the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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New American Standard Bible
Genesis 4:20
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Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
And Adah bore Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and [have] cattle.
Adah gave birth to Jabal, who became the first person to live in tents and raise cattle.
Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the first of those who live in tents and keep livestock.
And Adah bore Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and [of such as have] cattle.
Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle.
Adah gave birth to Jabal; he became the father of those [nomadic herdsmen] who live in tents and have cattle and raise livestock.
And Ada gendride Jabel, that was the fadir of dwellers in tentis and of shepherdis;
And Adah beareth Jabal, he hath been father of those inhabiting tents and purchased possessions;
And Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.
Lamech and Adah had two sons, Jabal and Jubal. Their son Jabal was the first to live in tents and raise sheep and goats. Jubal was the first to play harps and flutes.
‘Adah gave birth to Yaval; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have cattle.
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.
And Adah gave birth to Jabal: he was the father of such as are living in tents and keep cattle.
And Ada bare Iabel, which was the father of such as dwel in the tentes, and of such as haue cattell.
And Adah bore Jabal: he was the father of those who dwell in tents, and [breed] cattle.
Adah gave birth to Jabal. Jabal was the father of people who live in tents and earn their living by keeping cattle.
And Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.
And Adah bare Iabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as haue cattell.
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and have cattle.
Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have livestock.
And Adah bare Jabal, - he, was father of such as dwell in tents, and have cattle;
And Adah bare Iabal, who was the father of such as dwell in the tents, and of such as haue cattell.
And Adah bore Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents, and are owners of cattle.
Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the ancestor of those who raise livestock and live in tents.
And Ada brought forth Jabel: who was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of herdsmen.
Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle.
And Ada bore Jobel; he was the father of those that dwell in tents, feeding cattle.
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.
Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of the nomadic herdsmen.
`Adah gave birth to Yaval, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle.
And Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and those who have livestock.
And Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those living in tents, and with cattle.
And Ada bare Iabel, of whom came they that dwelt in tentes and had catell.
And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the first of those who raise livestock and live in tents.
Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
And Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
the: Genesis 4:21, 1 Chronicles 2:50-52, 1 Chronicles 4:4, 1 Chronicles 4:5, John 8:44, Romans 4:11, Romans 4:12
father: The inventor or teacher, 1 Samuel 10:12.
dwell: Genesis 4:2, Genesis 25:27, Jeremiah 35:9, Jeremiah 35:10, Hebrews 11:9
Reciprocal: Genesis 13:5 - tents
Cross-References
And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground.
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;
but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy.
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
Then He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to Me from the ground.
"Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
"When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth."
His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and flute.
When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a civilized man, living in tents.
"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Adah bare Jabal,.... According to Hillerus m, this name, and Jubal and Tubal, after mentioned, all signify a river; why Lamech should call all his sons by names signifying the same thing, is not easy to say.
He was the father of such as dwelt in tents, and [of such as have] cattle: not in a proper sense the father of them, though his posterity might succeed him in the same business; but he was the first author and inventor of tents or movable habitations, which could be carried from place to place, for the convenience of pasturage for cattle: he was not the first that had cattle in his possession, or that first fed and kept them, for Abel, the son of Adam, was a keeper of sheep; but he was the first that found out the use of tents, and the pitching of them to abide in at proper places, so long as the pasturage lasted, and then to remove elsewhere; as we find in later times the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did, and as the Scenitae and Nomades among the Arabs, and who retain the same method of keeping cattle to this day; and so the words may be rendered according to Bochart n and Noldius o,
"he was the father of such that dwell in tents "with" cattle.''
Heidegger p thinks this Jabal to be the same with Pales, the god of shepherds q, to whom the Palilia were sacred with the Heathens; and that from Jabal may be formed "Bal", leaving out the "jod", as is sometimes done, and by adding the termination, it will be "Bales", and by changing the letters of the same organ, "Pales".
m Onomastic. Sacr. p. 35, 45, 349. n Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. 44. col. 466. o Ebr. Part. Concord. p. 273. No. 1196. p Hist. Patriarch. Exercit. 6. sect. 11. q Vid. Servium & Probum in Virgil. Georgic. l. 3. ver. 1.
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 4:20. Jabal - was the father — The inventor or teacher, for so the word is understood, 1 Samuel 10:12. He was the first who invented tent-making, and the breeding and managing of cattle; or he was, in these respects, the most eminent in that time. Though Abel was a shepherd, it is not likely he was such on an extensive scale.
