Lamech — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

1. Methushael’s son, a descendant of Cain, and the husband of Adah and Zillah. Lamech’s sons by Adah were Jabal, “the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock,” and Jubal, “the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.” A son, Tubal-cain, “the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron,” and a daughter, Naamah, were Lamech’s children by Zillah (Gn 4:18-22). In the account of beginnings given in the early chapters of Genesis, the sons of Lamech are the first herdsmen, musicians, and metalworkers. His song of vengeance (vv 23-24) is an example of early Hebrew poetry. In the song Lamech declares that he has killed a man for wounding him and compares the act to his forebear Cain’s slaying of Abel (cf. vv 8-12). He asserts that “if anyone who kills Cain is to be punished seven times, anyone who takes revenge against me will be punished seventy-seven times!” Lamech’s song indicates that, as civilization became more complex, pride and the propensity for violence increased. Jesus’ word about forgiving “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) stands in sharp contrast to Lamech’s example.

Show passage in OET: GEN 4:18–22

OET-RV GEN 4:18

18 Eventually Hanok fathered Irad, and Irad fathered Mehuyael, and Mehuyael father Metushael, and Metushael fathered Lemek (Lamech).

OET-RV GEN 4:19

19 Lemek had two wives: the first was named Adah and the second was Tsilah (Zillah).

OET-RV GEN 4:20

20 Adah gave birth to Yaval who became the ancestor of people who live in tents and rear cattle.

OET-RV GEN 4:21

21 His brother’s name was Yuval and he became the ancestor of people who play stringed and wind instruments.

OET-RV GEN 4:22

22 Tsilah gave birth to Tuval -Kayin who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. His sister was named Na’amah.

OET-LV GEN 4:18

18 And_he/it _was _born to/for_Ḩₐnōk DOM Irad and_Irad he _fathered DOM Mehujael and_Mehujael he _fathered DOM Methushael and_Methushael he _fathered DOM Lemek.

OET-LV GEN 4:19

19 And_he/it _took to_him/it Lemek two _of wives the _name _of the_one(f) was_ˊĀdāh and_name _of the_second(fs) was_Tsillāh/(Zillah).

OET-LV GEN 4:20

20 And_ ˊĀdāh _she/it _gave _birth DOM Jabal he he _was the_father _of dweller[s]_of tent and_livestock/cattle.

OET-LV GEN 4:21

21 And_name _of his/its_brother was_Jubal he he _was the_father _of every _of player _of harp and_reed _instrument/flute.

OET-LV GEN 4:22

22 And_Tsillāh also she she _bore DOM Tūⱱal- Qayin/(Cain) a _sharpener _of every _of worker _of bronze and_iron and_sister _of Tūⱱal- Qayin/(Cain) Naˊₐmāh.

Show passage in OET: GEN 4:23–24

OET-RV GEN 4:23

23 Then Lemek said to his wives:
⇔ “Adah and Tsilah, listen to me.
⇔ My wives, take notice of my words;
⇔ I killed a man who had wounded me;
⇔ I killed a young man who hurt me.

OET-RV GEN 4:24

24 If killers of Kayin (Cain) would be sentenced seven times as much,
⇔ then anyone who kills me should be sentenced seventy-seven times as much.”

OET-LV GEN 4:23

23 And_ Lemek _he/it _said to_his_wives Oh _ˊĀdāh and_Tsillāh listen _to my_sound/voice Oh _wives _of Lemek give _ear _to my_speech/discourse if/because a _man I _have _killed to/for_my_wound/bruise and_child/boy/young _man to/for_my_stripe/bruise/wound.

OET-LV GEN 4:24

24 If/because sevenfold Qayin/(Cain) he _will _be _avenged and_Lemek seventy and_seven.

Show passage in OET: GEN 4:8–12

OET-RV GEN 4:8

8 One day, Kayin spoke to his brother Hevel when they were out in the countryside, and then Kayin attacked him and killed him.

OET-RV GEN 4:9

9 Later Yahweh asked Kayin, “Where’s your brother Hevel?”
¶ “I don’t know,” he replied, “It’s not my job to look after my brother.”

OET-RV GEN 4:10

10 “What have you done?” Yahweh asked. “Your brother’s blood is calling out to me from the ground.

OET-RV GEN 4:11

11 So now you’re cursed and banished from the soil that your brother’s blood soaked into as a result of your actions.

OET-RV GEN 4:12

12 Whenever you till and plant the ground, it will no longer produce good yields for you. You’ll be a fugitive and wandering refugee on the earth.”

OET-LV GEN 4:8

8 And_ Qayin/(Cain) _he/it _said to Heⱱel his/its_brother and_he/it _was on_their_being in _the_field and_ Qayin/(Cain) _he/it _rose _up against Heⱱel his/its_brother and_he/it _killed_him/it.

OET-LV GEN 4:9

9 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to Qayin/(Cain) where is_Heⱱel your(ms)_brother/kindred and_he/it _said not I _know the_guard/protector/keeper my_brother/kindred am_I.

OET-LV GEN 4:10

10 And_he/it _said what have _you _done the _voice _of the _blood(s)_of your(ms)_brother/kindred are_crying _out to_me from the_soil.

OET-LV GEN 4:11

11 And_now you are_cursed from the_soil which it _has _opened DOM her/its_mouth to_take/accept/receive DOM the _blood(s)_of your(ms)_brother/kindred from_your(ms)_hand.

OET-LV GEN 4:12

12 If/because you _will _till DOM the_soil not it _will _repeat to _give her/its_vigor/produce to/for_you(fs) a _wanderer and_nodding/deploring/taunting you _will _be in/on _the_earth.

Show passage in OET: MAT 18:22

OET-RV MAT 18:22

22 “I won’t say seven times,” Yeshua answered, “but seventy times seven times!

OET-LV MAT 18:22

22 The Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) is _saying to _him:
I _am_ not _saying to _you up _to seven _times, but up _to seventy _times seven.

Jump to OET GEN 4:18–22 section.

Jump to OET GEN 4:23–24 section.

Jump to OET GEN 4:8–12 section.

Jump to OET MAT 18:22 section.

2. Methuselah’s son, and the father of Noah (Gn 5:25-31; 1 Chr 1:3). When Noah was born, Lamech expressed his hope that the child would bring relief to humanity from the curse placed upon Adam (Gn 5:29; cf. 3:17). His life span—777 years—is one of the longest in the listing of those who lived before the Flood. Fanciful conversations in old age between Lamech and his father, Methuselah, are recorded in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Lamech is listed as an ancestor of Jesus in the genealogy recorded in Luke 3:36.