Genesis 4:17-26
Human culture advances alongside increasing sin, yet God preserves a line through which true worship begins to be expressed.
17 Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
18 Irad was born to Enoch. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.
19 Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah.
20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
21 His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.
22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me.
24 If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”
25 Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”
26 A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on Yahweh’s name.
Human culture advances alongside increasing sin, yet God preserves a line through which true worship begins to be expressed.
To trace the development of Cain’s line in culture and violence while contrasting it with the birth of Seth’s line and the emergence of calling on the name of the LORD.
Sin Spreads Through Worship, Jealousy, Violence, and the Preservation of a Worshiping Line
As sin spreads through the first family into worship, anger, murder, and escalating violence, God judges evil yet preserves a line through which His name will still be called upon.