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{{short description|Biblical figure, descendant of Cainan, Descendent of Seth, brother of Cain and Abel}} {{short description|Biblical figure, descendant of Cainan, Descendant of Seth, brother of Cain and Abel}}
{{For|the person in Genesis 5|Lamech (father of Noah)}} {{For|the person in Genesis 5|Lamech (father of Noah)}}
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'''Lamech''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|eɪ|m|ɪ|k}};<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lamech|title=the definition of Lamech|website=Dictionary.com}}</ref> {{lang-he|לֶמֶךְ}} ''Lémeḵ'', in ] {{Script/Hebrew|לָמֶךְ}} ''Lā́meḵ'') is a person in ]'s genealogy in the fourth chapter of the ]. His father was named ]. This Lamech is distinguished from the other ] mentioned subsequently in Genesis, who was a descendant of ]'s third son ].<ref>{{bibleref2|Genesis|4:19–24|KJV}}</ref> '''Lamech''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|eɪ|m|ɪ|k}};<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lamech|title=the definition of Lamech|website=Dictionary.com}}</ref> {{langx|he|לֶמֶךְ}} ''Lémeḵ'', in ] {{Script/Hebrew|לָמֶךְ}} ''Lā́meḵ'') is a figure appearing in the Old Testament's ], where he is the seventh generation from ] and father of ], the first breeder of livestock, ], the first metalworker, ], the first musician, and ]. This Lamech appears in the ] genealogy (the line of Cain); the ] has another ] who is the father of ].{{sfn|Rogers|2000|p=784}}


This Lamech is distinguished as an insolent man in the Abrahamic texts.
The text resembles mythology concerning the origin of the various forms of civilization, the shepherds and musicians being products of the day, and pleasure being a product of the night. Blacksmiths, in carrying out their trade, are also associated with the darkness. Lamech could be interpreted as a ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Stuart |first=Kelly |author-link= |date=2018 |title=The Minister and the Murderer: A Book of Aftermaths |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XbpDDwAAQBAJ&dq=lamech+culture+hero&pg=PT62 |location= |publisher=Granta Books |page= |isbn=978-1847089243}}</ref>{{failed verification}}{{or}}


== Character ==
The names are instead interpreted in the ] as an attack on ]. ''Adah'' is there interpreted as ''the deposed one'', implying that Lamech spurned her in favour of Zillah, whose own name is understood to mean ''she shaded herself ''. The Midrash consequently regards Adah as having been treated as a slave, tyrannised by her husband, who was at the beck and call of his mistress, Zillah. It goes on to claim that part of the immorality, which had led God to flood the Earth, was the polygamy practised by Lamech and his generation.<ref name="">{{Cite web|title=Bereishit Rabbah 23:2|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Bereishit_Rabbah.23.2|access-date=2021-03-29|website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref>{{failed verification}}{{or}}


Lamech is generally characterized in a poor light in the verses that mention him, highlighting him as polygamous and viciously murderous.
The pedigree assigned to Lamech in the ] bears similarities to that given for ], and it has been suggested that they represent different versions of the same original pedigree.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bandstra|first=Barry L.|title=Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible|url=https://archive.org/details/readingoldtestam00band_309|url-access=limited|publisher=Wadsworth|year=2009|pages=-60|isbn=9780495391050}}</ref>{{failed verification}}{{or}}

===Polygamy===

Lamech is the earliest instance of polygamy in the Abrahamic narrative. Biblical verse Genesis 4:19 states

<blockquote>''Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.''</blockquote>

Lamech is recorded taking on two wives simultaneously.

===Murder===

Furthermore, biblical verse Genesis 4:23-24 states

<blockquote>
Lamech said to his wives:<br><br>
''Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words.''<br>
''I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.''<br>
''If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.''
</blockquote>

Here Lamech admits to killing a young man in retaliation for striking him. Lamech further boasts of his wrath of vengeance as eleven times worse than Cain's wrath of vengeance.

== Comparative religion ==

The Adam progeny list is ] to the ancient Mesopotamian tradition of seven pre-flood heroes who originate arts and culture.{{sfn|Rogers|2000|p=784}}


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]


==References== ==Citations==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin|30em}}

* {{cite book
| last1 = Rogers
| first1 = Jeffrey S.
| chapter = Lamech
| editor1-last = Freedman
| editor1-first = David Noel
| editor2-last = Myers
| editor2-first = Allen C.
| title = Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
| publisher = Eerdmans
| year = 2000
| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qRtUqxkB7wkC&pg=PA784
| isbn = 9781250088703
}}


{{Refend}}

{{Commons category|Lamech}} {{Commons category|Lamech}}

<references />
{{Adam to David}} {{Adam to David}}
{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}
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Latest revision as of 14:35, 25 October 2024

Biblical figure, descendant of Cainan, Descendant of Seth, brother of Cain and Abel For the person in Genesis 5, see Lamech (father of Noah).
Lamech and Cain, 1524 engraving by Lucas van Leyden

Lamech (/ˈleɪmɪk/; Hebrew: לֶמֶךְ Lémeḵ, in pausa לָמֶךְ‎ Lā́meḵ) is a figure appearing in the Old Testament's Book of Genesis, where he is the seventh generation from Adam and father of Jabal, the first breeder of livestock, Tubal-Cain, the first metalworker, Jubal, the first musician, and Naamah. This Lamech appears in the Yahwist genealogy (the line of Cain); the Priestly source has another Lamech who is the father of Noah.

This Lamech is distinguished as an insolent man in the Abrahamic texts.

Character

Lamech is generally characterized in a poor light in the verses that mention him, highlighting him as polygamous and viciously murderous.

Polygamy

Lamech is the earliest instance of polygamy in the Abrahamic narrative. Biblical verse Genesis 4:19 states

Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.

Lamech is recorded taking on two wives simultaneously.

Murder

Furthermore, biblical verse Genesis 4:23-24 states

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.

Here Lamech admits to killing a young man in retaliation for striking him. Lamech further boasts of his wrath of vengeance as eleven times worse than Cain's wrath of vengeance.

Comparative religion

The Adam progeny list is comparable to the ancient Mesopotamian tradition of seven pre-flood heroes who originate arts and culture.

See also

Citations

  1. "the definition of Lamech". Dictionary.com.
  2. ^ Rogers 2000, p. 784.

Bibliography

  • Rogers, Jeffrey S. (2000). "Lamech". In Freedman, David Noel; Myers, Allen C. (eds.). Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Eerdmans. ISBN 9781250088703.


Adam to David according to the Hebrew Bible
Creation to Flood
Patriarchs after Flood
Tribe of Judah to Kingdom
Names in italics only appear in the Greek Septuagint version
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