Lamech Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Lamech, a descendant of Cain, was the first polygamist mentioned in the Bible.
son of Methushael (GEN 4:18)
Lineage: God › Adam › Cain › Enoch › Irad › Mehujael › Methusael › Lamech
Names
-
en
Lamech
poor; made low
-
en
Lamech
· Also called · H3929 G2984 · GEN 4:18 poor; made low
- en descendant of Cain · Title
- he לֶמֶךְ lemek · H3929 · GEN 4:18
- he לֶ֫מֶךְ · H3929G
- el Λάμεχ Lamex · G2984 · GEN 4:18
- bg Ламех
SDA Books
Awaiting permission to publishLinked through an explicitly cited Bible passage
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Conditional birth estimate
Conditional birth bounds under generation assumptions; not attested parental ages, biological limits or a lifespan.
The anchors give incompatible conditional intervals. This calculation establishes no birth year.
Below are relatives with a selected birth year, the generations separating them, and the interval allowed by each anchor. Each relative’s page shows available dates and sources. The overall estimate uses the intersection of the allowed intervals.
| Relative / anchor year | Generations | Conditional interval |
|---|---|---|
| Cain · 4004 BC Ancestor |
5 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3879 BC – 3354 BC |
| Adam · 4004 BC Ancestor |
6 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3854 BC – 3224 BC |
| Eve · 4005 BC Ancestor |
6 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3855 BC – 3225 BC |
| Shem · 2447 BC Descendant |
2 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2707 BC – 2497 BC |
| Arphaxad · 2347 BC Descendant |
3 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2737 BC – 2422 BC |
| Salah · 2312 BC Descendant |
5 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2962 BC – 2437 BC |
| Eber · 2282 BC Descendant |
6 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3062 BC – 2432 BC |
| Peleg · 2248 BC Descendant |
7 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3158 BC – 2423 BC |
| Reu · 2218 BC Descendant |
8 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3258 BC – 2418 BC |
| Serug · 2186 BC Descendant |
9 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3356 BC – 2411 BC |
| Nahor · 2156 BC Descendant |
10 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3456 BC – 2406 BC |
| Terah · 2125 BC Descendant |
11 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3555 BC – 2400 BC |
| Abraham · 1995 BC Descendant |
12 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2535 BC – 2235 BC |
| Haran · 2056 BC Descendant |
12 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3616 BC – 2356 BC |
| Sarah · 1985 BC Descendant |
12 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2525 BC – 2225 BC |
| Isaac · 1895 BC Descendant |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2480 BC – 2155 BC |
| Ishmael · 1909 BC Descendant |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2494 BC – 2169 BC |
| Esau · 1836 BC Descendant |
14 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2466 BC – 2116 BC |
| Jacob · 1835 BC Descendant |
14 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2465 BC – 2115 BC |
| Ben-ammi · 1896 BC Descendant |
14 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2526 BC – 2176 BC |
| Moab · 1896 BC Descendant |
14 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2526 BC – 2176 BC |
| Rebekah · 1876 BC Descendant |
14 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2506 BC – 2156 BC |
| Asher · 1753 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2428 BC – 2053 BC |
| Benjamin · 1740 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2415 BC – 2040 BC |
| Dan · 1756 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2431 BC – 2056 BC |
| Dinah · 1751 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2426 BC – 2051 BC |
| Gad · 1754 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2429 BC – 2054 BC |
| Issachar · 1753 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2428 BC – 2053 BC |
| Joseph · 1744 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2419 BC – 2044 BC |
| Levi · 1748 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2423 BC – 2048 BC |
| Naphtali · 1755 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2430 BC – 2055 BC |
| Reuben · 1757 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2432 BC – 2057 BC |
| Simeon · 1758 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2433 BC – 2058 BC |
| Zebulun · 1752 BC Descendant |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2427 BC – 2052 BC |
| Ephraim · 1709 BC Descendant |
16 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2429 BC – 2029 BC |
| Manasseh · 1710 BC Descendant |
16 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2430 BC – 2030 BC |
| Pharez · 1722 BC Descendant |
16 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2442 BC – 2042 BC |
| Kohath · 1705 BC Descendant |
16 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2425 BC – 2025 BC |
| Aaron · 1573 BC Descendant |
17 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2338 BC – 1913 BC |
| Moses · 1570 BC Descendant |
17 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2335 BC – 1910 BC |
| Amram · 1688 BC Descendant |
17 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2453 BC – 2028 BC |
| Eli · 1167 BC Descendant |
23 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2202 BC – 1627 BC |
| Joshua · 1532 BC Descendant |
25 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2657 BC – 2032 BC |
| David · 1086 BC Descendant |
25 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2211 BC – 1586 BC |
| Absalom · 1051 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2221 BC – 1571 BC |
| Adonijah · 1050 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2220 BC – 1570 BC |
| Amnon · 1053 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2223 BC – 1573 BC |
| Daniel · 1052 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2222 BC – 1572 BC |
| Ithream · 1048 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2218 BC – 1568 BC |
| Nathan · 1033 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2203 BC – 1553 BC |
| Shammua · 1031 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2201 BC – 1551 BC |
| Shephatiah · 1049 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2219 BC – 1569 BC |
| Shobab · 1032 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2202 BC – 1552 BC |
| Solomon · 1036 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2206 BC – 1556 BC |
| Jehoshaphat · 949 BC Descendant |
30 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2299 BC – 1549 BC |
| Joash · 845 BC Descendant |
33 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2330 BC – 1505 BC |
| Amaziah · 826 BC Descendant |
34 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2356 BC – 1506 BC |
| Samuel · 1153 BC Descendant |
34 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2683 BC – 1833 BC |
| Hezekiah · 742 BC Descendant |
38 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2452 BC – 1502 BC |
| Josiah · 649 BC Descendant |
41 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2494 BC – 1469 BC |
| Jehoahaz · 633 BC Descendant |
42 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2523 BC – 1473 BC |
| Jehoiakim · 635 BC Descendant |
42 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2525 BC – 1475 BC |
| Zedekiah · 629 BC Descendant |
42 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2519 BC – 1469 BC |
| Jehoiachin · 617 BC Descendant |
43 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2552 BC – 1477 BC |
| Jesus Christ · 5 BC Descendant |
56 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2525 BC – 1125 BC |
Family of origin
- Father: Methusael
- Mother: Unknown
Family with Zillah
- Daughter: Naamah
- Son: Tubal-cain
Belonged to (1)
Lamech Article
STEPBible TIPNR
Lamech was a descendant of Cain, the son of Adam and Eve (Gen 4:18). He was the father of Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-cain (Gen 4:20-22). Lamech is notable for being the first polygamist mentioned in the Bible, having married two women, Adah and Zillah (Gen 4:19). He is also known for his speech to his wives, in which he boasted about killing a man for wounding him and claimed that he would be avenged seventy-sevenfold, in contrast to the sevenfold vengeance promised to Cain (Gen 4:23-24). This speech suggests a progression of violence and a disregard for the sanctity of human life among Cain's descendants.
Lamech 1 Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
The fifth in descent from Cain. He was the first to violate the primeval ordinance of marriage (Gen. 4:18-24). His address to his two wives, Adah and Zillah (4:23, 24), is the only extant example of antediluvian poetry. It has been called “Lamech’s sword-song.” He was “rude and ruffianly,” fearing neither God nor man. With him the curtain falls on the race of Cain. We know nothing of his descendants.
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Lamech_1) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Lamech@Gen.4.18-) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, lamech_1808)