What does it mean to be avenged sevenfold (Genesis 4:24)?

Lamech's speech to his wives may seem a little obscure, but the rendering of the New Translation, "for my wounding," and "for my hurt," makes it clearer. Some unfortunate young man had wounded and hurt Lamech, who in revenge, simply rose up and slew him. When Cain had murdered centuries before, he betrayed some sense of wrongdoing. Not so Lamech, who came home to brag to his wives of what he had done, and to make scornful allusion to God's action in forbidding revengeful action against Cain. If Cain was to be avenged sevenfold, why, he would be seventy and sevenfold. He felt himself to be eleven times more important than Cain. Here was the pride of life in high degree!

In this man, then, the seventh from Adam, we see both corruption and violence coming plainly to light. All evil may be classified broadly under these two heads, and evidently Lamech's polygamy and murder quickly bore their bitter fruit until just before the flood, "the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." It is a sad fact that in our day, and in lands where for long the light of the Gospel has been shining, similar conditions are rapidly multiplying.

But not only was Lamech a pioneer in corruption as the first polygamist, but he was also a leader in violence. He was a tremendous egotist, and there comes plainly into view the pride of life. Verses 23 and 24 may not seem very clear to the ordinary reader of the Authorized Version; other translations, however, render it "I have slain a man 'for my wound,' and a young man 'for my bruise.'" From this it would appear that some hapless young man inflicted some bodily injury upon Lamech, who thereupon revenged himself upon him by slaying him. Generations before there had been Cain's wicked outburst, and this brought him so manifestly under the condemnation of men and the judgment of God that for some centuries apparently men were awed into respect for human life. Again it was Lamech who broke through the restriction. And not only did he slay the young man, but after the deed was done he returned to his wives in a spirit of exultation and boasting. He gloried in the deed, and to give his wives an idea of his importance he made irreverent allusion to the divine protection thrown over Cain, by which men were not allowed to touch him — as stated in verse 15 of the chapter. He affirmed that if vengeance for Cain should be sevenfold, for him it should be seventy and sevenfold; thus ranking himself as eleven times more important than Cain! — truly the pride of life!

But not only was Lamech a pioneer in corruption as the first polygamist, but he was also a leader in violence. He was a tremendous egotist, and there comes plainly into view the pride of life. Verses 23 and 24 may not seem very clear to the ordinary reader of the Authorized Version; other translations, however, render it "I have slain a man 'for my wound,' and a young man 'for my bruise.'" From this it would appear that some hapless young man inflicted some bodily injury upon Lamech, who thereupon revenged himself upon him by slaying him.

Generations before there had been Cain's wicked outburst, and this brought him so manifestly under the condemnation of men and the judgment of God that for some centuries apparently men were awed into respect for human life. Again it was Lamech who broke through the restriction. And not only did he slay the young man, but after the deed was done he returned to his wives in a spirit of exultation and boasting. He gloried in the deed, and to give his wives an idea of his importance he made irreverent allusion to the divine protection thrown over Cain, by which Men were not allowed to touch him — as stated in verse 15 of the chapter. He affirmed that if vengeance for Cain should be sevenfold, for him it should be seventy and sevenfold; thus ranking himself as eleven times more important than Cain! — truly the pride of life!

However, linked from the very first with this prosperity are two principles of evil that cannot but undermine the whole society. These are seen in verse 23, corruption and violence. Lamech corrupted God's institution of marriage by having two wives. But he also confesses to his wives that he has been guilty of murder. These two degrading evils have spread throughout all the world, and today are continually advertised in the media, while government unsuccessfully tries to control the wild beastly character of men. However, he claims that he killed the young man because he had been hurt by him, and under these extenuating circumstances he thought he would be more protected from retribution than was Cain. If seven fold judgment fell on one who killed Cain, then the judgment against Lamech's killer would be seventy-seven fold. Cain is a picture of Israel having killed the Lord Jesus and not confessing their crime. Lamech seems to be a type of Israel too, in a coming day confessing their guilt in having killed the Messiah. Then those nations that are determined to exterminate Israel will be punished with an overwhelming vengeance (Zech. 12:9-14).

However, linked from the very first with this prosperity are two principles of evil that cannot but undermine the whole society. These are seen in verse 23, corruption and violence. Lamech corrupted God's institution of marriage by having two wives. But he also confesses to his wives that he had been guilty of murder. These two degrading evils have spread throughout all the world, and today are continually advertised in the media, while government unsuccessfully tries to control the wild beastly character of men. However, he claims that he killed the young man because he had been hurt by him, and under these extenuating circumstances he thought he would be more protected from retribution than was Cain. If seven fold judgment fell on one who killed Cain, then the judgment against Lamech's killer would be seventy-sevenfold. Cain is a picture of Israel having killed the Lord Jesus and not confessing their crime. Lamech seems to be a type of Israel too, in a coming day confessing their guilt in having killed the Messiah. Then those nations that are determined to exterminate Israel will be punished with an overwhelming vengeance (Zech.12:9-14).

Chapter 4:23 may be taken historically, and it is true but typically it refers to the Jews at the end. There is self-will in it every way. Typically it is the remnant of Israel in the last day; but we must not dogmatise about that. Cain is a figure of Israel having killed Christ, and made a vagabond on the earth. At the end the remnant of Israel will own, like Lamech, they have killed this man to their wounding. In the historical sense he kills somebody, and says, "I have been touched, and I will be avenged."

He went out from the presence of the Lord in despair, not in repentance - with his life safe. I cannot but think Lamech's a threat - "Have I done as Cain? I will be seventy-seven times avenged" (only I admit it true of the Jewish remnant at the end, as slayers of Christ).

This is followed up in the account of Lemech's words to his wives, on which tradition has hung its myths, and theologians have speculated through not seeing the divine mind and purpose to be gathered from the scripture. Either way God's word is not honoured by faith; and who can wonder that edification fails? "And Lemech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Ye wives of Lemech, hearken to my speech: For a man I have slain for wounding me, And a youth for hurting me; If Cain shall he avenged seven-fold, Then Lemech too seventy and seven[fold]" (vers. 23, 24).

It is the first recorded poetry in the Bible; and God is in no way the object, but self for this life: another and weighty addition to the picture of the world. Whatever the historical circumstances, the aim was to reassure his wives who dreaded the consequences of his violent deeds. Lemech appears to plead that the blood he had shed was shed in self-defence, not murderously like Cain; and therefore he avails himself of the divine shelter of his own forefather as the surest pledge of intervention on his own behalf.

The world is jubilant as to progress nowadays. There it began; and ere long in the same family the invention of wind and stringed instruments of music, and of all kinds of tools or cutting things in brass and iron: luxury and convenience in the earthly life. Progress could not well be without metallurgy, and Cain's family was in active work soon enough. In Lamech's day polygamy came, and the first verse of which we hear was addressed, not to God in praise or in penitence, but to his wives. A little bit of song goes forth to Adah and Zillah, to excuse and to exalt himself, and to quiet their fears, in sufficiently defiant strain, and not without impious claim of God's sanction. If Cain was to be avenged sevenfold, Lamech surely seven-and-seventyfold. Lamech turns all to his haughty self-reliance.

Descendant of Cain. He was the first to take two wives (sign of corruption); his sons were noted for making musical instruments, and working in brass and iron. Gen. 4:18-24. Lamech acknowledged his vengeance (sign of violence), for some injury he had received, but intimated his belief that God would watch over him as He had over the life of Cain. His address to his wives is poetical. See POETRY.