Genesis 4:23
21 And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.
22 And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
Then 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.
24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
25 And 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.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then 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.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- 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.
- ASV
- 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 for wounding me, And a young man for bruising me:
- DARBY
- And Lemech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, Ye wives of Lemech, listen to my speech. For I have slain a man for my wound, and a youth for my bruise.
- BLB
- And Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, give ear to my speech: For a man I have killed for my wound, and a young man for my bruise.
- ÅB
- Og Lamek sa til sine hustruer: Ada og Silla, hør mine ord, Lameks hustruer, merk min tale! En mann dreper jeg for hvert sår jeg får, og en gutt for hver skramme jeg får;
- OTB
- Lamek sa til sine koner: "Ada og Silla, hør på meg; Lameks koner, lytt til mine ord. Jeg har drept en mann for å ha såret meg, en ung mann for å ha slått meg.
- B1930
- Og Lamek sa til sine hustruer: Ada og Silla, hør mine ord, Lameks hustruer, merk min tale! En mann dreper jeg for hvert sår jeg får, og en gutt for hver skramme jeg får;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Numbers 23:18
Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor.
Read in contextLeviticus 19:18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Read in contextExodus 20:13
You shall not murder.
Read in contextJudges 9:7
When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.
Read in context