Genesis 4:24

“If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy and seven fold.””
Genesis 4:24 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

IfכִּיCainקָיִןis avengedיֻקַּםsevenfold,שִׁבְעָתַיִםthen Lamechוְלֶמֶךְseventyשִׁבְעִיםand seven fold.”וְשִׁבְעָה

Allusion · Matthew 18:22

Go to Matthew 18:22

Both texts use the number “seventy-seven times”: Lamech, for vengeance; Jesus, for forgiveness.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

שִׁבְעִיםshivimH7657ἑβδομηκοντάκιςhebdomēkontakisG1441“seventy”
שִׁבְעָהshivaH7651ἑπτάheptaG2033“seven”

Genesis 4:24, word by word

Cainקָיִןkayin

Cain

Cain, the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel. In Hebrew "Qayin" sounds like "I have gotten" (Genesis 4:1). Also a place, and the tribe of the Kenites.

Where else “kayin” appears

is avengedיֻקַּםyukam

avenge

Avenge: make someone pay for the wrong done; take vengeance.

Where else “yukam” appears

sevenfoldשִׁבְעָתַיִםshivatayim

sevenfold

Seven times, sevenfold.

Where else “shivatayim” appears

then Lamechלֶמֶךְlemech

Lamech

Lamech, the name of two men before the flood: a descendant of Cain (Genesis 4:18-24) and the father of Noah (5:25-31).

Where else “lemech” appears

seventyשִׁבְעִיםshivim

seventy

Seventy.

Where else “shivim” appears

and seven foldשִׁבְעָהshiva

seven

Seven, the number of fullness; also "seven times".

Where else “shiva” appears

The context

23And Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, listen to my saying: for a man I have killed for wounding me, and a young man for striking me.

24 · This verse (above)

25And Adam knew his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and called his name Seth, “for Elohim has granted me another offspring in place of Abel, because Cain killed him.”

Read all of Genesis 4

To study Genesis 4 in a group

1. What it says
How did Cain feel when YHWH did not look with favor on his offering, and what did YHWH say to him (vv. 5-7)?
2. What it means
What does Cain mean by his question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (v. 9)?
3. How I live it
How can you deal with anger or envy toward someone today before it grows?

How to use it