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Lamech

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Two figures: a descendant of Cain known for vengeance, and Noah’s father

Detailed Definition
The Cainite Lamech boasted of violent retribution (Genesis 4:23–24); the Sethite Lamech named Noah, hoping for relief from toil (Genesis 5:28–31). In poetry, the dual Lamechs contrast human arrogance with hopeful faith, illustrating how names carry divergent legacies within sacred history.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Genesis 4:23–24, Lamech boasts of vengeance seventy-sevenfold—a chilling precursor to Jesus’ call for forgiveness; Milton references Lamech in “Paradise Lost” (Book XI) as emblematic of escalating human violence post-Eden; Poet William Blake alludes to Lamech in “The Ghost of Abel” to critique cycles of retribution; In moral poetry of the 17th century, Lamech symbolizes prideful justice divorced from mercy; Modern verse uses Lamech’s song as a warning against toxic masculinity and unchecked rage; Some liturgical laments contrast Lamech’s boast with Christ’s plea: “Father, forgive them.”
Additional Notes
Lamech appears twice in Genesis: once as a descendant of Cain known for his vengeful poem (Gen 4:23–24)—one of the Bible’s earliest examples of lyrical verse—and again as Noah’s father; the poetic utterance of the first Lamech provides a rare glimpse into ancient Near Eastern poetic form and themes of retribution, useful for students analyzing early biblical poetics.
Also Known As
Lamech father of Noah Lamech son of Methuselah
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