Commentators overwhelmingly interpret Lamech's poem not as a confession of guilt, but as an arrogant boast. Unlike his ancestor Cain who feared retribution, Lamech, likely armed with newly invented metal weapons, brags to his wives about his violent deed. Scholars see this as a significant escalation of sin, where violence becomes a source of pride and ferocity, marking a deep moral degradation in the line of Cain.