Genesis 4:18 kjv
And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
Genesis 4:18 nkjv
To ??noch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.
Genesis 4:18 niv
To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
Genesis 4:18 esv
To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
Genesis 4:18 nlt
Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.
Genesis 4 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 3:15 | "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed..." | Establishes the conflict between two 'seeds'. |
| Gen 4:17 | "And Cain knew his wife... and he builded a city, and called the name..." | Cain initiates urban civilization, founding cities. |
| Gen 4:22 | "...Tubal-cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron..." | Shows technological advancement in Cain's line. |
| Gen 4:23-24 | "Lamech said unto his wives... I have slain a man to my wounding..." | Lamech's boast of amplified violence and defiance. |
| Gen 4:25 | "And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name..." | Introduction of Seth, the beginning of the godly line. |
| Gen 5:3 | "And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own..." | Contrasting genealogy of Seth's righteous line. |
| Gen 6:1-5 | "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth..." | Demonstrates the outcome of rampant sin before the flood. |
| Jude 1:11 | "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain..." | Cain's path signifies unrighteousness and rejection of God. |
| 1 Jn 3:12 | "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother..." | Explicitly connects Cain to evil and the murderer. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." | Applies to the increasing human self-sufficiency and pride. |
| Isa 14:12-15 | "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer... I will ascend into heaven..." | Reflects the nature of pride and rebellion against the divine. |
| Rom 1:28-32 | "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge..." | Illustrates the downward spiral of rejecting God's knowledge. |
| Ps 14:1 | "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God..." | Reflects the underlying atheism or disregard for God. |
| Jer 17:9 | "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked..." | Underscores humanity's fallen nature from early history. |
| Matt 24:37-39 | "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man..." | Compares end times wickedness to pre-flood society. |
| 2 Pet 2:10-14 | "...despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled..." | Describes characteristics of those rejecting divine authority. |
| Job 21:7-16 | "Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?" | Questions the prosperity of the wicked, as seen in Cain's developing line. |
| Ps 73:3-9 | "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." | Deals with the perceived prosperity and defiance of the ungodly. |
| Eph 4:17-19 | "This I say therefore... that ye walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the..." | Describes the darkened understanding and callousness of the unregenerate. |
| Gen 10:8-12 | "And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth." | Parallel development of strong human kingdoms/figures after the flood. |
| Gen 11:4 | "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower..." | Illustrates collective human pride and defiance against God. |
Genesis 4 verses
Genesis 4 18 Meaning
Genesis 4:18 provides a direct genealogical record within the lineage of Cain, tracing five generations from Enoch (Cain's son) through Irad, Mehujael, and Methusael, culminating in Lamech. This verse functions as a concise summary of the progression of humanity through Cain's offspring, indicating a rapid increase in population and the establishment of distinct familial lines. Crucially, it sets the stage for Lamech's dramatic boast in subsequent verses, revealing a trajectory of escalating violence and defiance against God within this branch of humanity. The list of names marks a continuity from Cain, emphasizing the character and eventual fate of a line moving increasingly away from divine precepts.
Genesis 4 18 Context
Genesis chapter 4 recounts the initial development of humanity after the Fall. Following Adam and Eve's banishment from Eden, it describes the first family—Cain, Abel, and later Seth. The immediate context of verse 18 is Cain's post-exile life, specifically the establishment of his lineage and the growth of human society outside the direct fellowship with God. Cain, marked by God after murdering Abel, builds the first city (Gen 4:17), signaling a movement towards human self-reliance and community without God at its center. This verse thus charts the succeeding generations of this burgeoning society, culminating in Lamech, whose polygamy and violent boast in Gen 4:23-24 starkly highlight the moral degeneration of this particular line. This "line of Cain" is often juxtaposed with the "line of Seth" in chapter 5, which represents the preserving of God's name and a more righteous trajectory of humanity. The rapid succession of names signifies a period of significant population growth and cultural development, setting the stage for the universal wickedness that would characterize the world before the Great Flood.
Genesis 4 18 Word analysis
- And unto Enoch: The son of Cain, Ḥanokh (חֲנוֹךְ) in Hebrew, means "dedicated" or "initiated." This is distinct from Enoch in Gen 5 (from Seth's line) who "walked with God." This name is ironic here, as this Enoch's line shows a progression away from God.
- was born Irad: ʿIrād (עִירָד) could mean "city-dweller" or "fugitive." This fits the narrative of Cain building a city and his own status as a fugitive, implying his descendants continued in this settled, earth-bound existence rather than seeking spiritual nomadism or God.
- and Irad begat Mehujael: Meḥiya'el (מְחִיָּיאֵל) incorporates "El" (אֵל), meaning "God." The name can be interpreted as "smitten of God" or "God revives." The presence of "El" in names of this ungodly lineage is a striking paradox, possibly indicating a lingering, perhaps superficial, acknowledgment of God, or more profoundly, God's inherent connection to all creation, even those who defy Him.
- and Mehujael begat Methusael: Metushael (מְתוּשָׁאֵל) also contains "El" and might mean "man of God," "who is of God," or "men of God." Again, the irony is potent. These names serve as a subtle polemic, suggesting that even if pagan names used divine elements, the true character of the person might be far from godly, exposing the empty pride of their civilization. It might hint at a societal decay where even invoking God's name doesn't lead to righteousness.
- and Methusael begat Lamech: Lamekh (לָמֶךְ) is derived from a root suggesting "to overthrow" or "powerful." This Lamech (distinct from Seth's descendant, Noah's father) becomes a pivotal figure, epitomizing the culmination of his lineage's violence and self-glorification in the following verses (Gen 4:23-24). His name foreshadows his aggressive and boastful nature.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "begat" (יָלַד - yalad): This repetitive term highlights the rapid procreation and generational succession in the antediluvian world. It also implies that the traits, whether good or bad, were passed down, reflecting a continuum of humanity's choices. In this context, it shows the quick spread and amplification of the qualities established by Cain.
- The succession of names: The linear progression underscores the deliberate record of this lineage, providing context for the moral decay culminating in Lamech's actions. It implies a narrative of escalating detachment from God and an increase in humanistic pride and self-sufficiency.
Genesis 4 18 Bonus section
The genealogy of Cain serves as a typological prefigurement of the "world" system that continually sets itself against God throughout biblical history. This line, focused on building cities, developing crafts (metalworking, music), and expressing human power (Lamech's boast), represents humanity's efforts to create meaning and security independent of its Creator. It demonstrates the dangerous trajectory of technological and cultural advancement without spiritual grounding, where self-sufficiency morphs into self-exaltation and defiance, ultimately leading to divine judgment. The emphasis on names beginning with 'El' yet embodying a corrupted nature subtly foreshadows how external piety can mask internal depravity, a recurring theme in later biblical narratives concerning Israel's idolatry or outward religious observance without inward transformation. This line serves as a stark warning about the consequences of generations turning further and further away from God, regardless of material or social progression.
Genesis 4 18 Commentary
Genesis 4:18, though a mere genealogical list, is pregnant with theological and moral significance within the early biblical narrative. It acts as a somber progression, chronicling the generations from Cain, the first murderer, leading to Lamech, the first polygamist and defiant boastful killer. Unlike the later genealogies in Genesis that sometimes mention individuals "walking with God," this line reveals no such piety. Instead, the names themselves, while some containing elements like "El" (God), ironically denote a human line increasingly distant from God's intended way, rooted in the 'way of Cain'—pride, rebellion, and self-assertion outside of divine grace.
This brief verse underscores several key points:
- Rapid Population Growth: The succession of names indicates a flourishing of human life, even in the absence of spiritual uprightness.
- Continuity of Character: Cain's foundational rebellion against God sets the tone for his descendants. This lineage is marked by independence from God, establishing its own order, arts, and might (as seen later in Gen 4:19-22).
- Progression of Sin: Each generation, particularly through Lamech's subsequent actions, intensifies the characteristics of the line—from Cain's jealousy and murder to Lamech's vengeful violence and casual disregard for life. This steady escalation demonstrates the unchecked nature of sin in a fallen world.
- Literary Contrast: The concise nature of this genealogy directly contrasts with the more detailed and divinely endorsed line of Seth presented in chapter 5, which culminates in Noah and salvation from the Flood. This highlights the foundational division of humanity into two 'seeds' – one walking apart from God and the other, though imperfect, seeking Him.The mention of divine elements in names like Mehujael and Methusael, in an otherwise ungodly lineage, could subtly reflect the enduring presence of God's general revelation, even amongst those who choose not to acknowledge Him actively. It serves as a reminder that all humanity derives from God, but choices define their path.