brother's keeper" in the sense that zielkee is saying does not necessarily mean that everyone would be an island. It would mean I am not my brother's boss, master or herder.

Personally I also cringe anytime someone says I should be my "brother's keeper", yes even when it is in hymns. Do the scriptures tell us to be our brother's keepers? I much prefer to love my neighbor as myself, since I love myself a lot that sets the bar pretty high.

EDIT changed confusing phrasing

Edited July 16, 2012 by Mansquatch

[CV75]

It would mean I am not my brother's boss, master or herder.

This puts a diferent angle on the exchange, where Cain is implying that God, his brother's keeper, was remiss in losing track of him and failed protect him.

[BCSpace]

That Cain, a murderer, asked "Am I my brother's keeper?" does not mean the opposite, "I am my brother's keeper," is good. I submit that Cain meant it in the same sense as Able was a "keeper" of sheep, or very much like a zookeeper. (Genesis 4:2) Interestingly, the zookeeper sense is how it plays out when governments use the word today.

When I read it, Cain is certainly not refering to the notion that we should care for each other. He is asking if he inherits Abel's possesions or he is rhetorically stating he is not responsible for looking after Abel so why should he know where he is?

(4-5) Genesis 4:9 . “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”

Sometimes this scripture is cited as evidence that each individual has a responsibility to love and care for his fellow men. Without question that responsibility is taught in the scriptures, but is that what Cain’s question really implies? The Hebrew word which is translated as “keeper” is shomer and means “a guard or custodian.” Thus, with typical Satanic deceitfulness, Cain’s question twisted a true principle. No man has the right to be a keeper of his brethren in the sense of becoming their guard or custodian (except as assigned by civil law to guard criminals or in the case of parents and young children). And yet, for Cain to imply that he should have no concern for his fellowman, especially his literal brother, is to deny all gospel principles of love and concern for others.

http://institute.lds.org/manuals/old-testament-institute-student-manual-1/ot-in1-03-gen-b-4.asp

[changed]

We were never meant to be totally independent people(No man is an island). There is an interdependency that binds us all to each other.

just so it is interdependency, and not dependency that binds us together.

There was an interesting article on LDS.org about the charity issues going on in Africa right now:

http://www.lds.org/study/prophets-speak-today/unto-all-the-world/emerging-with-faith-in-africa?lang=eng

"What the Church offers is not a big, orchestrated plan. We do have the Perpetual Education Fund around the world, and we’ve got seminary and institute, but mostly it’s the light of the gospel that comes, and that begins to be the answer to challenges, far more than any institutional attack of the problem."

Teach a man to fish, vs. give them a fish... and if you are going to teach someone, the best thing to teach them is hope and faith.

[thesometimesaint]

changed:

It is both. It does no good if while teaching that man to fish he starves to death.