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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 4:19 And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/4-19.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/01_Gen_04_19.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 4:19 - The Descendants of Cain" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/4-19.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/4-19.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 19</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/4-18.htm" title="Genesis 4:18">◄</a> Genesis 4:19 <a href="/genesis/4-20.htm" title="Genesis 4:20">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one <i>was</i> Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one <i>was</i> Adah, and the name of the second <i>was</i> Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Lamech took two wives for himself: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And Lamech took for himself two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Lamech took two wives for himself, one named Adah and the other named Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Lamech took two wives for himself, one named Adah and the other named Zillah. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Lamech married Adah, then Zillah. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Lamech had two wives, Adah and Zillah. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Later, Lamech married two wives. One was named Adah and the other was named Zillah. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Lamech took two wives for himself; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Lamech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Lamech took to him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Lamech takes to himself two wives, the name of the first Adah, and the name of the second Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Lamech taketh to himself two wives, the name of the one Adah, and the name of the second Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Lamech shall take to him two women: the name of the one Adah, and the name of the second, Zillah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Who took two wives: the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the other was Sella. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Lamech took two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the other was Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Lamech took two wives; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Lamech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Lamek took to himself two wives; the name of one was Ada and the name of the other was Tsala.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Lamech took unto him two wives; the name of one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Lamech took to himself two wives; the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the second Sella.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/4-19.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=935" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/4.htm">The Descendants of Cain</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">18</span>Now 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. <span class="reftext">19</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3929.htm" title="3929: le·meḵ (N-proper-ms) -- From an unused root of uncertain meaning; Lemek, the name of two antediluvian patriarchs.">And Lamech</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: way·yiq·qaḥ- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">married</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/8147.htm" title="8147: šə·tê (Number-fdc) -- Two (a card. number). Dual of sheniy; feminine shttayim; two; also twofold.">two</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: nā·šîm (N-fp) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">women,</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: hā·’a·ḥaṯ (Art:: Number-fs) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">one</a> <a href="/hebrew/8034.htm" title="8034: šêm (N-msc) -- A primitive word; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character.">named</a> <a href="/hebrew/5711.htm" title="5711: ‘ā·ḏāh (N-proper-fs) -- Two non-Isr. women. From adah; ornament; Adah, the name of two women.">Adah</a> <a href="/hebrew/8034.htm" title="8034: wə·šêm (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- A primitive word; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/8145.htm" title="8145: haš·šê·nîṯ (Art:: Number-ofs) -- Second (an ord. number). From shanah; properly, double, i.e. Second; also adverbially, again.">the other</a> <a href="/hebrew/6741.htm" title="6741: ṣil·lāh (N-proper-fs) -- Wife of Lamech. Feminine of tsel; Tsillah, an antediluvian woman.">Zillah.</a> </span><span class="reftext">20</span>Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-4.htm">Matthew 19:4-6</a></span><br />Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? / So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-6.htm">Mark 10:6-9</a></span><br />However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ / ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, / and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/3-2.htm">1 Timothy 3:2</a></span><br />An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/titus/1-6.htm">Titus 1:6</a></span><br />An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-31.htm">Ephesians 5:31</a></span><br />“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-2.htm">1 Corinthians 7:2</a></span><br />But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/17-17.htm">Deuteronomy 17:17</a></span><br />He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Malachi 2:14-16</a></span><br />Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">1 Kings 11:1-4</a></span><br />King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. / He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-16.htm">1 Corinthians 6:16</a></span><br />Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2-3</a></span><br />For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">1 Peter 3:7</a></span><br />Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/5-18.htm">Proverbs 5:18-19</a></span><br />May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: / A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-9.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:9</a></span><br />Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/21-10.htm">Exodus 21:10</a></span><br />If he takes another wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of his first wife.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Lamech took to him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.</p><p class="hdg">two wives.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/2-18.htm">Genesis 2:18,24</a></b></br> And the LORD God said, <i>It is</i> not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/19-4.htm">Matthew 19:4-6,8</a></b></br> And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made <i>them</i> at the beginning made them male and female, … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/36-16.htm">Adah</a> <a href="/genesis/4-18.htm">Lamech</a> <a href="/revelation/19-7.htm">Married</a> <a href="/genesis/2-13.htm">Second</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">Wives</a> <a href="/revelation/17-5.htm">Women</a> <a href="/genesis/4-23.htm">Zillah</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/4-20.htm">Adah</a> <a href="/genesis/4-23.htm">Lamech</a> <a href="/genesis/6-2.htm">Married</a> <a href="/genesis/6-16.htm">Second</a> <a href="/genesis/4-23.htm">Wives</a> <a href="/genesis/6-2.htm">Women</a> <a href="/genesis/4-22.htm">Zillah</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/4-1.htm">The birth, occupation, and offerings of Cain and Abel.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/4-8.htm">Cain murders his brother Abel.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/4-11.htm">The curse of Cain.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/4-17.htm">Has a son called Enoch, and builds a city, which he calls after his name.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/4-18.htm">His descendants, with Lamech and his two wives.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/4-25.htm">The birth of Seth,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/4-26.htm">and Enos.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/genesis/4.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>And Lamech</b><br />Lamech is a descendant of Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve. His name in Hebrew (לֶמֶךְ) can be associated with strength or power, but it also carries a connotation of despair or lament. Lamech's introduction in the genealogy of Cain highlights the continuation of Cain's lineage, which is marked by innovation and cultural development but also by moral decline. Lamech's actions and words later in the chapter suggest a further departure from God's original design for humanity.<p><b>took</b><br />The Hebrew word for "took" (לָקַח) implies an active choice or decision. In the context of marriage, it suggests a deliberate action by Lamech to establish a family structure that deviates from the monogamous union instituted by God in <a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a>. This act of taking two wives is a significant departure from the divine ideal and reflects the increasing moral corruption in the line of Cain.<p><b>two wives</b><br />The phrase "two wives" introduces the concept of polygamy, which is the practice of having more than one wife. This is the first mention of polygamy in the Bible, and it is presented without explicit condemnation or approval. However, the context and subsequent narrative suggest that this deviation from monogamy leads to further complications and moral issues. The introduction of polygamy by Lamech can be seen as a reflection of humanity's growing rebellion against God's original design for marriage.<p><b>one named Adah</b><br />Adah, whose name in Hebrew (עָדָה) means "ornament" or "beauty," is the first wife mentioned. Her name may suggest that she was valued for her physical appearance or her role in enhancing Lamech's status. The mention of her name indicates her significance in the narrative, as she becomes the mother of Jabal and Jubal, who are credited with significant cultural advancements.<p><b>and the other Zillah</b><br />Zillah, the second wife, has a name in Hebrew (צִלָּה) that means "shade" or "protection." This name could imply a role of comfort or support within the family structure. Zillah is the mother of Tubal-Cain, who is noted for his contributions to metallurgy. The mention of both wives by name highlights their importance in the genealogy and the cultural developments attributed to their offspring.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(19-22) <span class= "bld">Lamech took unto him two wives.</span>--Whether polygamy began with Lamech is uncertain, but it is in keeping with the insolent character of the man. The names of his wives bear testimony to the existence, even at this early date, of considerable refinement; for I can scarcely believe that we need go to the Assyrian dialect for the meaning of two words for which Hebrew suffices. They are explained in Assyrian as being <span class= "ital">edhatu, </span>"darkness," and <span class= "ital">tzillatu, </span>"the shades of night." In Hebrew Adah means <span class= "ital">ornament, </span>especially that which is for the decoration of the person; while Zillah means <span class= "ital">shadow, </span>which agrees very closely with the Assyrian explanation. Both have distinguished children. Jabal, Adah's eldest son, took to a nomadic life, whence his name, which means <span class= "ital">wanderer, </span>and was looked up to by the nomad tribes as their founder. The difference between their mode of life and that of Abel was that they perpetually changed their habitation, while he remained in the neighbourhood of Adam's dwelling. The younger, "Jubal," that is, the <span class= "ital">music-player, </span>"was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ." Of these instruments, the <span class= "ital">kinnor, </span>always translated "harp" in our version, was certainly a stringed instrument, a guitar or lyre. The other, in Hebrew <span class= "ital">'ugab, </span>is mentioned only in <a href="/job/21-12.htm" title="They take the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.">Job 21:12</a>; <a href="/job/30-31.htm" title="My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.">Job 30:31</a>; <a href="/psalms/150-4.htm" title="Praise him with the tambourine and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.">Psalm 150:4</a><span class= "ital">. </span>It was a small wind instrument, a reed or pipe.<p>The son of Zillah attained to higher distinction. He is the first "sharpener (or hammerer) of every instrument of copper and iron." Copper is constantly found cropping up in a comparatively pure state upon the surface of the ground, and was the first metal made use of by man. It is comparatively soft, and is easily beaten to an edge; but it was long before men learned the art of mixing with it an alloy of tin, and so producing the far harder substance, bronze. The alloy to which we give the name of brass was absolutely unknown to the ancients. The discovery of iron marks a far greater advance in metallurgy, as the ore has to be smelted, and the implement produced is more precious. The Greeks in the time of Homer seem to have known it only as a rarity imported from the north; and Rawlinson (Anc. Monarchies, i. 167) mentions that in Mesopotamia, while silver was the metal current in traffic, iron was so rare as to be regarded as something very precious. The name of this hero is "Tubal-cain." In <a href="/ezekiel/27-13.htm" title="Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were your merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in your market.">Ezekiel 27:13</a>, Tubal brings copper to the mart of Tyre, and in Persian the word means copper. Cain is a distinct name from that of Adam's firstborn, and means, in most Semitic languages, <span class= "ital">smith; </span>thus Tubal-cain probably signifies <span class= "ital">coppersmith.</span><p><span class= "bld">The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.</span>--The same as Naomi (<a href="/ruth/1-2.htm" title="And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.">Ruth 1:2</a>), and meaning <span class= "ital">beauty, loveliness. </span>As women are not mentioned in the genealogies, and as no history follows of this personage, her name must be given as an indication that a great advance had been made, not only in the arts, but also in the elegancies of life. Women could not have been mere drudges and household slaves, nor men coarse and boorish, when Naamah's beauty was so highly appreciated. The Rabbins have turned her into a demon, and given free play to their imagination in the stories they have invented concerning her. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 19.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Lamech took unto him two wives</span>. Being the first polygamist of whom mention is made, the first by whom "the ethical aspect of marriage, as ordained by God, was turned into the lust of the eye and lust of the flesh" (Keil). Though afterwards permitted because of the hardness of men's hearts, it was not so from the beginning. This was "a new evil, without even the pretext that the first wife had no children, which held its ground until Christianity restored the original law - <a href="/matthew/19-4.htm">Matthew 19:4-6</a>" (Inglis). The names of Lamech's wives were suggestive of sensual attractions. <span class="cmt_word">The name of the one Adah</span>, the Adorned (Gesenius), <span class="cmt_word">and the name of the other Zillah</span>, the shady or the tinkling (Keil), the musical player (Lange), the shadow (Wordsworth). "Did Lamech choose a wife to gratify the eye with loveliness? and was he soon sated with that which is so short-lived as beauty, and then chose another wife in addition to Adah? But a second wife is hardly a wife; she is only the shadow of a wife" (ibid.). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/4-19.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And Lamech</span><br /><span class="heb">לֶ֖מֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(le·meḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3929.htm">Strong's 3929: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lamech -- a descendant of Cain, also a descendant of Seth</span><br /><br /><span class="word">married</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּֽקַּֽח־</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiq·qaḥ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">two</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁתֵּ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(šə·tê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - fdc<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8147.htm">Strong's 8147: </a> </span><span class="str2">Two (a cardinal number)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">women,</span><br /><span class="heb">נָשִׁ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(nā·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽאַחַת֙</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’a·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">named</span><br /><span class="heb">שֵׁ֤ם</span> <span class="translit">(šêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8034.htm">Strong's 8034: </a> </span><span class="str2">A name</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Adah</span><br /><span class="heb">עָדָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5711.htm">Strong's 5711: </a> </span><span class="str2">Adah -- two non-Israelite women</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשֵׁ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·šêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8034.htm">Strong's 8034: </a> </span><span class="str2">A name</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the other</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית</span> <span class="translit">(haš·šê·nîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8145.htm">Strong's 8145: </a> </span><span class="str2">Second (an ordinal number)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Zillah.</span><br /><span class="heb">צִלָּֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(ṣil·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6741.htm">Strong's 6741: </a> </span><span class="str2">Zillah -- wife of Lamech</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/4-19.htm">Genesis 4:19 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/4-19.htm">Genesis 4:19 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/4-19.htm">Genesis 4:19 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/4-19.htm">Genesis 4:19 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/4-19.htm">Genesis 4:19 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/4-19.htm">Genesis 4:19 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/4-19.htm">Genesis 4:19 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/4-19.htm">Genesis 4:19 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/4-19.htm">Genesis 4:19 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/4-19.htm">Genesis 4:19 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/4-19.htm">OT Law: Genesis 4:19 Lamech took two wives: the name (Gen. 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