The Meaning of Genesis 4:23 Explained

Genesis 4:23

KJV: 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.

YLT: And Lamech saith to his wives: -- 'Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, give ear to my saying: For a man I have slain for my wound, Even a young man for my hurt;

Darby: And Lemech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, Ye wives of Lemech, listen to my speech. For I have slain a man for my wound, and a youth for my bruise.

ASV: 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 for wounding me, And a young man for bruising me:

Discover Genesis 4:23

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Genesis 4:23?

MEANING: What does Genesis 4:23 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Genesis 4:23 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Genesis 4:23?

What is the context of Genesis 4:23?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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.

What does Genesis 4:23 Mean?

Study Notes

to my wounding
Or, who wounded me. Cain had slain an unoffending man and yet was protected by Jehovah; how much more Lamech, who had slain in self-defence.

Context Summary

Genesis 4:9-26 - Cain's Career

God's first question to the soul is, "Adam, where art thou?" The next, "Where is thy brother?" We are our brother's keepers. All related to us, within our reach, or needing our help have a claim. We must not take advantage of them. Their well-being and our own are inseparable. God keeps an inventory of His saints, and will avenge them. Their blood will cry to God against those who have wronged them. There is only one cry in the world which is stronger-"the blood of Jesus." See Hebrews 12:24. It cries for mercy and pardon. A numerous family sprang from our first parents, and as these intermarried a large population began to people the early seat of human life. Cain founded a city, dedicated to all that ministered to sensuous enjoyment. This was "the way of Cain," brilliant but godless, away from the presence of the Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 4

¹ The birth, occupation, and offerings of Cain and Abel
⁸ Cain murders his brother Abel
¹¹ The curse of Cain
¹⁷ Has a son called Enoch, and builds a city, which he calls after his name
¹⁸ His descendants, with Lamech and his two wives
²⁵ The birth of Seth,
²⁶ and Enos

What do the individual words in Genesis 4:23 mean?

And said Lamech to his wives Adah and Zillah hear my voice wives of Lamech listen to my speech for a man I have killed for wounding me and Even a young man for wounding me

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לֶ֜מֶךְ לְנָשָׁ֗יו עָדָ֤ה וְצִלָּה֙ שְׁמַ֣עַן קוֹלִ֔י נְשֵׁ֣י לֶ֔מֶךְ הַאְזֵ֖נָּה : אִמְרָתִ֑י כִּ֣י אִ֤ישׁ הָרַ֙גְתִּי֙ לְפִצְעִ֔י וְיֶ֖לֶד לְחַבֻּרָתִֽי

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	And said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לֶ֜מֶךְ	Lamech
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: לֶמֶךְ Sense: the 5th lineal descendant from Cain, husband of Adah and Zillah, father of sons, Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-cain, and daughter, Naamah.
לְנָשָׁ֗יו	to his wives
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular Root: אִשָּׁה Sense: woman, wife, female.
עָדָ֤ה	Adah
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: עָדָה Sense: the st of the 2 wives of Lamech and mother of Jabal and Jubal.
וְצִלָּה֙	and Zillah
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: צִלָּה Sense: the 2nd wife of Lamech and mother of Tubal-cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron.
שְׁמַ֣עַן	hear
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, feminine plural Root: שָׁמַע Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
קוֹלִ֔י	my voice
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: קֹול Sense: voice, sound, noise.
נְשֵׁ֣י	wives
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct Root: אִשָּׁה Sense: woman, wife, female.
לֶ֔מֶךְ	of Lamech
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: לֶמֶךְ Sense: the 5th lineal descendant from Cain, husband of Adah and Zillah, father of sons, Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-cain, and daughter, Naamah.
הַאְזֵ֖נָּה	listen
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, feminine plural Root: אָזַן Sense: to hear, listen.
: אִמְרָתִ֑י	to my speech
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular Root: אִמְרָה Sense: utterance, speech, word.
אִ֤ישׁ	a man
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: אֱנׄושׁ Sense: man, mortal man, person, mankind.
הָרַ֙גְתִּי֙	I have killed
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular Root: הָרַג Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
לְפִצְעִ֔י	for wounding me
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: פֶּצַע Sense: bruise, wound.
וְיֶ֖לֶד	and Even a young man
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular Root: יֶלֶד Sense: child, son, boy, offspring, youth.
לְחַבֻּרָתִֽי	for wounding me
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular Root: חַבּוּרָה Sense: bruise, stripe, wound, blow.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 4:23?

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Similar Scriptures for Genesis 4:23

		Leviticus 19:18 [2]
		Numbers 23:18 [2]
		Exodus 20:13 [2]
		Judges 9:7 [1]