Genesis 4:19

Genesis 4:19

And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

a. NLT: Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was Zillah.

b. NIV: Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.

c. YLT: And Lamech taketh to himself two wives, the name of the one Adah, and the name of the second Zillah.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah and of the other was Zillah.

e. Septuagint: And Lamech took to himself two wives; the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the second Sella.

f. Stone Edition Chumash Torah: Lamech took to himself two wives: The name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah

1. “And Lamech took unto him two wives…”

a. Lamech [3929 * Lemek] [Strong: from an unused root of uncertain meaning; Lemek, the name of two antediluvian patriarchs:--Lamech.]

b. took unto him [3947 * laqach] [Strong: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.]

c. two [8147 * shnayim] [Strong: dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also (as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, + twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.]

d. wives [802 * 'ishshah] [Strong: feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, nashiym {naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as 582):--(adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none, one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.]

1). Henry Morris, The Genesis Record: Lemech apparently was the man who led the Cainites [the decendants of Cain] into open rebellion against God. He began by defying God’s ordained principle of monogamy, taking two wives, Adah and Zillah.

a). Genesis 2:20-23  And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

2). Lamech was the grandson of Cain, who was the first of mankind living his life away from God. It is safe to assume that all of Cain’s descendants followed his lead.

a). Genesis 4:16-18 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

4:18And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

2. “…the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.”

a. the name [8034 * shem] [Strong: a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; Compare 8064); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:--+ base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.]

b. of the one [259 * ‘echad] [Strong: a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together.

c. Adah [5711 * `Adah] [Strong: from 5710; ornament; Adah, the name of two women:--Adah.]

d. and the name [8034 * shem] [Strong: a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; Compare 8064); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:--+ base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.]

e. of the other [8145 * sheniy] [Strong: from 8138; properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again:--again, either (of them), (an-)other, second (time).]

f. was Zillah [6741 * Tsillah] [Strong: feminine of 6738; Tsillah, an antediluvian woman:--Zillah.]