The son of Methuselah, and father of Noah, (See Genesis 5:25-31) His name means somewhat poor, or made low, from Macac. His observation at the birth of Noah was remarkable. "This same, said he, shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands." (Genesis 5:29) The Holy Ghost hath not given us authority to say it was prophetical, but when we consider the eminency of Noah, a preacher of Jesus, by faith, (see Hebrews 11:7) we may well suppose, that his father's hopes concerning him sprang from somewhat more than nature. Creature-hopes and creature-prospects are for the most part deceitful, and the more we lean upon them the feebler they prove. I should hope, therefore, that Lamech's hopes of his son Noah were on the church's account, and had an eye to the covenant of grace.
There was another Lamech of the descendants of Cain. (See Genesis 4:17-18) He appears to have been the first who broke the divine commandment, by taking more wives than one. (See Genesis 2:24)
See the Lord's displeasure at this, Malachi 2:14-16. And yet more particularly hear what the Lord Jesus Christ saith upon this subject, Matthew 19:3-10. The names of his two wives are in some measure descriptive of his sin and folly, for Adah and Zillah compounded, would imply an assembly, a shadow. It were well if the favourers of polygamy would consider these things. The Lord Jesus declares, that from the beginning it was not so; and perhaps in no one instance hath it been free from sorrow. And as from an authority which becomes unquestionable, the married state is declared to be sacred, as typical of Christ's union with his church, the abettors of double marriages would farther do well to consider, what a running counter this is to this blessed doctrine, as well as to the original appointment of heaven. (See Ephesians 5:23-33; 1 Corinthians 7:2)
See Concubine.