Genesis 4:25

25 ¹Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named * him Seth, for, she said, "God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, ²for Cain killed him."

Genesis 4:25 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 4:25

And Adam knew his wife again
The Targum of Jonathan adds, at the end of a hundred and thirty years after Abel was killed, see ( Genesis 5:3 ) but, according to Bishop Usher, Seth was born the same year, which is most probable.

And she bare a son, and called his name Seth,
that is, "put, placed, set"; not with any respect to Cain, who had no settled fixed abode, but wandered about; or to Seth as a foundation of the church and true religion, being a type of Christ the only foundation, though he may be considered in such a light; but the reason of his name follows:

for God, [said she], hath appointed me another seed instead of
Abel, whom Cain slew;
that is, another son in his room; and by calling him a "seed", she may have respect unto the promised seed, whom she once thought Cain was, or however expected him in his line, as being the firstborn; but he proving a wicked man, and having slain his brother Abel, on whom her future hope was placed, has another son given her, and substituted in his room, in whom, and in whose family, the true religion would be preserved, and from whom the Messiah, the promised seed, would spring see ( Galatians 3:16 ) .

Genesis 4:25 In-Context

23 Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech, Give heed to my speech, For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me;

24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

25 Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, "God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him."

26 To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD .

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 5:3
• 2. Genesis 4:8

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "knew"
• [b] Heb "Sheth"
• [c] Heb "shath"
• [d] Lit "seed"