Genesis 4:24

Genesis 4:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
• New International Version (NIV)If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold."
• New King James Version (NKJV)If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

Context of Genesis 4:24

22Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. Tubal-cain’s sister was Naamah. 23Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, pay attention to my words. For I killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain is to be avenged seven times over, then for Lamech it will be seventy-seven times! 25Adam was intimate with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has given me another offspring in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.

Genesis 4:24 word by word

כִּ֥י שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקַּם־קָ֑יִן וְלֶ֖מֶךְ שִׁבְעִ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifכִּיkîy · forH3588
• Cainקַ֫יִןqayin · CainH7014
• shall be avengedנָקַםnâqam · to avengeH5358
• sevenfoldשִׁבְעָתַיִםshib‛âthayim · sevenfoldH7659
• truly Lamechלֶ֫מֶךְlemek · LamechH3929
• seventyשִׁבְעִיםshib‛îym · seventyH7657
• and sevenfoldשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651

Cross-references for Genesis 4:24

• Genesis 4:15Then the Lord replied to him, “In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And he placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him.
• Matthew 18:22“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.

Commentaries on Genesis 4:24

• 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. 23-24Lamech's disturbing boast shows how sin's impact on humanity has increased. Cain's descendants reached an extreme of violence with Lamech's contempt for human life. In his arrogance, he turned his actions into a poem. avenged … seventy-sevenfold: God warned that anyone who tried to kill Cain would experience total justice (4:15). Lamech claimed that anyone who harmed him would face an even more severe penalty. This shows he felt accountable to no one, not…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-2423-24. Lamech said unto his wives--This speech is in a poetical form, probably the fragment of an old poem, transmitted to the time of Moses. It seems to indicate that Lamech had slain a man in self-defense, and its drift is to assure his wives, by the preservation of Cain, that an unintentional homicide, as he was, could be in no danger.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 4:24

• Avenger of Blood
• Homicide
• Lamech

In the dictionaries

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

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