Mark of Cain
Meaning
A distinguishing characteristic that identifies someone as an outcast, cursed, or bearing a burden of guilt.
Origin
In the biblical Book of Genesis, Cain, the eldest son of Adam and Eve, committed the first murder by slaying his brother Abel out of jealousy. When confronted by God, Cain was cursed to be a restless wanderer on the earth. Yet, to prevent anyone from killing Cain in revenge, God placed a mysterious "mark" upon him. This divine identifier, while ostensibly protective, forever branded Cain as the first fratricide and an outcast, making the phrase synonymous with a visible sign of a curse, disgrace, or deep-seated guilt.
Examples
- After the scandal, the former CEO carried the mark of Cain, struggling to find a new position in the industry.
- The abandoned factory, rusting and dilapidated, seemed to bear the mark of Cain in the heart of the revitalized district.