And Lamech married two women
This phrase introduces Lamech, a descendant of Cain, who is noted for being the first polygamist mentioned in the Bible. The practice of polygamy, though later seen in other biblical figures, deviates from the monogamous ideal established in Genesis 2:24, where a man is to be united with his wife, singular. Lamech's actions reflect a departure from God's original design for marriage, indicating a moral decline in Cain's lineage. This sets a precedent for future instances of polygamy in the Old Testament, such as those involving Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon, each with its own set of complications and consequences.

one named Adah
Adah's name means "ornament" or "beauty," suggesting her physical attractiveness or perhaps her societal status. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, names often held significant meaning and could reflect the character or destiny of the individual. Adah's mention as Lamech's wife highlights her role in the genealogy of Cain, as she becomes the mother of Jabal and Jubal, who are credited with founding certain aspects of civilization, such as livestock herding and music.

and the other Zillah
Zillah's name means "shade" or "shadow," which could imply protection or comfort, or perhaps a more mysterious or darker aspect. Her inclusion in the narrative, alongside Adah, emphasizes the practice of polygamy and its acceptance in Lamech's time. Zillah is the mother of Tubal-Cain, a forger of tools, indicating the advancement of technology and craftsmanship in early human society. The mention of both wives and their children underscores the rapid development of culture and technology, even as moral and spiritual decline is evident in Cain's line.

1. Lamech
A descendant of Cain, Lamech is notable for being the first recorded polygamist in the Bible. His actions mark a departure from the monogamous union established by God in Genesis 2:24.

2. Adah
One of Lamech's wives, her name means "ornament" or "beauty" in Hebrew. She is the mother of Jabal and Jubal, who are credited with significant cultural advancements.

3. Zillah
Lamech's other wife, her name means "shade" or "protection" in Hebrew. She is the mother of Tubal-Cain and Naamah, contributing to the development of metallurgy and other arts.

4. Polygamy
The event of Lamech taking two wives introduces polygamy into the biblical account, contrasting with the earlier divine design for marriage.

5. Cain's Lineage
Lamech is part of Cain's lineage, which is marked by innovation but also moral decline, as seen in Lamech's later boastful violence.The Deviation from God's Design
Lamech's polygamy represents a departure from God's original design for marriage. This serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to biblical principles in our relationships.

Cultural Influence vs. Divine Command
The cultural acceptance of practices like polygamy does not equate to divine approval. Believers are called to discern and uphold God's standards, even when they conflict with societal norms.

Consequences of Sin
Lamech's life illustrates how sin can compound over generations, leading to further moral decline. It is crucial to address sin at its root to prevent its spread.

The Role of Women in Scripture
Adah and Zillah, though mentioned briefly, are part of God's unfolding account. Their contributions through their children highlight the significant roles women play in God's plan.(19-22) Lamech took unto him two wives.--Whether polygamy began with Lamech is uncertain, but it is in keeping with the insolent character of the man. The names of his wives bear testimony to the existence, even at this early date, of considerable refinement; for I can scarcely believe that we need go to the Assyrian dialect for the meaning of two words for which Hebrew suffices. They are explained in Assyrian as being edhatu, "darkness," and tzillatu, "the shades of night." In Hebrew Adah means ornament, especially that which is for the decoration of the person; while Zillah means shadow, which agrees very closely with the Assyrian explanation. Both have distinguished children. Jabal, Adah's eldest son, took to a nomadic life, whence his name, which means wanderer, and was looked up to by the nomad tribes as their founder. The difference between their mode of life and that of Abel was that they perpetually changed their habitation, while he remained in the neighbourhood of Adam's dwelling. The younger, "Jubal," that is, the music-player, "was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ." Of these instruments, the kinnor, always translated "harp" in our version, was certainly a stringed instrument, a guitar or lyre. The other, in Hebrew 'ugab, is mentioned only in Job 21:12; Job 30:31; Psalm 150:4. It was a small wind instrument, a reed or pipe.

The son of Zillah attained to higher distinction. He is the first "sharpener (or hammerer) of every instrument of copper and iron." Copper is constantly found cropping up in a comparatively pure state upon the surface of the ground, and was the first metal made use of by man. It is comparatively soft, and is easily beaten to an edge; but it was long before men learned the art of mixing with it an alloy of tin, and so producing the far harder substance, bronze. The alloy to which we give the name of brass was absolutely unknown to the ancients. The discovery of iron marks a far greater advance in metallurgy, as the ore has to be smelted, and the implement produced is more precious. The Greeks in the time of Homer seem to have known it only as a rarity imported from the north; and Rawlinson (Anc. Monarchies, i. 167) mentions that in Mesopotamia, while silver was the metal current in traffic, iron was so rare as to be regarded as something very precious. The name of this hero is "Tubal-cain." In Ezekiel 27:13, Tubal brings copper to the mart of Tyre, and in Persian the word means copper. Cain is a distinct name from that of Adam's firstborn, and means, in most Semitic languages, smith; thus Tubal-cain probably signifies coppersmith.

The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.--The same as Naomi (Ruth 1:2), and meaning beauty, loveliness. As women are not mentioned in the genealogies, and as no history follows of this personage, her name must be given as an indication that a great advance had been made, not only in the arts, but also in the elegancies of life. Women could not have been mere drudges and household slaves, nor men coarse and boorish, when Naamah's beauty was so highly appreciated. The Rabbins have turned her into a demon, and given free play to their imagination in the stories they have invented concerning her. . . .

Verse 19. - And Lamech took unto him two wives. Being the first polygamist of whom mention is made, the first by whom "the ethical aspect of marriage, as ordained by God, was turned into the lust of the eye and lust of the flesh" (Keil). Though afterwards permitted because of the hardness of men's hearts, it was not so from the beginning. This was "a new evil, without even the pretext that the first wife had no children, which held its ground until Christianity restored the original law - Matthew 19:4-6" (Inglis). The names of Lamech's wives were suggestive of sensual attractions. The name of the one Adah, the Adorned (Gesenius), and the name of the other Zillah, the shady or the tinkling (Keil), the musical player (Lange), the shadow (Wordsworth). "Did Lamech choose a wife to gratify the eye with loveliness? and was he soon sated with that which is so short-lived as beauty, and then chose another wife in addition to Adah? But a second wife is hardly a wife; she is only the shadow of a wife" (ibid.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


And Lamech
לֶ֖מֶךְ (le·meḵ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3929: Lamech -- a descendant of Cain, also a descendant of Seth

married
וַיִּֽקַּֽח־ (way·yiq·qaḥ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

two
שְׁתֵּ֣י (šə·tê)
Number - fdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

women,
נָשִׁ֑ים (nā·šîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

one
הָֽאַחַת֙ (hā·’a·ḥaṯ)
Article | Number - feminine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

named
שֵׁ֤ם (šêm)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

Adah
עָדָ֔ה (‘ā·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5711: Adah -- two non-Israelite women

and
וְשֵׁ֥ם (wə·šêm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

the other
הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית (haš·šê·nîṯ)
Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular
Strong's 8145: Second (an ordinal number)

Zillah.
צִלָּֽה׃ (ṣil·lāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6741: Zillah -- wife of Lamech


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OT Law: Genesis 4:19 Lamech took two wives: the name (Gen. Ge Gn)