Journal: Bulletin for Biblical Research
Volume: BBR 01:1 (NA 1991)
Article: Lamech In The Genealogies Of Genesis
Author: Richard S. Hess

BBR 1:1 (1991) p. 21

Lamech In The Genealogies Of Genesis

Richard S. Hess

Glasgow Bible College

This note will argue for the transitional role of Lamech in the literary form of the genealogies of Cain (Gen 4:17-24) and of Seth (Genesis 5). It will observe the position of Lamech in each genealogy, the glosses associated with the name in the text, and the origins and interpretation of the name.

1. In the genealogy of Cain, Lamech appears sixth in the sequence. Lamech occurs at the midpoint of an enumeration of twelve different names. Although the names preceding Lamech occur in formulaic style in a linear genealogy, those which follow Lamech appear in a segmented genealogy concerning whose kinship Lamech serves as the central figure. Lamech is husband of Adah and Zillah, and father of Jabal, Jubal, Tubalcain, and Naamah. Lamech serves as the single genealogical link between the earlier genealogy of v 17 and that of Lamech’s generation in vv 18-24. He alone is mentioned in both. The literary structure of Lamech’s song, especially the parallelism of subjects in each of the couplets,1 further demonstrates the position of Lamech as one who brings Cain’s line to an end and who sees the beginning of new lines in his own offspring.

First, there is the parallelism which serves as a basic element to the form of the poem. The names of Adah and Zillah parallel the reference to them as wives of Lamech in the first couplet. The man corresponds to the “boy” (ילד) in the second couplet. Both designations indicate the same individual.2 In the third couplet, Cain corresponds

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to Lamech. Even if there is a disintegrating parallelism, as Gevirtz suggests, it seems clear that the poem serves to tie together Cain and Lamech, not only by the deed of vengeful murder which each commits, but also by the parallel structure of the lines themselves. From the perspective of the poetic parallelism, Lamech is a new Cain. He brings Cain’s line to an end and begins his own.

Second, Lamech alone mentions the founder of the line, Cain, and begets a child whose name includes the name of Cain. The references to Cain in the names of the offspring and in the poem form a literary inclusio, mentioning at the end of the genealogical account the same name which began it. Further, Lamech’s character culminates the murderous trait characteristic of this line, originally exhibited by Cain in the narrative which precedes the genealogy. Again, the line of Cain has come to an end with La...