English Standard Version
Genesis 4:24
24If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold."
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.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times, then the one who kills me will be punished seventy-seven times!”
Context of Genesis 4:24
22Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. 23Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold." 25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him." 26To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Read all of Genesis 4Genesis 4:24 word by word
כִּ֥י שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקַּם־קָ֑יִן וְלֶ֖מֶךְ שִׁבְעִ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 4:24
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
In the dictionaries
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
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