Genesis 4:23

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Lemekh said to his wives,

“‘Adah and Tzilah, listen to me;
wives of Lemekh, hear what I say:
I killed a man for wounding me,
a young man who injured me.

Berean Standard Bible:

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.

American Standard Version:

And Lamech said unto his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: For I have slain a man for wounding me, And a young man for bruising me:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Lamech^{H3929} said^{H559} unto his wives^{H802}, Adah^{H5711} and Zillah^{H6741}, Hear^{H8085} my voice^{H6963}; ye wives^{H802} of Lamech^{H3929}, hearken^{H238} unto my speech^{H565}: for I have slain^{H2026} a man^{H376} to my wounding^{H6482}, and a young man^{H3206} to my hurt^{H2250}.

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Commentary for Genesis 4:23

Genesis 4:23 is part of the narrative concerning the descendants of Cain, the son of Adam and Eve who murdered his brother Abel. Lamech, a descendant of Cain, is speaking to his two wives, Adah and Zillah. This verse reflects several themes and historical contexts:

1. **Violence and Retribution**: Lamech boasts about killing a man, suggesting a society where violence is common and perhaps even valorized. This continues the theme of violence that began with Cain and Abel, illustrating the escalation of sin and its consequences.

2. **The Breakdown of Morality**: The verse implies a breakdown in moral behavior, as Lamech seems to take pride in his act of vengeance. This contrasts with the later biblical laws that emphasize justice and the sanctity of life.

3. **Polygamy**: Lamech's two wives indicate the practice of polygamy, which was socially acceptable in the ancient Near Eastern context but diverges from the monogamous ideal later presented in the Bible.

4. **Patriarchal Society**: Lamech's command to his wives to listen to him reflects the patriarchal structure of society at the time, where men held authority over their wives.

5. **Escalation of Sin**: Lamech's actions suggest an escalation of sin from Cain's time. While Cain killed out of jealousy, Lamech kills not in self-defense but seemingly in a fit of rage or as an act of vengeance, and he does so with a sense of impunity.

6. **Poetic Justice**: Lamech's statement "I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt" could imply a concept of poetic justice or retribution, where his actions have caused him injury or trouble in return.

Historically, this verse is set in the early generations of humanity, shortly after the fall of Adam and Eve. It reflects the challenges and moral decay that can occur in a world without the governance of divine law as later articulated in the Mosaic Law. The story of Lamech serves as a prelude to the account of Noah, where the wickedness of humanity becomes so great that God decides to bring about the flood to start anew with Noah and his family.

*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: H3929
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֶמֶךְ
   Transliteration: Lemek
   Pronunciation: leh'-mek
   Description: from an unused root of uncertain meaning; Lemek, the name of two antediluvian patriarchs; Lamech.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H802
   There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִשָּׁה
   Transliteration: ʼishshâh
   Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
   Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5711
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָדָה
   Transliteration: ʻÂdâh
   Pronunciation: aw-daw'
   Description: from עָדָה; ornament; Adah, the name of two women; Adah.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6963
   There are 436 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קוֹל
   Transliteration: qôwl
   Pronunciation: kole
   Description: or קֹל; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound; [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell.
   
8. Strong's Number: H238
   There are 389 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָזַן
   Transliteration: ʼâzan
   Pronunciation: aw-zan'
   Description: a primitive root; probably to expand; but used only as a denominative from אֹזֶן; to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen; give (perceive by the) ear, hear(-ken). See אָזַן.
   
9. Strong's Number: H565
   There are 904 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִמְרָה
   Transliteration: ʼimrâh
   Pronunciation: im-raw'
   Description: or אֶמְרָה; feminine of אֵמֶר, and meaning the same; {something said}; commandment, speech, word.
   
10. Strong's Number: H2026
    There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הָרַג
    Transliteration: hârag
    Pronunciation: haw-rag'
    Description: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely.
    
11. Strong's Number: H376
    There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אִישׁ
    Transliteration: ʼîysh
    Pronunciation: eesh
    Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
    
12. Strong's Number: H6482
    There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פֶּצַע
    Transliteration: petsaʻ
    Pronunciation: peh'-tsah
    Description: from פָּצַע; a wound; wound(-ing).
    
13. Strong's Number: H3206
    There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יֶלֶד
    Transliteration: yeled
    Pronunciation: yeh'-led
    Description: from יָלַד; something born, i.e. a lad or offspring; boy, child, fruit, son, young man (one).
    
14. Strong's Number: H2250
    There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חַבּוּרָה
    Transliteration: chabbûwrâh
    Pronunciation: khab-boo-raw'
    Description: or חַבֻּרָה; or חֲבֻרָה; from חָבַר; properly, bound (with stripes), i.e. a weal (or black-and-blue mark itself); blueness, bruise, hurt, stripe, wound.