Lamech (/ˈleɪmɪk/;[1]Hebrew:לֶמֶךְLémeḵ, inpausaלָמֶךְLā́meḵ) is a figure appearing in the Old Testament'sBook of Genesis, where he is the seventh generation fromAdam and father ofJabal, the first breeder of livestock,Tubal-Cain, the first metalworker,Jubal, the first musician, andNaamah. This Lamech appears in theYahwist genealogy (the line of Cain); thePriestly source has anotherLamech who is the father ofNoah.[2]
This Lamech is distinguished as an insolent man in the Abrahamic texts.[3]
Lamech is generally characterized in a poor light in the verses that mention him, highlighting him as viciously murderous.[4]
Lamech is the earliest instance of polygamy in the Abrahamic narrative. Biblical verse Genesis 4:19 states
Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
Lamech is recorded taking on two wives simultaneously.
Furthermore, biblical verse Genesis 4:23-24 states
Lamech said to his wives:
Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words.
I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.
If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.
Here Lamech admits to killing a young man in retaliation for striking him. Lamech further boasts of his wrath of vengeance as eleven times worse than Cain's wrath of vengeance.
The Adam progeny list iscomparable to the ancient Mesopotamian tradition of seven pre-flood heroes who originate arts and culture.[2]
But Lamech was too arrogant to fear anything, and he considered himself a greater avenger than God.
Further, Lamech's character culminates the murderous trait characteristic of this line
