Genesis 4:23

One day, Lamek said to his 2 wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me properly. A young man hit me and hurt me, so I killed him dead.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

22Lamek’s other wife, Zillah, had a son called Tubal Cain. Tubal Cain grew up and made tools from iron and from a brown metal called bronze. Zillah also had a daughter, called Namah.

24God said that if anyone killed Cain, he will punish that person properly. He will do 7 times as much payback to them. I reckon I’m more important than Cain. So if somebody kills me for killing that young man, I reckon God will do 77 times as much payback to that person.”

Read all of Genesis 4

Matthew Henry on Genesis 4:20-23

The Family of Lamech. ( b. c. 3875.) 19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. 21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. 22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. We have here some particulars concerning Lamech,… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 4:23