KAIN kān (קָ֑יִן [1 below], הַקַּ֖יִן [2 below], KJV CAIN, lacking in LXX except Judges 4:11 [B] Καινα, meaning metalworker, smith). Singular form of the clan name Kenite. Formally, the name is equivalent to that of Cain, Adam’s son, but there is no other reason to relate the two.

1. Judgment is pronounced on Kain in the oracle of Baalam (Num 24:22). Despite apparent security among rocks and pinnacles, his nest (קֵן, H7860) will be destroyed. The name also appears in Judges 4:11, where it is said that one of the Kenites, Heber, was separated מִקַּ֔יִן, from Kain (KJV, RSV, NEB “Kenites”). Perhaps Kain is to be understood here as the city name of the Kenites (see 2.).

2. A city located near Hebron in conquered territory assigned to Judah (Josh 15:57). It is tentatively identified with Khirbet Yaqin, SE of Hebron. Since the LXX omits the name and reduces the summarized number of cities from ten to nine, some scholars have proposed to read “Zanoah of Cain.”