Adah and Zillah: The Wives of Lamech

In the genealogical story of Genesis 4, after the account of Cain and Abel, we come across a brief but meaningful passage that introduces Lamech and his two wives, Adah and Zillah. This passage, found in Genesis 4:19–24, records the first instance of polygamy in Scripture and provides deep insights into human civilization’s development, the nature of violence, and the complex family dynamics of the ancient world before the flood. Though Adah and Zillah are only briefly mentioned in the biblical text, their presence and relationship with Lamech hold important theological and cultural significance that merit careful study.

The Biblical Text and Context

The passage states: “Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute. Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah. 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’” (Genesis 4:19–24, NIV).

This passage is part of the broader Cainite genealogy, which traces Cain’s lineage after his exile from Eden [Hess 1992: 4:136]. The narrative deliberately contrasts Cain’s line with Seth’s, highlighting two distinct paths of human development and moral focus.

The Significance of Polygamy

The introduction of Adah and Zillah as Lamech’s wives marks a significant departure from the divine pattern established in Eden. The original design for marriage, as outlined in Genesis 2:24, envisioned a monogamous union where “a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Lamech’s decision to take two wives represents humanity’s first recorded deviation from this divine blueprint [Mariottini 2014].

The names of the wives themselves carry symbolic significance. “Adah” comes from the Hebrew root meaning “ornament” or “beauty,” while “Zillah” originates from a root meaning “shadow” or “shade.” These names may reflect not only their physical features but also their roles within Lamech’s household and the broader symbolic structure of the story. Adah, as “ornament,” might symbolize the aesthetic and cultural goals of advancing civilization, while Zillah, as “shadow,” could represent the darker sides of human nature that emerge alongside technological progress.

The Children and Their Contributions

The sons born to Adah and Zillah symbolize notable advances in human civilization. Jabal, son of Adah, is described as “the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock,” highlighting the emergence of nomadic pastoralism and organized animal farming. His brother Jubal becomes “the father of all who play the harp and flute,” signifying the origins of musical arts and cultural expression [Brueggemann 1982: 65].

Zillah’s son, Tubal-Cain, “forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron,” demonstrating the progress of metallurgy and technology. The mention of both bronze and iron shows a sophisticated understanding of metalworking that would have significant impacts on agriculture and military strength.

These achievements, while reflecting real human progress, occur within the context of the Cainite line, which the biblical story consistently depicts as morally flawed. This creates a theological tension: authentic cultural and technological progress rising from a lineage characterized by violence and rebellion against God.

The Relationship Dynamics

The relationship between Lamech and his wives shows complicated power, protection, and male authority. The text shares Lamech’s famous boast directly to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words.” This way of speaking suggests both closeness and control, as Lamech demands their attention for his violent claim [Errington 2018: 114–122]

The plural marriage arrangement itself reflects the increasing complexity of social structures in the antediluvian world. While the text doesn’t explicitly describe the relationship between Adah and Zillah, their shared status as wives of the same man would have created unique challenges and dynamics. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, polygamous marriages often involved complex hierarchies, rivalries, and alliances between co-wives.

The fact that both women are named and their children’s accomplishments are recorded indicates they held important status within their household and community. This is different from many biblical genealogies, where women are either unnamed or only mentioned briefly.

Lamech’s Violent Boast

The climax of the passage occurs with Lamech’s violent boast to his wives. This speech, sometimes called the “Song of Lamech,” [Smith 1883: 199-200] marks a dramatic escalation of the violence that started with Cain’s murder of Abel. While Cain killed in a moment of passion and showed remorse, Lamech boasts about killing in apparent retaliation and threatens even greater violence.

The involvement of Adah and Zillah as the audience for this boast is notable. Lamech’s decision to address his wives directly suggests several possibilities: he might be seeking their approval or admiration, warning them about the consequences of crossing him, or simply including them in his sphere of authority and protection. The wives’ reactions are not recorded, leaving their responses to Lamech’s violent boast as speculative.

Theological Implications

The story of Adah, Zillah, and Lamech highlights several key theological themes. First, it shows how sin develops and its social effects grow over time. The narrative follows a path from Adam and Eve’s disobedience, through Cain killing Abel, to Lamech’s proud violence and polygamous marriage. Each generation seems to stray further from the divine ideal.

Second, the passage shows the complex link between human cultural achievement and moral decline. The technological and artistic progress shown by Lamech’s sons happens alongside rising violence and social problems. This indicates that human progress, though significant, can’t solve the deeper spiritual issues of humanity.

Third, the polygamous marriage introduces themes of relational brokenness that will resonate throughout Scripture. The departure from monogamous marriage is not just a social change but a fundamental shift in how humans relate to one another and to God’s design for human flourishing.

Women in the Antediluvian World

The brief appearance of Adah and Zillah offers important insights into the status and role of women in the antediluvian world. Despite living in a patriarchal society, both women are named, and their contributions to the family lineage are recognized. The fact that their children’s achievements are recorded indicates that these women held significant influence in shaping the next generation.

Their role as co-wives in a polygamous marriage would have required a great deal of social and emotional intelligence to handle. The text’s silence about any conflict between them might suggest either successful cooperation or that the story focuses on other matters. In either case, their ability to raise children who became cultural innovators shows their competence and influence.

Cultural and Historical Context

The passage highlights the social and technological progress of the ancient world. The shift from agriculture (implied in earlier chapters) to pastoralism, metallurgy, and musical arts reflects the archaeological record of human cultural evolution. The specific mention of bronze and iron working indicates the narrative covers a significant period of technological advancement.

The polygamous marriage also reflects practices common in the ancient Near East, where having multiple wives often signified wealth, status, and the need for alliances between families or tribes. However, the biblical narrative’s depiction of this practice as a departure from divine design creates a critical perspective that sets it apart from mere cultural tradition.

Literary and Narrative Function

Within the broader structure of Genesis, the story of Adah, Zillah, and Lamech serves multiple literary purposes. It offers a contrast to the line of Seth, which will be introduced in the next chapter. The technological and cultural accomplishments of the Cainite line highlight human potential while also showing that progress alone is not enough without moral and spiritual growth.

The passage also highlights patterns and themes that will appear throughout Scripture. The issues of violence, the challenges of polygamous marriage, and the tension between human achievement and divine will all show up repeatedly in biblical stories.

Lessons for Contemporary Understanding

The story of Adah and Zillah provides several lessons for modern readers. First, it highlights the lasting importance of marriage and family structures in society. The departure from monogamous marriage in this story acts as a warning about the social effects of ignoring divine design in human relationships.

Second, the passage shows the complicated connection between technological progress and moral growth. The accomplishments of Lamech’s sons represent real human creativity and innovation, but they happen in a setting of rising violence and social disorder. This indicates the need for moral and spiritual growth to go along with technological development.

Third, the role of women in this narrative, although limited by ancient cultural constraints, shows their important influence in shaping human civilization. Adah and Zillah, although briefly mentioned, are the mothers of cultural innovators whose contributions shaped human society.

Conclusion

The brief account of Adah and Zillah in Genesis 4:19–24 offers insight into the complex social, technological, and moral developments of the antediluvian world. Their relationship with Lamech highlights both the potential and the issues of human civilization as it advanced away from close fellowship with God.

Although the text leaves many questions unanswered about these women’s personal experiences and perspectives, their presence in the narrative plays important theological and literary roles. They symbolize the human capacity for both cultural achievement and moral failure, the complexity of family relationships in a fallen world, and the lasting significance of women’s contributions to human civilization.

Their story reminds us that progress in technology, arts, and social organization, while valuable, cannot fulfill the fundamental human need for the right relationship with God and with one another. The journey from Eden through Cain to Lamech shows humanity’s growing distance from divine design, setting the stage for the eventual judgment of the flood and the need for redemption.

In studying Adah and Zillah, we see not just historical figures but symbols of the human condition itself: capable of great achievements yet struggling with moral failure, made for relationships but often engaging in destructive patterns, bearing the image of God yet marred by sin. Their brief mention in Scripture holds significance well beyond their few verses, helping us understand human nature, divine purpose, and the complex relationship between progress and moral growth in human civilization.

Claude Mariottini
Emeritus Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

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Bibliography

Andrew Errington, “On Male Violence: A Theological Reflection on Genesis 4:19–24.” St Mark’s Review 243 (March 2018): 144-122.

Brueggemann, Walter. Genesis. Interpretation. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1982.

Hess, Richard S. “Lamech (Person).” The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 4:136.

Mariottini, Claude “The Bigamy of Lamech”

Smith, J. A. “The Song of Lamech.” The Hebrew Student 2 (March 1883): 193–200