Irad

Irad
PronunciationErad
GenderMale
Origin
Word/nameHebrew
Region of originAbrahamic monotheistic traditions.

Irad (עִירָד, Irad) is a name in Hebrew. In the Book of Genesis, the grandson of Cain is Irad.

Genesis 4:18, in a genealogical passage about the descendants of Cain, contains the only reference to Irad in the Bible: "To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methushael, and Methushael the father of Lamech" (New Revised Standard Version).

The lineage of Cain in Genesis 4:17-22 closely parallels the lineage of Cain's brother Seth found in Genesis 5:1-32. In terms of the Documentary hypothesis, the genealogy of Cain is attributed to the Jahwist source, while the genealogy of Seth is attributed to the Priestly source. The J list and P list contain seven pairs of similar names, and the "Irad" of the Jahwist source is parallel to the "Jared" of the Priestly source.