Genesis 4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:19

And Lamech took unto him two wives ,.... He was the first we read of that introduced polygamy, contrary to the first institution of marriage, whereby only one man and one woman were to be joined together, and become one flesh, Genesis 2:24 . This evil practice, though it began in the race of wicked Cain, was in later ages followed by some among the people of God, which was connived at because of the hardness of their hearts; otherwise it was not so from the beginning. This was the first... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:20

And Adah bare Jabal ,.... According to Hillerus F13 Onomastic. Sacr. p. 35,45, 349. , this name, and Jubal and Tubal, after mentioned, all signify a river; why Lamech should call all his sons by names signifying the same thing, is not easy to say. He was the father of such as dwelt in tents, and of such as have cattle : not in a proper sense the father of them, though his posterity might succeed him in the same business; but he was the first author and inventor of tents or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:21

And his brother's name was Jubal ,.... This was another son of Lamech by Adah, and his name differs only in one letter from his brother's: he was the father of all such that handle the harp and organ : he was the inventor of instrumental music, both of stringed instruments, such as were touched by the fingers, or struck with a quill, as the "harp"; and of wind instruments, such as were blown, as the "organ", which seems not to be the same we call so, being a late invention; but however a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:22

And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain ,.... Thought by many to be the same with Vulcan, his name and business agreeing; for the names are near in sound, Tubalcain may easily pass into Vulcan; and who, with the Heathens, was the god of the smiths, and the maker of Jupiter's thunderbolts, as this was an artificer in iron and brass, as follows: his name is compounded of two words, the latter of which was no doubt put into his name in memory of Cain his great ancestor; the former Josephus F21 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:23

And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah ,.... Confessing what he had done, or boasting what he would do should he be attacked; or in order to make his wives easy, who might fear from his fierceness and cruelty; and the murders he had committed, or on account of Abel's murder, Genesis 4:15 that either the judgments of God would fall upon him and them, or some man or other would dispatch him and his; wherefore calling them together, he thus bespeaks them: hear my voice, ye wives... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:24

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. Which if understood of him as confessing and lamenting his sin of murder, the sense is, if Cain was so severely punished for killing one man, of how much sorer punishment am I deserving, and shall have, who have killed two persons, and that after I had seen the punishment of Cain, and yet took no warning by it? or if he that killed Cain, who slew his brother, was to be avenged sevenfold, or to seven generations, then how... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:25

And Adam knew his wife again ,.... The Targum of Jonathan adds, at the end of a hundred and thirty years after Abel was killed, see Genesis 5:3 but, according to Bishop Usher, Seth was born the same year, which is most probable. And she bare a son, and called his name Seth , that is, "put, placed, set"; not with any respect to Cain, who had no settled fixed abode, but wandered about; or to Seth as a foundation of the church and true religion, being a type of Christ the only foundation,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:26

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son ,.... When he was an hundred and five years old, Genesis 5:6 and this is mentioned as a further proof and instance of God's goodness to Adam's family in this line, that there was a succession in it, where the true worship of God was kept, and from whence the Messiah was to arise, and as a pledge and confirmation of it: and he called his name Enos ; which is generally interpreted a weak, feeble, frail, mortal, miserable man; which Seth being... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4

The birth, trade, and religion of Cain and Abel, Genesis 4:1-7 . Cain murders his brother Abel, Genesis 4:8 . God calls him into judgment for it, Genesis 4:9 , Genesis 4:10 . He is cursed, Genesis 4:11 , Genesis 4:12 . He despairs, Genesis 4:15 , Genesis 4:14 . A promise given him of preservation, and a mark set on him to prevent his being killed, Genesis 4:15 . He departs from God's presence, Genesis 4:16 . Has a son whom he calls Enoch; and builds a city, which he calls... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:1

I have gotten a man from the Lord - Cain, קין , signifies acquisition; hence Eve says קנתי kanithi , I have gotten or acquired a man, יהוה את eth Yehovah , the Lord. It is extremely difficult to ascertain the sense in which Eve used these words, which have been as variously translated as understood. Most expositors think that Eve imagined Cain to be the promised seed that should bruise the head of the serpent. This exposition really seems too refined for that period. It is very... read more

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