Genesis 4:24 Meaning and Explanation
“If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Lamech claims that if Cain deserves sevenfold vengeance, he deserves seventy and sevenfold.
The Context of Genesis 4:24
Lamech demands seventy-sevenfold vengeance for himself.
What Does Genesis 4:24 Mean?
Lamech extends the principle of proportional vengeance announced by the LORD concerning Cain. If Cain's killer faces sevenfold judgment, Lamech declares that he—the murderer of multiple men—deserves seventy and sevenfold protection and retaliation. He is inverting the mercy the LORD extended to Cain into a doctrine of escalating violence and revenge.
Lamech's words show how the principle of divine justice can be perverted into a justification for unlimited violence. Instead of restraint, he demands escalation. His boast transforms the LORD's protective mark on Cain into a license for Lamech to murder with impunity and demand vengeance on anyone who would harm him. This represents the moral decay of Cain's line.
Genesis 4:24 in the Original Language
shivim (שִׁבְעִים), 'seventy' — in Hebrew, a number signifying completion and abundance; here, Lamech's escalation of Cain's sevenfold.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 4:24
What does Genesis 4:24 mean?
Lamech claims that if Cain deserves sevenfold vengeance, he deserves seventy and sevenfold.
What is the context of Genesis 4:24?
Lamech demands seventy-sevenfold vengeance for himself.