Why Do Biblical Genealogies Matter?
Since we’re going through the scroll of Genesis, it was only a matter of time until we had to talk about genealogies. Hear me out. We ought not to disregard them as irrelevant lists of people with names many of us have a hard time pronouncing. I know I do lol.
Nonetheless, genealogies mattered A LOT to the Israelites and other ancient people groups. Biblical genealogies also carry theological messaging and can hint at where the biblical story is headed.
I Am Who My Family Is
When reading Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes, the authors helped me further comprehend how ancient and modern collectivist cultures in the Global East understand identity. A person’s identity is connected to others in their community — their parents, siblings, extended family, and beyond.
This is why people in the Scriptures are often introduced as “the son of ___” or “the daughter of ___.” Even in the modern Global East, this is still significant. I have an Egyptian friend named Michael whose middle name is his father’s first name. Then Michael’s name continues with the names of his grandfather, great-grandfather, and so forth.
To introduce someone from cultures like those in the Scriptures is to inherently introduce their family. So, who you descended from MATTERED because that often determined your place in society and how others viewed you. If an ancestor of yours had a shameful stain on their reputation, it would take a lot to restore one’s family to a place of honor. With that said, let’s turn to someone whose reputation is stained til this day in the eyes of many.
The Family of Cain
After Cain kills Abel, he moves further east from Eden and starts a family. Since Cain’s reputation is now stained with his brother’s blood, a question arises: Will Cain’s descendants continue down a path of violence like their shared ancestor?
17 Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and Cain built a city, and named the city Enoch, after the name of his son. 18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 Lamech took two wives for himself: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and flute. 22 As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah,
Listen to my voice,
You wives of Lamech,
Pay attention to my words,
For I have killed a man for wounding me;
And a boy for striking me!
24 If Cain is avenged seven times,
Then Lamech seventy-seven times!”1
On the surface, Cain’s line seems to be alright…but then we get to Lamech. There are several issues with this dude, but for now, let’s focus on the highlighted words. Like his ancestor Cain, Lamech also has taken another’s life — but he’s killed multiple people. It appears that his speech is to be understood as one of arrogance and brutality.
In verse 24, he refers back to what God said to Cain in Genesis 4:15:
So the Lord said to him [Cain], “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him seven times as much.”
Lamech declares that since Cain would be avenged 7 times over if killed, then he would be avenged 77 times over if someone retaliated against him. But Lamech makes this declaration by his self-proclaimed authority. God doesn’t say this to him. While God showed grace to Cain, Lamech is self-claiming a counterfeit version of that grace.
Lastly, notice how often the number 7 is used in his words. Not only is 7 and 77 mentioned, but Lamech is also the 7th generation from Adam, through Cain’s lineage. The number 7 symbolizes completion or fullness in the Scriptures. As we explored before, Cain repeats the patterns of his father (view here). Now, Lamech is repeating the patterns of Cain. A downward spiral that was continued through Cain’s murder of Abel gets full-blown in the murderous actions of Lamech.
Sadly, Lamech follows the path set by his ancestor and deepens the bloodstained reputation of his family line. But Genesis 4 doesn’t end on a downer — there’s hope at the end. That’s where we’ll head next!
Genesis 4:17-24