According to traditional Jewish and Christian interpretations, the answer is yes, Cain would have married his sister.
Many theological interpretations addressing the question of Cain's wife suggest that she was a daughter of Adam and Eve. Since the Bible doesn't explicitly mention other women existing at that time, this is a common conclusion.
Traditional Reasoning
- Limited Population: The early Earth's population consisted only of Adam, Eve, and their descendants.
- Necessity for Procreation: For humanity to continue, Cain would have needed to marry a female descendant of Adam and Eve.
- Sister as Wife: The most direct lineage would make his wife one of his sisters. The Genesis Rabbah, a collection of Jewish homiletic interpretations of Genesis, even suggests that Abel had twin sisters, one of whom Cain may have married.
Ethical Considerations
It's important to note that marrying a sibling is generally considered incestuous and morally wrong in modern society. However, the theological argument often presented is that at the dawn of humanity, such unions were a necessary evil to propagate the human race. As the population grew, such close-kin marriages became unnecessary and were subsequently forbidden.
Alternative Interpretations
While the dominant interpretation is that Cain married his sister, some alternative interpretations exist, though they are less widely accepted:
- Other Humans: Some propose the existence of other human populations not directly descended from Adam and Eve, though this contradicts literal interpretations of Genesis.
- Symbolic Story: Others view the story of Cain and Abel as symbolic rather than literal history, thus avoiding the question of who Cain married.
In conclusion, based on the prevalent theological interpretations of the Bible, particularly regarding the limited early population of Earth, Cain likely married his sister to ensure the continuation of humanity.
