Genesis 4:17-26

Genesis 4:17-26

1. Locate the passage

This passage chronicles the progress of life, the consequences of sin, and the extension of God’s grace.  The passage follows Cain’s punishment and its impact on mankind.

2. Genre

The passage is narrative, with a poem highlighting the sin of Lamech.  The conversation of Lamech with his wives demonstrates the impact of Cain’s sin on mankind

3. Determine the structure of the passage

4. Exegete the passage

Exp.  The word “name” occurs seven times in this passage

• The importance of making a name for ourselves is contrasted with invoking the name of the Lord. Gen. 6:4, “men of name.”
• Contrast mankind’s efforts to make a name for himself with the focus on which the passage ends—the name of the Lord.

4:17 – Cain knew his wife

• The question of where Cain’s wife came from is enticing, but not addressed in the text.
• What is apparent from this pericope is that God allowed Cain to survive and blessed him with a family.
• Cain built a city
  • Perhaps in an effort to prevent the curse Cain perceived would be upon him (as a wanderer), Cain built a city to establish permanence.

4:18-19 – Lamech

• Five generations from Cain (six from Adam) and the sins that began with them were still infecting their offspring
• Lamech’s sin is two-fold
  • He was the first to practice polygamy
    • One of the devastating consequences of sin is on the institution of marriage
  • He also committed murder
    • The difference between his murder and Cain’s is that Lamech clearly was aware of the judgment of the Lord against Cain.

4:20-22 – Mankind’s cultural advancements

• The advancements themselves need not be seen as wrong or evidence of mankind’s pride
• God gave them the ability to produce
  • 20 – Jabal became the progenitor of tent-dwellers and herdsmen
  • 21 – Jubal became the progenitor of musicians
  • 22 – Tubal-Cain became the progenitor of craftsmen

4:23 – Lamech’s poem is a remorse-less, callous, and arrogant rant of a man who    seemingly understood the consequences of sin, but did it anyway.

• The Bible is silent on the specific consequences of his sin
  • Except for the irony of a proud man who can only brag of his sins to his wives and the subsequent silent of the Lord and history towards him.
  • Lamech isn’t citing any law related to the punishment for his sin, but rather seems to be assigning to himself judgment (which would not bind God) in an effort to make himself look more important (i.e. greater than Cain).

4:25 – Adam knew his wife again … Seth

• The Lord “appointed” a replacement son for Abel
  • The Hb. (“shiyth”) is the root of Seth’s name (“Sheth”)
  • Eve knew (and hopefully Seth came to understand) that his life was by Divine appointment

4:25 – Another seed

• Eve sees Seth as God’s response of grace to the sin committed against them and Abel
  • See 5:3, where Seth is described “in the likeness of Adam.”
• Eve’s last words in Scripture are a redemption of her previous ones.

4:25 – “Named him Seth”

• “She called his name, Seth”
  • It was not unusual in Scripture for the woman to name the children.
• The phrasing is unusual (cf. Gen. 5:3)
• Normally, when a child is given a name, the Hebrew expresses that, “to call his name” (qara sh^emo; cf. Gen. 25:25; 29:32; 33, 35; 30:6, 8, 11, 13, 18, 20, 24; 35:18; 38:3, 4, 5; Ex. 2:10, 22; Judg, 6:32; 8:31; 13:24; Ruth 4:17; 1 Sam. 1:20; 12:24, 25; 1 Chron. 4:9; 7:16, 23). Here and Gen. 5:3, which is also a reference to Shem, the text simply says, “they called him Seth.”
  • The distinctiveness of the expression stands out as significant about him and unique in Scripture to him.

4:26 – Then men began to call on the name of the Lord

• Seth’s offspring calling on the name of the Lord is set against Cain building a city and calling it after the name of his son.
  • One exalting the Lord’s name; the other exalting his own name
• Seth had a son named, “Enosh”
• The significance of the Divine name (Yahweh) is here foreshadowed and contrasted with mankind’s effort to make for himself a name
  • Zeph. 3:9
• Seth and his offspring are set against Cain and his offspring
  • Cain’s offspring did impressive things; Seth’s offspring called on the name of the Lord
    • Ps. 127:1 – Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.
  • Nothing good is said of any of Cain’s offspring here.
• As a result of Seth (and his son) – people began to call on the name of the Lord
  • The word, “call” is used twice in the verse
  • Seth “called” his son, “Enosh;” then men began to “call” on the name of the Lord
    • The word can mean “to invoke.”
  • NOTE the significance of the “name” of the Lord.

5. Let the structure of the text drive the sermon

Exp.  This passage is a comparison of two individuals and their families

• Cain vs. Seth
• Cain’s offspring vs. Seth’s offspring

Exp.  The advancements of Cain’s offspring could not overshadow the sin that plagued their family

Exp.  This passage reveals that sin bring consequences, but righteousness yields rewards.

Application:

1. The devastating consequences of sin
2. The advances of culture bring convenience, but a spiritual imprint leaves a legacy
3. What kind of legacy is your family leaving behind?
   1. Eve could not have known the Messianic implications of her proclamation of the child whom God had “appointed (4:25).”