Boy Old Testament Rare
Lamech
poor; made low
לֶ֫מֶךְ le.mekh
Lamech (Hebrew: לֶ֫מֶךְ, le.mekh) means “poor; made low”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Patriarchal period. In 2007 it was given to 5 children in the United States. Appears with Adah in Genesis 4.
Which Lamech?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Lamech
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Lamech
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 12 across 3 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Both
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
Based on 2007 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2007 | 5 | Steady |
| All-time total | 16 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 6 in 1998 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 4:18 |
| Last appears | Luke 3:37 |
| Cross-references | 62 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Methuselah co-occurrence Appears with Methuselah in Genesis 5.
- Zillah co-occurrence Appears with Zillah in Genesis 4.
- Adah co-occurrence Appears with Adah in Genesis 4.
- Irad co-occurrence Appears with Irad in Genesis 4.
- Mehujael co-occurrence Appears with Mehujael in Genesis 4.
- Methushael co-occurrence Appears with Methushael in Genesis 4.
- Cainan co-occurrence Appears with Cainan in Luke 3.
- Enoch co-occurrence Appears with Enoch in Genesis 4.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.4.18;
son of: Methushael (H4967); married to Adah (H5711) and Zillah (H6741);
father of: Jabal (H2989), Jubal (H3106), Tubal-cain (H8423), Naamah (H5279)
§ Lamech = "powerful"
1) the 5th lineal descendant from Cain, husband of Adah and Zillah, father of sons, Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-cain, and daughter, Naamah
2) father of Noah
Lamech, a descendant of Cain, was the first polygamist mentioned in the Bible.
The biblical story
Lamech was a descendant of Cain, the son of Adam and Eve (Gen.4.18). He was the father of Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-cain (Gen.4.20-22). Lamech is notable for being the first polygamist mentioned in the Bible, having married two women, Adah and Zillah (Gen.4.19). He is also known for his speech to his wives, in which he boasted about killing a man for wounding him and claimed that he would be avenged seventy-sevenfold, in contrast to the sevenfold vengeance promised to Cain (Gen.4.23-24). This speech suggests a progression of violence and a disregard for the sanctity of human life among Cain's descendants.
Key verses
Lamech appears in 4 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
Genesis 4:18 -
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Genesis 4:19 -
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.
Genesis 4:23 -
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
Genesis 4:24
Show all 4 references
Genesis (4)
- Genesis 4:18
- Genesis 4:19
- Genesis 4:23
- Genesis 4:24