Genesis 4:23

¶ 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.

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}.

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.

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.

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:

Commentary

Context of Genesis 4:23

Genesis 4:23 presents a pivotal moment in the early history of humanity, specifically within the lineage of Cain. Lamech, a direct descendant of Cain (the seventh generation), stands as the first recorded polygamist in the Bible, having two wives, Adah and Zillah. This verse immediately follows the account of Lamech's sons and daughter, highlighting the development of early civilization through crafts and music, yet it quickly descends into a chilling display of violence. The narrative here showcases the rapid moral decay and spread of sin in the pre-Flood world, demonstrating how human depravity escalated beyond Cain's initial act of murder and God's subsequent protection over him (Genesis 4:15).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Escalating Violence and Vengeance: Lamech's declaration is a boastful confession of murder, implying he has killed a man, possibly in response to being wounded or hurt. Unlike God's measured response to Cain, Lamech's act reveals a spirit of excessive and disproportionate vengeance, setting the stage for his boast of seventy-sevenfold retaliation in the very next verse (Genesis 4:24). This illustrates the unchecked growth of violence.
  • Human Depravity and Moral Decline: This passage vividly portrays the accelerating corruption of humanity before the Flood. Lamech's casual, almost proud, admission of taking a life, coupled with his polygamy, paints a picture of a society increasingly alienated from God's original design and marked by self-interest and brutality.
  • Polygamy: The mention of Adah and Zillah as Lamech's wives is the first biblical record of polygamy. This deviation from God's original institution of marriage (one man, one woman, Genesis 2:24) is presented here not as a positive development, but as part of the broader moral decline in Cain's lineage.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt" is debated among scholars. The Hebrew preposition le- (translated "to" or "for") can imply either consequence or cause. It could mean Lamech killed a man who had wounded him (self-defense or retaliation), or that he killed a man resulting in his own wounding (a struggle), or even that he killed someone to his own spiritual detriment. Given the context of the following verse and Lamech's boastful tone, the most common interpretation is that he killed in retaliation for a perceived injury, and perhaps even for a minor one, escalating the cycle of violence far beyond God's sevenfold vengeance for Cain.

Significance and Practical Application

Genesis 4:23 serves as a stark reminder of the destructive nature of sin when left unchecked. Lamech's boast highlights the human tendency towards self-justice and disproportionate retaliation, which contrasts sharply with God's perfect justice and, ultimately, with the teachings of Christ on turning the other cheek. This passage foreshadows the widespread violence and corruption that would eventually lead to the Flood (Genesis 6:11-12). For believers today, Lamech's story is a powerful cautionary tale against allowing anger and a spirit of vengeance to dictate our actions, emphasizing the importance of seeking reconciliation and leaving ultimate justice to God, as taught in passages like Romans 12:19.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 19:18 (2 votes)

    Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD.

  • Numbers 23:18 (2 votes)

    And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

  • Exodus 20:13 (2 votes)

    Thou shalt not kill.

  • Judges 9:7 (1 votes)

    ¶ And when they told [it] to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.