Event · The Beginning and Early Generations
Cain's descendants and the birth of Seth
Cain's descendants and the birth of SethGenesis 4:17–26No calendar date
Cain's line builds a city and develops music and metalwork; Eve gives birth to Seth, and people begin to call on the LORD's name.
- Main passage Genesis 4:17–26
- Place in the order
- Explicit biblical sequence Scripture itself gives the order of these events.
- Historical setting
- No calendar date Unknown date
Genesis gives these events an order but no calendar date. Totals worked out from the genealogies depend on assumptions and differ between the Hebrew, Greek and Samaritan texts.
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Genesis 4:17–26 WEB
17Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18Irad was born to Enoch. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. 19Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe. 22Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah. 23Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me. 24If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.” 25Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the LORD’s name.