Gen 4:13–15: "too great to bear", and the sign

Says Cain says גָּדוֹל עֲוֺנִי מִנְּשֹׂא. BDB glosses the noun "iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity" and the verb "lift, carry, take," so: "my punishment is too great to bear" (BSB "My punishment is greater than I can bear") or "my iniquity is too great to be borne," forgiven. Swete has Μείζων ἡ αἰτία μου τοῦ ἀφεθῆναί με, "my guilt is too great to be forgiven." Cain fears כָל־מֹצְאִי יַהַרְגֵנִי, "whoever finds me will kill me." The Lord answers לָכֵן, "therefore" (see var.Gen.4.15.therefore-not-so): כָּל־הֹרֵג קַיִן שִׁבְעָתַיִם יֻקָּם, "whoever kills Cain, sevenfold he will be avenged" (BDB "seven-fold, seven times"; "avenge, take vengeance"). Then וַיָּשֶׂם יְהוָה לְקַיִן אוֹת, "and the Lord set for Cain a sign" (BDB "sign, pledge, token"; BSB "a mark"), לְבִלְתִּי הַכּוֹת־אֹתוֹ כָּל־מֹצְאוֹ, "so that no one who found him would strike him." Swete has σημεῖον.

Uncertain Whether Cain speaks of his punishment or of his guilt; both are senses of the noun. No lean is taken here.

Uncertain What the sign was. (1) A mark on Cain himself, so that finders spare him. Objection: the text does not describe it. (2) A sign given to Cain to assure him, as in Exod 3:12, וְזֶה־לְּךָ הָאוֹת ("this will be the sign to you"). Objection: the sign protects him from others. (3) The Lord's protective decree, with no visible mark. Objection: the decree is already spoken before the sign is set. The text does not say what it was, and no lean is taken here.