Atomic Bible

Descendant of Cain; first polygamist mentioned in the Bible

Lamech

Named in 4 verses of Genesis, first in Genesis 4:18.

לֶ֫מֶךְLamech

The name means “poor; made low.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

Father
Methushael
Married to
Adah, Zillah
Children
Jabal, Jubal, Tubal-cain, Naamah
People
Early Patriarch

About Lamech Written by AI

Lamech was a descendant of Cain, the son of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:18). He was the father of Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-cain (Genesis 4:20 to 22). Lamech is notable for being the first polygamist mentioned in the Bible, having married two women, Adah and Zillah (Genesis 4:19). He is also known for his speech to his wives, in which he boasted about killing a man for wounding him and claimed that he would be avenged seventy-sevenfold, in contrast to the sevenfold vengeance promised to Cain (Genesis 4:23 to 24). This speech suggests a progression of violence and a disregard for the sanctity of human life among Cain's descendants.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Lamech, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

The strikerdown; the wild man. (1.) 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.

(2.) The seventh in descent from Seth, being the only son of Methuselah. Noah was the oldest of his several sons (Gen. 5:25-31; Luke 3:36).

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 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.

  2. Genesis 4:19

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

  3. 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.

  4. Genesis 4:24

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

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.