Focused Passage

Genesis 4:17-26

Sin Spreads Through Worship, Jealousy, Violence, and the Preservation of a Worshiping Line

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

17And Cain had relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch.

18Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methusael, and Methusael was the father of Lamech.

19And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.

20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.

21And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.

22And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23Then Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. For I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.

24If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

25And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

26And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 17

Original words

And Cainקַ֙יִן֙H7014Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhad relations withוַיֵּ֤דַעH3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhis wifeאִשְׁתּ֔וֹH802Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularand she conceivedוַתַּ֖הַרH2029Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularand gave birth toוַתֵּ֣לֶדH3205Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerEnochחֲנ֑וֹךְH2585Noun - proper - masculine singularThenוַֽיְהִי֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular[Cain] builtבֹּ֣נֶהH1129Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singulara cityעִ֔ירH5892Noun - feminine singularand namedוַיִּקְרָא֙H7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .שֵׁ֣םH8034Noun - masculine singular construct[it]הָעִ֔ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singularafterכְּשֵׁ֖םH8034Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructhis sonבְּנ֥וֹH1121Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularEnochחֲנֽוֹךְ׃H2585Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

Now to Enochלַֽחֲנוֹךְ֙H2585Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerwas bornוַיִּוָּלֵ֤דH3205Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularIradעִירָ֔דH5897Noun - proper - masculine singularand Iradוְעִירָ֕דH5897Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularwas the father ofיָלַ֖דH3205Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerMehujaelמְחֽוּיָאֵ֑לH4232Noun - proper - masculine singularand Mehujaelוּמְחִיּיָאֵ֗לH4232Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularwas the father ofיָלַד֙H3205Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerMethusaelמְת֣וּשָׁאֵ֔לH4967Noun - proper - masculine singularand Methusaelוּמְתוּשָׁאֵ֖לH4967Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularwas the father ofיָלַ֥דH3205Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerLamechלָֽמֶךְ׃H3929Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

And Lamechלֶ֖מֶךְH3929Noun - proper - masculine singularmarriedוַיִּֽקַּֽח־H3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .ל֥וֹPreposition | third person masculine singulartwoשְׁתֵּ֣יH8147Number - feminine dual constructwomenנָשִׁ֑יםH802Noun - feminine pluraloneהָֽאַחַת֙H259Article | Number - feminine singularnamedשֵׁ֤םH8034Noun - masculine singular constructAdahעָדָ֔הH5711Noun - proper - feminine singularandוְשֵׁ֥םH8034Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructthe otherהַשֵּׁנִ֖יתH8145Article | Number - ordinal feminine singularZillahצִלָּֽה׃H6741Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 20

Original words

Adahעָדָ֖הH5711Noun - proper - feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markergave birth toוַתֵּ֥לֶדH3205Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularJabalיָבָ֑לH2989Noun - proper - masculine singularheה֣וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularwasהָיָ֔הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe fatherאֲבִ֕יH1Noun - masculine singular constructof those who dwellיֹשֵׁ֥בH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructin tentsאֹ֖הֶלH168Noun - masculine singularand [raise] livestockוּמִקְנֶֽה׃H4735Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

And his brother’sאָחִ֖יוH251Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularnameוְשֵׁ֥םH8034Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct[was] Jubalיוּבָ֑לH3106Noun - proper - masculine singularheה֣וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularwasהָיָ֔הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe fatherאֲבִ֕יH1Noun - masculine singular constructof allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructwho playתֹּפֵ֥שׂH8610Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructthe harpכִּנּ֖וֹרH3658Noun - masculine singularand fluteוְעוּגָֽב׃H5748Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 22

Original words

And Zillahוְצִלָּ֣הH6741Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular. . .הִ֗ואH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singular. . .גַם־H1571Conjunctiongave birth toיָֽלְדָה֙H3205Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markervvvתּ֣וּבַלH8423Tubal-cainקַ֔יִןH8423Noun - proper - masculine singulara forgerלֹטֵ֕שׁH3913Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructof everyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructimplementחֹרֵ֥שׁH2794Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructof bronzeנְחֹ֖שֶׁתH5178Noun - feminine singularand ironוּבַרְזֶ֑לH1270Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularAnd the sisterוַֽאֲח֥וֹתH269Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular constructvvvתּֽוּבַל־H8423of Tubal-cainקַ֖יִןH8423Noun - proper - masculine singular[was] Naamahנַֽעֲמָֽה׃H5279Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 23

Original words

Then Lamechלֶ֜מֶךְH3929Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto his wivesלְנָשָׁ֗יוH802Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singularAdahעָדָ֤הH5711Noun - proper - feminine singularand Zillahוְצִלָּה֙H6741Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singularhearשְׁמַ֣עַןH8085Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine pluralmy voiceקוֹלִ֔יH6963Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularwivesנְשֵׁ֣יH802Noun - feminine plural constructof Lamechלֶ֔מֶךְH3929Noun - proper - masculine singularlistenהַאְזֵ֖נָּהH238Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine pluralto my speechאִמְרָתִ֑יH565Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularForכִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionIאִ֤ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularhave slain [a man]הָרַ֙גְתִּי֙H2026Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularfor wounding meלְפִצְעִ֔יH6482Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singulara young manוְיֶ֖לֶדH3206Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularfor striking meלְחַבֻּרָתִֽי׃H2250Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 24

Original words

Ifכִּ֥יH3588ConjunctionCainקָ֑יִןH7014Noun - proper - masculine singularis avengedיֻקַּם־H5358Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularsevenfoldשִׁבְעָתַ֖יִםH7659Number - fdthen Lamechוְלֶ֖מֶךְH3929Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularvvvשִׁבְעִ֥יםH7657Number - common pluralseventy-sevenfoldוְשִׁבְעָֽה׃H7651Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew; LXX can be translated as either seventy times seven or seventy-sevenfold; see also Matthew 18:22.
Verse 25

Original words

And Adamאָדָ֥םH121Noun - proper - masculine singularagainעוֹד֙H5750Adverbhad relations withוַיֵּ֨דַעH3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhis wifeאִשְׁתּ֔וֹH802Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerand she gave birth toוַתֵּ֣לֶדH3205Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singulara sonבֵּ֔ןH1121Noun - masculine singularand namedוַתִּקְרָ֥אH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhimשְׁמ֖וֹH8034Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularSethשֵׁ֑תH8352Noun - proper - masculine singularsayingכִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionGodאֱלֹהִים֙H430Noun - masculine pluralhas grantedשָֽׁת־H7896Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularmeלִ֤יPreposition | first person common singularanotherאַחֵ֔רH312Adjective - masculine singularseedזֶ֣רַעH2233Noun - masculine singularin placeתַּ֣חַתH8478Prepositionof Abelהֶ֔בֶלH1893Noun - proper - masculine singularsinceכִּ֥יH3588ConjunctionCainקָֽיִן׃H7014Noun - proper - masculine singularkilled himהֲרָג֖וֹH2026Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Seth probably means granted or appointed.
Verse 26

Original words

And to Sethוּלְשֵׁ֤תH8352Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .הוּא֙H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularalsoגַּם־H1571Conjunctiona sonבֵּ֔ןH1121Noun - masculine singularwas bornיֻלַּד־H3205Verb - QalPass - Perfect - third person masculine singularand he calledוַיִּקְרָ֥אH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhimשְׁמ֖וֹH8034Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularEnoshאֱנ֑וֹשׁH583Noun - proper - masculine singularAt that timeאָ֣זH227Adverb[men] beganהוּחַ֔לH2490Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto call uponלִקְרֹ֖אH7121Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthe nameבְּשֵׁ֥םH8034Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָֽה׃פH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or to proclaim; some translators to invoke or to call themselves by or to profane

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.