Meaning & History
Lemekh is the Hebrew form of Lamech, a biblical name borne by two figures in the Book of Genesis. The name Lamech is thought to be derived from a Semitic root meaning "to make low" or perhaps the Hebrew word for strength, but its exact etymology remains uncertain.
In the Old Testament, the first Lemekh (following the spelling used in Hebrew transliteration) appears in Genesis 4:18–24 as a descendant of Cain. He is notorious for his polygamy, marrying both Adah and Zillah, and for the vengeful poem known as the "Song of the Sword," where he boasts that he has slain a man for wounding him, promising seventy-seventfold vengeance (Genesis 4:23–24). This Lemekh’s lineage did not survive the Flood.
The second and more significant Lemekh is the father of Noah, a descendant of Seth (Genesis 5:28–31). Genesis 5:29 records that Lemekh named his son Noah, saying, "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed." This Lemekh measures 777 years in the Masoretic text, which stands out as the longest lifespan among the pre-Flood patriarchs before Methuselah (having 969 years). While the figure of Lemekh is often glossed over in popular Bible stories, his two appearances — one violent, one pious — illustrate the contrasting bloodlines of Cain and Seth, a theological motif in Genesis.
The name Lemekh (and its common English counterpart Lamech) appears almost exclusively in Jewish and Christian contexts. It has occasionally been used as a given name in the Anglophone world, but remains rare due to the ambiguous and largely unfamiliar biblical associations. Variants include the standard English Lamech and the Ukrainian Lemekh which functions as a surname. Outside of religious studies, the name sees minimal modern adoption.
Despite its rarity, Lemekh carries a religious significance tied to early Genesis stories that explore human mortality, divine judgment (symbolized by the Flood), and the foreshadowing of Noah’s promise — themes summarized in the lifespan of 777 being a symbol of completion and divine timing.
- Meaning: Usually given as "to make low" or possibly "strong man" in Hebrew;
- Origin: Hebrew (used in the Old Testament);
- Type: First name;
- Usage regions: Jewish and Christian cultures, primarily as a historical/religious name.