Genesis 4:22
"And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain,.... Thought by many to be the same with Vulcan, his name and business agreeing; for the names are near in sound, Tubalcain may easily pass into Vulcan; and who, with the Heathens, was the god of the smiths, and the maker of Jupiter's thunderbolts, as this was an artificer in iron and brass, as follows: his name is compounded of two words, the latter of which was no doubt put into his name in memory of Cain his great ancestor; the former Josephus (u) reads Thobel, and says of him, that he exceeded all in strength, and had great skill in military affairs: an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron; he taught men the way of melting metals, and of making

armour and weapons of war, and other instruments, for various uses, out of them; and he seems to be the same with the Chrysor of Sanchoniatho; for he says (w) of them (Agreus and Halieus) were begotten two brothers, the inventors of iron, and of working of it: one of these, called Chrysor, is said to be Hephaestus or Vulcan; and Chrysor, as Bochartus (x) seems rightly to conjecture, is "Choresh-Ur, a worker in fire"; that, by means of fire, melted metals, and cast them into different forms, and for different uses; and one of these words is used in the text of Tubalcain; and so, according to Diodorus Siculus (y), Vulcan signifies fire, and was not only the inventor of fire, but he says he was the inventor of all works in iron, brass, gold, and silver, and of all other things wrought by fire, and of all other uses of fire, both by artificers and all other men, and therefore he was called by all "fire". Clemens of Alexandria (z) ascribes the invention of brass and iron to the Idaeans or priests of Cybele in Cyprus; and so Sophocles in Strabo (a): and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah; whose name signifies "pleasant", fair and beautiful; and is thought by some to be the Venus of the Heathens; the Arabic writers (b) say she was a most beautiful woman, and found out colours and painting; and by others Minerva; and Josephus (c) says she excelled in the knowledge of divine things; and Minerva is by the Greeks called Nemanoum (d). The Jews say (e) she was the wife of Noah; and some of them say (f) she was the wife of one Shimron, and the mother of the evil spirit Asmodeus, mentioned in Tobit, and of whom other demons were begotten: the Targuru of Jonathan adds,"she was the mistress of lamentation and songs;''but our Bishop Cumberland (g) conjectures, that she was the wife of Ham, was with him in the ark, and after the flood was the means of leading him into idolatry: what led him to this conjecture was, that he observed in Plutarch, that the wife of Cronus, the same with Ham, is by some called Nemaus, which brought Naamah to his mind. Josephus (h) makes the number of children Lamech had by his two wives to be seventy seven. (u) Antiqu. l. 1. c. 2. sect. 2. (w) Ut supra. (Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 1. p. 35.) (x) Canaan, l. 2. c. 2. col. 706. (y) Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 11, 13. & l. 5. p. 341. (z) Stromat. l. 1. p. 307. Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 34. c. 1, 2. (a) Geograph. l. 10. p. 326. (b) Elmacinus, p. 8. apud Hottinger. Smegma Oriental. l. 1. C. 8. p. 232. (c) Antiqu. l. 1. c. 2. sect. 2. (d) Plutarch. de Jide. (e) Bereshit Rabba, sect. 23. fol. 20. 3. Jarchi in loc. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 1. 2. (f) R. Elias Levita in Tishbi, fol. 19, 21. (g) History of Sanchoniatho, p. 107. (h) Antiqu. l. 1. c. 2. sect. 2.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (16 words)

H6741 צִלָּה
Definition:

19,22,23,Σελλα.Topical LexiconBiblical OccurrencesGenesis 4:19,Genesis 4:22,Genesis 4:23Historical BackgroundZillah appears in the antediluvian genealogy of Cain. Her husband, Lamech, is the first big 19,22,23,Σελλα.Topical LexiconBiblical OccurrencesGenesis 4:19,Genesis 4:22,Genesis 4:23Historical BackgroundZillah appears in the antediluvian genealogy of Cain. Her husband, Lamech, is the first big

Possible Meanings:
  • roast (semantic_range)
H1571 גַּם
Definition:

6וַתִּתֵּן גַּם לְאִישָׁהּand gavealsoto her husband,Genesis 3:27and takealsoof the tree of life,Genesis 7:3;Genesis 19:21;Genesis 24:19;Genesis 26:21;Genesis 29:27;Genesis 30:15;Genesis 32:21(גַּם הִ 6וַתִּתֵּן גַּם לְאִישָׁהּand gavealsoto her husband,Genesis 3:27and takealsoof the tree of life,Genesis 7:3;Genesis 19:21;Genesis 24:19;Genesis 26:21;Genesis 29:27;Genesis 30:15;Genesis 32:21(גַּם הִ

Possible Meanings:
  • moreover (semantic_range)
  • yea (semantic_range)
H1931 הוּא
Definition:

23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both 23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both

H3205 יָלַד
Definition:

18(3 t. in verse) + 16 t.;יָלָ֑דJeremiah 17:11;וְיָלַדconsecutivePsalm 7:15; suffixיְלָֽדְךָDeuteronomy 32:18; 2masculine singular suffixילדתניJeremiah 2:27Kt; Qrיְלִדְתָּנוּ(Köi. 410Ges§ 70, 2. R. 4) 18(3 t. in verse) + 16 t.;יָלָ֑דJeremiah 17:11;וְיָלַדconsecutivePsalm 7:15; suffixיְלָֽדְךָDeuteronomy 32:18; 2masculine singular suffixילדתניJeremiah 2:27Kt; Qrיְלִדְתָּנוּ(Köi. 410Ges§ 70, 2. R. 4)

Possible Meanings:
  • child (semantic_range)
  • son (semantic_range)
  • boy (semantic_range)
  • youth (semantic_range)
H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H8423 תּוּבַל קַיִן
Definition:

22(twice in verse) (J);Θοβελ.תובנתוseeתְּבוּנָהbelowבין.תּוּגָהseeיגה.תּוֺדָהseeידה.I.תוה(√ of following; compare Late Hebrewתָּאו= Biblical Hebrewתָּו,תִּוָּהverb denominative Pi`el;ᵑ7תְּוָאEzekiel 9 22(twice in verse) (J);Θοβελ.תובנתוseeתְּבוּנָהbelowבין.תּוּגָהseeיגה.תּוֺדָהseeידה.I.תוה(√ of following; compare Late Hebrewתָּאו= Biblical Hebrewתָּו,תִּוָּהverb denominative Pi`el;ᵑ7תְּוָאEzekiel 9

H8423 תּוּבַל קַיִן
Definition:

22(twice in verse) (J);Θοβελ.תובנתוseeתְּבוּנָהbelowבין.תּוּגָהseeיגה.תּוֺדָהseeידה.I.תוה(√ of following; compare Late Hebrewתָּאו= Biblical Hebrewתָּו,תִּוָּהverb denominative Pi`el;ᵑ7תְּוָאEzekiel 9 22(twice in verse) (J);Θοβελ.תובנתוseeתְּבוּנָהbelowבין.תּוּגָהseeיגה.תּוֺדָהseeידה.I.תוה(√ of following; compare Late Hebrewתָּאו= Biblical Hebrewתָּו,תִּוָּהverb denominative Pi`el;ᵑ7תְּוָאEzekiel 9

H3913 לָטַשׁ
Definition:

9;Psalm 7:13;Infinitive constructלֵלְטוֺשׁ1 Samuel 13:20;Participleלֹטֵשׁ; —1hammer, onlyParticiple=hammererfollowed byכָּלתֹֿרֵשׁGenesis 4:22(J).2sharpenswordחֶרֶב(accusative)Psalm 7:13; compare1 Sam 9;Psalm 7:13;Infinitive constructלֵלְטוֺשׁ1 Samuel 13:20;Participleלֹטֵשׁ; —1hammer, onlyParticiple=hammererfollowed byכָּלתֹֿרֵשׁGenesis 4:22(J).2sharpenswordחֶרֶב(accusative)Psalm 7:13; compare1 Sam

Possible Meanings:
  • whet (semantic_range)
H3605 כֹּל
Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H2794 חֹרֵשׁ
Definition:

Active participle ofcharash; a fabricator or mechanic -- artificer.see HEBREWcharashNAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Originactive participle ofcharash, q.v.Topical LexiconOverviewḥōrēš appears only twic Active participle ofcharash; a fabricator or mechanic -- artificer.see HEBREWcharashNAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Originactive participle ofcharash, q.v.Topical LexiconOverviewḥōrēš appears only twic

Possible Meanings:
  • magic art (semantic_range)
  • magic drug (semantic_range)
  • skilled in magic arts (semantic_range)
  • drugs (semantic_range)
H5178 נְחשֶׁת
Definition:

45(compare AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 108; feminine1 Chronicles 18:8)copper, bronze(Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Phoenicianנחשת; PalmyreneנחשאLzb322; Syriac,ᵑ7נְחָשָׁא, Arabic, Ethiopic(so also Old Ethiopi 45(compare AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 108; feminine1 Chronicles 18:8)copper, bronze(Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Phoenicianנחשת; PalmyreneנחשאLzb322; Syriac,ᵑ7נְחָשָׁא, Arabic, Ethiopic(so also Old Ethiopi

Possible Meanings:
  • lust (semantic_range)
  • harlotry (semantic_range)
H1270 בַּרְזֶל
Definition:

5iron(withלafform.; frompiercing? Late Hebrewid., Aramaicid.,מַּדְזֶל,, Phoenicianברזל, AssyrianparzilluCOTGloss, (Arabicfetteris loan-word)) — always absolute׳בGenesis 4:2274t. (בַּרְזֶל֑Genesis 4:22 5iron(withלafform.; frompiercing? Late Hebrewid., Aramaicid.,מַּדְזֶל,, Phoenicianברזל, AssyrianparzilluCOTGloss, (Arabicfetteris loan-word)) — always absolute׳בGenesis 4:2274t. (בַּרְזֶל֑Genesis 4:22

Possible Meanings:
  • tool (semantic_range)
H0269 אָחוֹת
Definition:

1+ (never with article); constructאֲחוֺתGenesis 4:22+; suffixאֲחֹתִי(אֲחוֺתִי)Genesis 12:13+, etc.;pluralsuffixאַחְוֺתַי(Qrאַחְיוֺתַי)Joshua 2:13;אֲחוֺתַיִחEzekiel 16:51(Qr; Ktאחותך) + 2 t. (Co all׳אח 1+ (never with article); constructאֲחוֺתGenesis 4:22+; suffixאֲחֹתִי(אֲחוֺתִי)Genesis 12:13+, etc.;pluralsuffixאַחְוֺתַי(Qrאַחְיוֺתַי)Joshua 2:13;אֲחוֺתַיִחEzekiel 16:51(Qr; Ktאחותך) + 2 t. (Co all׳אח

Possible Meanings:
  • sister (semantic_range)
  • sister (semantic_range)
  • another (semantic_range)
H8423 תּוּבַל קַיִן
Definition:

22(twice in verse) (J);Θοβελ.תובנתוseeתְּבוּנָהbelowבין.תּוּגָהseeיגה.תּוֺדָהseeידה.I.תוה(√ of following; compare Late Hebrewתָּאו= Biblical Hebrewתָּו,תִּוָּהverb denominative Pi`el;ᵑ7תְּוָאEzekiel 9 22(twice in verse) (J);Θοβελ.תובנתוseeתְּבוּנָהbelowבין.תּוּגָהseeיגה.תּוֺדָהseeידה.I.תוה(√ of following; compare Late Hebrewתָּאו= Biblical Hebrewתָּו,תִּוָּהverb denominative Pi`el;ᵑ7תְּוָאEzekiel 9

H8423 תּוּבַל קַיִן
Definition:

22(twice in verse) (J);Θοβελ.תובנתוseeתְּבוּנָהbelowבין.תּוּגָהseeיגה.תּוֺדָהseeידה.I.תוה(√ of following; compare Late Hebrewתָּאו= Biblical Hebrewתָּו,תִּוָּהverb denominative Pi`el;ᵑ7תְּוָאEzekiel 9 22(twice in verse) (J);Θοβελ.תובנתוseeתְּבוּנָהbelowבין.תּוּגָהseeיגה.תּוֺדָהseeידה.I.תוה(√ of following; compare Late Hebrewתָּאו= Biblical Hebrewתָּו,תִּוָּהverb denominative Pi`el;ᵑ7תְּוָאEzekiel 9

H5279 נַעֲמָה
Definition:

Feminine ofNa'am; pleasantness; Naamah, the name of an antediluvian woman, of an Ammonitess, and of a place in Palestine -- Naamah.see HEBREWNa'amBrown-Driver-BriggsI.נַעֲמָהproper name, feminine 1.si Feminine ofNa'am; pleasantness; Naamah, the name of an antediluvian woman, of an Ammonitess, and of a place in Palestine -- Naamah.see HEBREWNa'amBrown-Driver-BriggsI.נַעֲמָהproper name, feminine 1.si

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

---

Get the daily verse delivered free

Create Free Account

Automatic daily verse emails after signup

← Chapter 4 All Chapters