CAIN'S DESCENDANTS

Passage: Genesis 4:17-26

Key verse: 26

NIV

17 Cain made love to his wife,(A) and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city,(B) and he named it after his son(C) Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.

19 Lamech married(D) two women,(E) one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments(F) and pipes.(G) 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged(H) all kinds of tools out of[a] bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me;
    wives of Lamech, hear my words.
I have killed(I) a man for wounding me,
    a young man for injuring me.
24 If Cain is avenged(J) seven times,(K)
    then Lamech seventy-seven times.(L)”

25 Adam made love to his wife(M) again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,[b](N) saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”(O) 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.(P)

At that time people began to call on[c] the name of the Lord.(Q)

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 4:22 Or who instructed all who work in
  2. Genesis 4:25 Seth probably means granted.
  3. Genesis 4:26 Or to proclaim
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
    you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
    a young man for striking me.
24 (A)If Cain's revenge is sevenfold,
    then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold.”

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed[a] for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To (B)Seth also a son was born, and he called his name (C)Enosh. At that time people began (D)to call upon the name of the Lord.

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 4:25 Seth sounds like the Hebrew for he appointed
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A godless culture (17-24)

Cain wanted to be remembered--he longed for eternity. He wanted human fame. He bore a son, and built a city, and named the city for his son. Among his descendants we find the first musician, the first cattle rancher and the beginnings of technology. But the godless culture he spawned was full of violence, hatred and revenge; it was polygamous. Lamech sang a rap song praising violence and revenge to his wives. He made God's gracious promise to Cain an excuse for murder. Godless cultures degenerate into corruption and violence.

2. Men began to call on God (25-26)

God granted Adam and his wife a third son, Seth. Adam was grateful to God. When Seth's son Enosh was born, men began to call on the name of the Lord. Men asked God's mercy and help and put their trust in him. The slender thread of God's life in man was not broken. Hope was still alive.

Prayer: Father, thank you for raising up a few men of God even in the most godless culture.

One Word: Call on the name of the Lord