The Hebrew Name Game - Part I. Genesis 4:17-24

May the mumbling commence!

The story is set.  Now the name game begins.  Every denomination has the name game.  Who are you related to?  To whom do you belong?  Let’s play the Hebrew Name Game!  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

Cain slept with his wife.  She conceived and had Enoch.  He then built a city and named it after his son, Enoch.

Enoch had Irad,

Irad had Mehujael,

Mehujael had Methushael,

Methushael had Lamech.

Lamech married two wives, Adah and Zillah.  Adah gave birth to Jabal, the ancestor of all who live in tents and herd cattle.  His brother’s name was Jubal, the ancestor of all who play the lyre and flute.  Zillah gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who worked at the forge making bronze and iron tools.  Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

Lamech said to his wives,

Adah and Zillah, listen to me;

you wives of Lamech, hear me out:

I killed a man for wounding me,

a young man who attacked me.

If Cain is avenged seven times,

for Lamech it’s seventy-seven! (Genesis 4:17-24)

Now read it from the NIV translation:

Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.  To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. 

Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.  Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.  His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.  Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah.

Lamech said to his wives,

"Adah and Zillah, listen to me;

wives of Lamech, hear my words.

I have killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for injuring me. 

If Cain is avenged seven times,

then Lamech seventy-seven times." (Genesis 4:17-24)

This passage is fairly cut and dried.  There is much agreement between the NIV and Peterson’s work.  I see no significant differences, so I will make some observations. 

Cain built a city in the Land of Nod… the Land of Wandering.  He wanted a legacy to live long after he had died.  He wanted to leave his restlessness behind.  And Cain named the city after his son Enoch.

It takes seven generations to learn the names of women… and that’s when polygamy first began.  We know the wives of Lamech by name.  We also know the name of one of their daughters.  

It takes seven generations for the mark of Cain, that was supposed to prevent further murder, to be turned on its head.  Lamech brags about his murder totals.  He sees the mark of Cain as an incentive for his protection.

And lastly notice who is missing.  In all these verses, there is no mention of God.  It’s the longest stretch of Genesis so far that has not mentioned God.  Indeed, Cain and his descendants have been banished from the presence of the Lord.

Enough mumbling for now…  

Peace Out