the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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New American Standard Bible
Genesis 4:19
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And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Lamech took to him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Lamech married two women, Adah and Zillah.
Lamech took two wives for himself; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.
And Lamech took to him two wives: the name of the one [was] Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Lamech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Lamech took for himself two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.
that took twei wyues, the name to o wijf was Ada, and the name to the tother was Sella.
And Lamech taketh to himself two wives, the name of the one Adah, and the name of the second Zillah.
And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
Lamech married Adah, then Zillah.
(S: v) Lemekh took himself two wives; the name of the one was ‘Adah, while the name of the other was Tzilah.
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Lamech had two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Lamech toke vnto hym two wyues, the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the other was Sella.
And Lemech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the second, Zillah.
Lamech married two women. One wife was named Adah, and the other was named Zillah.
And Lamech took unto him two wives; the name of one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Lamech tooke vnto him two wiues: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Lamech took two wives for himself. The name of one was Adah. And the name of the other was Zillah.
Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Lamech took to himself two wives, - the name of the one, was Adah, and, the name of the second Zillah.
And Lamech tooke him two wiues: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Lamech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Lamech had two wives, Adah and Zillah.
Who took two wives: the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the other Sella.
And Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Lamech took to himself two wives; the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the second Sella.
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Lamech took two wives for himself, one named Adah and the other named Zillah.
Lamekh took two wives: the name of the one was `Adah, and the name of the other Tzillah.
And Lamech took to himself two wives. The name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.
And Lamech took two wives to himself: the name of the first was Adah; and the name of the second was Zillah.
And Lamech toke him two wyues: ye one was called Ada, & the other Zilla.
Lamech married two wives, Adah and Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal, the ancestor of all who live in tents and herd cattle. His brother's name was Jubal, the ancestor of all who play the lyre and flute. Zillah gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who worked at the forge making bronze and iron tools. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah.
Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.
Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was Zillah.
Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.
And Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
two wives: Genesis 2:18, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6, Matthew 19:8
Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:18 - wife 1 Samuel 1:2 - two 2 Chronicles 24:3 - two wives
Cross-References
Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering;
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy?
He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Lamech took unto him two wives,.... He was the first we read of that introduced polygamy, contrary to the first institution of marriage, whereby only one man and one woman were to be joined together, and become one flesh, Genesis 2:24. This evil practice, though it began in the race of wicked Cain, was in later ages followed by some among the people of God, which was connived at because of the hardness of their hearts; otherwise it was not so from the beginning. This was the first instance of it known; Jarchi says it was the way of the generation before the flood to have one wife for procreation of children, and the other for carnal pleasure; the latter drank a cup of sterility, that she might be barren, and was adorned as a bride, and lived deliciously; and the other was used roughly, and mourned like a widow; but by this instance it does not appear, for these both bore children to Lamech.
The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah; whose daughters they were cannot be said, no doubt of the race of Cain; the name of the one signifies an "ornament", or beauty, and might seem to answer to the account Jarchi gives of the wife for pleasure, if there were any foundation for it; and the other signifies a "shadow", being continually under the shadow of her husband.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
- XIX. The Line of Cain
17. חניך chenôk, Chanok, “initiation, instruction.”
18. עירד ‛ı̂yrād, ‘Irad, “fleet as the wild ass, citizen.” מחוּיאל mechûya'el, Mechujael, “smitten of ‘El, or life of ‘El.” מתוּשׁאל metûshā'ēl, Methushael, “man of ‘El, or man asked.” למך lāmek, Lemek, “man of prayer, youth.”
19. עדה 'ādâh, ‘Adah, “beauty.” צלה tsı̂lâh, Tsillah, “shade or tinkling.”
20. יבל yābāl, Jabal, “stream, leader of cattle, produce, the walker or wanderer.” אהל 'ohel plural: אהלים 'ohālı̂ym for אהלים 'ăhālı̂ym “tent, awning, covering” of goats’ hair over the poles or timbers which constituted the original booth,” סכה sŭkâh.
21. יוּבל yûbāl, Jubal, “player on an instrument?”
22. תוּבל־קין tûbal-qayı̂n, Tubal-qain, “brass-smith?” The scion or son of the lance. <נעמה na‛ămâh, Na’amah, “pleasant, lovely.”
Mankind is now formally divided into two branches - those who still abide in the presence of God, and those who have fled to a distance from him. Distinguishing names will soon be given to these according to their outward profession and practice Genesis 6:1. The awful distinction according to the inward state of the feelings has been already given in the terms, the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent.
Genesis 4:17
Cain is not unaccompanied in his banishment. A wife, at least, is the partner of his exile. And soon a son is born to him. He was building a city at the time of this birth. The city is a keep or fort, enclosed with a wall for the defense of all who dwell within. The building of the city is the erection of this wall or barricade. Here we find the motive of fear and self-defense still ruling Cain. His hand has been imbrued in a brother’s blood, and he expects every man’s hand will be against him.
He calls his son Henok (Enoch), and his city after the name of his son. The same word is employed as a name in the lines of Seth Genesis 5:18, of Midian Genesis 25:4, and of Reuben Genesis 46:9. It signifies dedication or initiation, and, in the present case, seems to indicate a new beginning of social existence, or a consciousness of initiative or inventive power, which necessity and self-reliance called forth particularly in himself and his family. It appears, from the flocks kept by Habel, the fear of persons meeting and slaying the murderer, the marriage and family of Cain, and the beginning of a city, that a considerble time had elapsed since the fall. The wife of Cain was of necessity his sister, though this was forbidden in after times, for wise and holy reasons, when the necessity no longer existed.
Genesis 4:18
The names in this verse seem to denote, respectively, fleet as a wild ass, stricken by God, man of prayer, and youth. They indicate a mingling of thoughts and motives in men’s minds, in which the word אל 'el “mighty” as a name of God occurs. This name is a common noun, signifying hero or potentate, and also power or might, and is transferred to God as “the Potentate,” or “Almighty One.” It is distinguished from אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym “God,” since they are put in apposition Joshua 22:22; and seems to be properly an epithet applied to God by way of pre-eminence. The denomination, “stricken of the Mighty,” is a recognition of the divine power. “The man of prayer,” or “asking,” may also have reference to an act of worship. Among these higher thoughts we also find a value put upon youth and physical superiority, as the fleetness of the wild ass. This is all we can learn from these imperfectly understood names.
Genesis 4:19
This is the first record and probably the first instance of polygamy. The names of the two wives, Adah, “beauty,” and Zillah, “shade or tinkling,” seem to refer to the charms which attracted Lamek. Superabundance of wealth and power perhaps led Lamek to multiply wives.
Genesis 4:20 is the first notice of the tent and of cattle. The tent was the thin shining and shading canvas of goats’ hair, which was placed over the poles or timbers that constituted the original booth. In process of time it would supplant the branches and foliage of the booth as a covering from the sun or the wind. The cattle are designated by a word denoting property, as being chattels personal, and consisting chiefly of sheep and oxen. The idea of property had now been practically realized. The Cainites were now prosperous and numerous, and therefore released from that suspicious fear which originated the fortified keep of their progenitor. The sons of Jabal rove over the common with their tents and cattle, undismayed by imaginary terrors.
Genesis 4:21
Here is the invention of musical instruments in their two leading varieties, the harp and the pipe. This implies the previous taste for music and song. It seems not unlikely that Zillah, the mother of Jubal, was a daughter of song. The fine arts follow in the train of the useful. All this indicates the easy circumstances in which the Cainites now found themselves.
Genesis 4:22
The three names Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal are formed from root signifying to “flow, run, go forth,” perhaps “blow,” from which comes יובל yôbēl the “blast” or trumpet-note of joy and release. Accordingly, all sorts of going forth, that were suitable to the life of a nomad, seem to have distinguished this family. The addition of Cain to the name of Tubal may have been a memorial of his ancestor, or an indication of his pursuit. Tubal of the spear or lance may have been his familiar designation. The making of tents implies some skill in carpentry, and also in spinning and weaving. The working in brass and iron furnishes implements for war, hunting, or husbandry. The construction of musical instruments shows considerable refinement in carving and moulding wood. Naamah, the lovely, seems to be mentioned on account of her personal charms.
Genesis 4:23-24
In this fragment of ancient song, we have Lamek, under the strong excitement of having slain a man in self-defense, reciting to his wives the deed, and at the same time comforting them and himself with the assurance that if Cain the murderer would be avenegd sevenfold, he the manslayer in self-defense would be avenged seventy and seven-fold. This short ode has all the characteristics of the most perfect Hebrew poetry. Every pair of lines is a specimen of the Hebrew parallelism or rhythm of sentiment and style. They all belong to the synthetic, synonymous, or cognate parallel, the second member reiterating with emphasis the first. Here we observe that Lamek was a poet; one of his wives was probably a songstress, and the other had a taste for ornament. One daughter was the lovely, and three sons were the inventors of most of the arts which sustain and embellish life. This completes the picture of this remarkable family.
It has been noticed that the inventive powers were more largely developed in the line of Cain than in that of Sheth. And it has been suggested that the worldly character of the Cainites accounts for this. The Shethites contemplated the higher things of God, and therefore paid less attention to the practical arts of life. The Cainites, on the other hand, had not God in their thoughts, and therefore gave the more heed to the requisites and comforts of the present life.
But besides this the Cainites, penetrating into the unknown tracts of this vast common, were compelled by circumstances to turn their thoughts to the invention of the arts by which the hardships of their condition might be abated. And as soon as they had conquered the chief difficulties of their new situation, the habits of industry and mental activity which they had acquired were turned to the embellishments of life.
We have no grounds, however, for concluding that the descendants of Cain were as yet entirely and exclusively ungodly on the one hand, or on the other that the descendants of Sheth were altogether destitute of inventive genius or inattentive to its cultivation. With the exception of the assault that seemed to have provoked the homicidal act of Lamek, and the bigamy of Lamek himself, we find not much to condemn in the recorded conduct of the race of Cain; and in the names of some of them we discover the remembrance and recognition of God. Habel had a keeper of cattle before Jabal. The Cainites were also an older race than the Shethites. And when Noah was commissioned to build the ark, we have no reason to doubt that he was qualified in some measure by natural ability and previous training for such a task.
The line of Cain is traced no further than the seventh generation from Adam. We cannot tell whether there were any more in that line before the flood. The design of tracing it thus far, is to point out the origin of the arts of life, and the first instances of bigamy and homicide in self-defense.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Genesis 4:19. Lamech took - two wives — He was the first who dared to reverse the order of God by introducing polygamy; and from him it has been retained, practised, and defended to the present day.
