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17 Then Cain [a]knew his wife, and she conceived and [b]gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son. 18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad [c]was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael [d]was the father of Methushael, and Methushael [e]was the father of Lamech. 19 And Lamech took for himself (A)two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. 20 And Adah [f]gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21 And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 As for Zillah, she also [g]gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 And Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah,
Hear my voice,
You wives of Lamech,
Give ear to my word,
(B)For I [h]have killed a man for [i]striking me;
And a boy for wounding me;
24 If Cain is avenged (C)sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 4:17 Or had relations
  2. Genesis 4:17 Or bore Enoch, cf. 3:16
  3. Genesis 4:18 Lit begot
  4. Genesis 4:18 Lit begot
  5. Genesis 4:18 Lit begot
  6. Genesis 4:20 Or bore Jabal, cf. 3:16
  7. Genesis 4:22 Or bore Tubal-cain, cf. 3:16
  8. Genesis 4:23 Or kill
  9. Genesis 4:23 Or bruising, cf. Ex 21:25

The Descendants of Cain

17 Cain had sexual relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain founded a city, which he named Enoch, after his son. 18 Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad became the father of[a] Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.

19 Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the first of those who raise livestock and live in tents. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal, the first of all who play the harp and flute. 22 Lamech’s other wife, Zillah, gave birth to a son named Tubal-cain. He became an expert in forging tools of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain had a sister named Naamah. 23 One day Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
    listen to me, you wives of Lamech.
I have killed a man who attacked me,
    a young man who wounded me.
24 If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times,
    then the one who kills me will be punished seventy-seven times!”

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Footnotes

  1. 4:18 Or the ancestor of, and so throughout the verse.