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Person

Lamech (descendant of Cain)

Mentioned in 4 verses, first in Genesis 4:18. The verses below are the ones linked to this person (the Theographic dataset, with our sourced corrections).

In the Bible

All 4 verses, in Bible order. Text from the Berean Standard Bible; verse numbers follow the KJV.

Genesis

  • Genesis 4:18

    Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methusael, and Methusael was the father of Lamech.

  • Genesis 4:19

    And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.

  • Genesis 4:23

    Then Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. For I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.

  • Genesis 4:24

    If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

Dictionary

From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), as attached to this record by Theographic. The entry is for the name and can describe more than one person who bore it. Easton wrote in 1897, and some of his views are now debated.

Read Easton’s entry

The fifth in descent from Cain. He was the first to violate the primeval ordinance of marriage (Gen. 4:18-24). His address to his two wives, Adah and Zillah (4:23, 24), is the only extant example of antediluvian poetry. It has been called “Lamech’s sword-song.” He was “rude and ruffianly,” fearing neither God nor man. With him the curtain falls on the race of Cain. We know nothing of his descendants.

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