Genesis 4:19

Genesis 4:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
• New International Version (NIV)Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.

Context of Genesis 4:19

17Cain knew his wife [one of Adam’s descendants] and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch; and Cain built a city and named it Enoch, after the name of his son. 18Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael became the father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech. And Lamech took for himself two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he became the father of those [nomadic herdsmen] who live in tents and have cattle and raise livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal; he became the father of all those [musicians] who play the lyre and flute.

Genesis 4:19 word by word

וַיִּֽקַּֽח־ל֥וֹ לֶ֖מֶךְ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֑ים שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙ עָדָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית צִלָּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Lamechלֶ֫מֶךְlemek · LamechH3929
• tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: marryH3947
• unto him twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• wivesאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• the nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• of the oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• Adahעָדָה‛âdâh · AdahH5711
• of the otherשֵׁנִיshênîy · secondH8145
• Zillahצִלָּהtsillâh · ZillahH6741

Cross-references for Genesis 4:19

• Genesis 2:18Now the Lord God said, “It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him—a counterpart who is] suitable and complementary for him.”
• Matthew 19:4He replied, “Have you never read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female,

Commentaries on Genesis 4:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Lamech took - two wives - He was the first who dared to reverse the order of God by introducing polygamy; and from him it has been retained, practiced, and defended to the present day.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17-24Verses 17-24 - XIX. The Line of Cain 17. חניך chenôk Chanok, “initiation, instruction.” 18. עירד ‛ı̂yrād Irad, “fleet as the wild ass, citizen.” מחוּיאל mechûya'el Mechujael, “smitten of El, or life of El.” מתוּשׁאל metûshā'ēl Methushael, “man of El, or man asked.” למך lāmek Lemek, “man of prayer, youth.” 19. עדה 'ādâh Adah, “beauty.” צלה tsı̂lâh Tsillah, “shade or tinkling.” 20. יבל yābāl Jabal, “stream, leader of cattle, produce, the walker or…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-24Verses 19-24 One of Cain's wicked race is the first recorded, as having broken the law of marriage. Hitherto, one man had but one wife at a time; but Lamech took two. Wordly things, are the only things that carnal, wicked people set their hearts upon, and are most clever and industrious about. So it was with this race of Cain. Here was a father of shepherds, and a father of musicians, but not a father of the faithful. Here is one to teach about brass and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19Marrying two women was against God’s ideal pattern for marriage (2:24). It might also show the pride and rebellion of Cain's descendants.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2217-22. builded a city--It has been in cities that the human race has ever made the greatest social progress; and several of Cain's descendants distinguished themselves by their inventive genius in the arts.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 4:19

• Adah
• Genealogy
• Lamech
• Polygamy
• Zillah

In the dictionaries

• Lamech
• Adah
• Adam
• Blood
• Cain
• Call
• Cursed
• Fall
• Fat
• Hurt

Commentaries on Genesis 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings