Genesis 4:18–26 | Lamech, Cain’s Line, Early Civilization, Hebrew-English Deep Dive and Translation

Shalom. In this deep dive Bible study of Genesis 4:18–26, we explore the line of Cain who built the city of Enoch (Chanoch). This study focuses on Lamech and his sons—Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-Cain—pioneers of civilization who cared for livestock, music, and metalwork. Using the original Hebrew text, I unpack the meanings behind each name, their cultural roles, and what this genealogy reveals about early human civilization, violence, and legacy.
We’ll examine:
The Hebrew-to-English breakdown of each verse
The structure and meanings which have been proposed for Lamech’s which poetic speech
How music, tools, and tent-dwelling emerge in the early biblical world. We discuss vengeance and the various opinions surrounding what it means when Lamech says that he if Cain will be avenged sevenfold, then Cain will be.
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