Genesis 4 · Verse 19

Genesis 4:19

And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Genesis 4:19, King James Version

Genesis 4:19 in other translations

BSBAnd Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
WEBLamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah.
ASVAnd Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
YLTAnd Lamech taketh to himself two wives, the name of the one Adah, and the name of the second Zillah.
DARBYAnd Lemech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the second, Zillah.
BBEAnd Lamech had two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
WebsterAnd Lamech took to him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

What does Genesis 4:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 4:17-22

17-22. builded a city--It has been in cities that the human race has ever made the greatest social progress; and several of Cain's descendants distinguished themselves by their inventive genius in the arts.

Read the full comment on Genesis 4:17-22 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 Lamech took - two wives - He was the first who dared to reverse the order of God by introducing polygamy; and from him it has been retained, practiced, and defended to the present day.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 4:19-24
One of Cain's wicked race is the first recorded, as having broken the law of marriage. Hitherto, one man had but one wife at a time; but Lamech took two. Wordly things, are the only things that carnal, wicked people set their hearts upon, and are most clever and industrious about. So it was with this race of Cain. Here was a father of shepherds, and a father of musicians, but not a father of the faithful. Here is one to teach about brass and iron, but none to teach the good knowledge of the Lord: here are devices how to be rich, and how to be mighty, and how to be merry; but nothing of God, of his fear and service. Present things fill the heads of most. Lamech had enemies, whom he had provoked. He draws a comparison betwixt himself and his ancestor Cain; and flatters himself that he is much less criminal. He seems to abuse the patience of God in sparing Cain, into an encouragement to expect that he may sin unpunished.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 4:19 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּֽקַּֽח\־vai.yi.kach-and he tookH3947
ל֥וֹlofor <the> himself
לֶ֖מֶךְLe.mekhLamechH3929
שְׁתֵּ֣יshe.TeitwoH8147
נָשִׁ֑יםna.ShimwivesH802
שֵׁ֤םshem[the] name ofH8034
הָֽאַחַת֙ha.'a.Chatthe oneH259
עָדָ֔ה'a.Dah[was] AdahH5711
וְשֵׁ֥םve.Shemand [the] name ofH8034
הַשֵּׁנִ֖יתha.she.Nitthe secondH8145
צִלָּֽה\׃tzi.Lah[was] ZillahH6741

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 4:19

  • Genesis 2:24

    Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

  • Genesis 2:18

    And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

  • Matthew 19:4-6

    And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

  • Matthew 19:8

    He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
two wives.
2:18,24; Mt 19:4-6,8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 4:18

    And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

  • Genesis 4:19

    And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

  • Genesis 4:20

    And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.

Read all of Genesis 4

Genesis 4:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y tomó para sí Lamech dos mujeres; el nombre de la una fué Ada, y el nombre de la otra Zilla.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Lémec prit deux femmes: le nom de l’une était Ada, et le nom de la seconde, Tsilla.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Lamech nahm sich zwei Weiber; der Name der einen war Ada, und der Name der anderen Zilla.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui accepit duas uxores, nomen uni Ada, et nomen alteri Sella.