Genesis 4:22

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain [was] Naamah.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Tzilah gave birth to Tuval-Kayin, who forged all kinds of tools from brass and iron; the sister of Tuval-Kayin was Na‘amah.

Berean Standard Bible:

And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

American Standard Version:

And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Zillah^{H6741}, she also bare^{H3205} Tubalcain^{H8423}, an instructer^{H3913} of every artificer^{H2794} in brass^{H5178} and iron^{H1270}: and the sister^{H269} of Tubalcain^{H8423} was Naamah^{H5279}.

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Commentary for Genesis 4:22

Genesis 4:22 is part of the genealogy of Cain, the son of Adam and Eve who murdered his brother Abel. After Cain was marked and sent away by God, he settled in the land of Nod and began a family. The verse specifically mentions Zillah, one of Cain's descendants, who gave birth to Tubal-cain and his sister Naamah.

**Themes:**
1. **Human Advancement:** Tubal-cain is noted as an instructor of metalworkers, specifically in brass and iron. This indicates the development of metallurgy and tool-making skills, symbolizing human progress and the beginning of the metal ages.
2. **Civilization's Growth:** The mention of Tubal-cain's expertise suggests a growing complexity in human society, with specialized trades and the transmission of technical knowledge.
3. **The Spread of Sin:** The verse is set within the context of Cain's lineage, which is often associated with the spread of sin and violence after the Fall. Despite human ingenuity, there is an underlying theme of moral decay.

**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** This event is set in the early stages of biblical history, shortly after the creation of the first humans and the first murder.
- **Cultural Development:** The reference to metalworking indicates a significant cultural and technological advancement from the agrarian society of Adam and Eve.
- **Lineage of Cain:** Cain's descendants are depicted as contributing to the arts and civilization, but this is contrasted with the line of Seth, Adam and Eve's third son, who are seen as more righteous.

In summary, Genesis 4:22 reflects the biblical narrative's transition from a simple, agricultural existence to a more sophisticated society with advanced metalworking skills. It also underscores the scriptural theme of human capability coupled with moral corruption, as the same family line that advances technology is also tainted by the legacy of Cain's sin.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H6741
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צִלָּה
   Transliteration: Tsillâh
   Pronunciation: tsil-law'
   Description: feminine of צֵל; Tsillah, an antediluvian woman; Zillah.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3205
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַד
   Transliteration: yâlad
   Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
   
3. Strong's Number: H8423
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תּוּבַל קַיִן
   Transliteration: Tûwbal Qayin
   Pronunciation: too-bal' kah'-yin
   Description: apparently from יָבַל (compare יְבוּל) and קַיִן; offspring of Cain; Tubal-Kajin, an antidiluvian patriarch; Tubal-cain.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3913
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָטַשׁ
   Transliteration: lâṭash
   Pronunciation: law-tash'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to hammer out (an edge), i.e. to sharpen; instructer, sharp(-en), whet.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2794
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֹרֵשׁ
   Transliteration: chôrêsh
   Pronunciation: kho-rashe'
   Description: active participle of חָרַשׁ; a fabricator or mechanic; artificer.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5178
   There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נְחֹשֶׁת
   Transliteration: nᵉchôsheth
   Pronunciation: nekh-o'-sheth
   Description: for נְחוּשָׁה; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or silver); brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1270
   There are 70 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּרְזֶל
   Transliteration: barzel
   Pronunciation: bar-zel'
   Description: perhaps from the root of בִּרְזוֹת; iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement; (ax) head, iron.
   
8. Strong's Number: H269
   There are 301 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָחוֹת
   Transliteration: ʼâchôwth
   Pronunciation: aw-khoth'
   Description: irregular feminine of אָח; a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively); (an-) other, sister, together.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5279
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נַעֲמָה
   Transliteration: Naʻămâh
   Pronunciation: nah-am-aw'
   Description: feminine of נַעַם; pleasantness; Naamah, the name of an antediluvian woman, of an Ammonitess, and of a place in Palestine; Naamah.