Genesis 5

Commentary

The Descendants of Adam

(1 Chronicles 1:1-4)

1This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

3And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: 4And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: 5And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

6And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: 7And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters: 8And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

9And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan: 10And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters: 11And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.

12And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel: 13And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters: 14And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.

15And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared: 16And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters: 17And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

God Takes Up Enoch

18And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: 19And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 20And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

21And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

From Methuselah to Noah

25And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: 26And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: 27And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

28And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: 29And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed. 30And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters: 31And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.

32And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The Descendants of Adam
(1 Chronicles 1:1–3)

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God’s likeness. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them, and called their name “Adam,” in the day when they were created.

3 Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of sons and daughters. 5 All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.

6 Seth lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh. 7 Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters. 8 All the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.

9 Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters. 11 All the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

12 Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters 14 and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.

15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of sons and daughters. 17 All the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.

God Takes Up Enoch
(Hebrews 11:5)

18 Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, and became the father of Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters. 20 All the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.

21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he became the father of Methuselah three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters. 23 All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

From Methuselah to Noah

25 Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of sons and daughters. 27 All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.

28 Lamech lived one hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of a son, 29 and he named him Noah, saying, “This same will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, because of the ground which Yahweh has cursed.” 30 Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of sons and daughters. 31 All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.

32 Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The Descendants of Adam
(1 Chronicles 1:1–3)

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in His own likeness. 2 Male and female He created them, a and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.” b

3 When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and he named him Seth. 4 And after he had become the father of Seth, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5 So Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

6 When Seth was 105 years old, he became the father of Enosh. 7 And after he had become the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 So Seth lived a total of 912 years, and then he died.

9 When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan. 10 And after he had become the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 So Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died.

12 When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 And after he had become the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 So Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and then he died.

15 When Mahalalel was 65 years old, he became the father of Jared. 16 And after he had become the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 So Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years, and then he died.

God Takes Up Enoch
(Hebrews 11:5)

18 When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch. 19 And after he had become the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 So Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.

21 When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 And after he had become the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God c 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 So Enoch lived a total of 365 years.

24 Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away. d

From Methuselah to Noah

25 When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech. 26 And after he had become the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 So Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.

28 When Lamech was 182 years old, he had a son. 29 And he named him Noah, e saying, “May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed.” 30 And after he had become the father of Noah, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 So Lamech lived a total of 777 years, and then he died.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

 

Footnotes:

2 a Cited in Matthew 19:4 and Mark 10:6
2 b Hebrew Adam
22 c LXX pleased God ; also in verse 24
24 d LXX and he was not found, because God had taken him away ; cited in Hebrews 11:5
29 e Noah  sounds like the Hebrew for rest  or comfort .

The Descendants of Adam

(1 Chronicles 1:1-4)

1This is an account of the births of Adam: In the day of God's preparing man, in the likeness of God He hath made him; 2a male and a female He hath prepared them, and He blesseth them, and calleth their name Man, in the day of their being prepared.

3And Adam liveth an hundred and thirty years, and begetteth a son in his likeness, according to his image, and calleth his name Seth. 4And the days of Adam after his begetting Seth are eight hundred years, and he begetteth sons and daughters. 5And all the days of Adam which he lived are nine hundred and thirty years, and he dieth.

6And Seth liveth an hundred and five years, and begetteth Enos. 7And Seth liveth after his begetting Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begetteth sons and daughters. 8And all the days of Seth are nine hundred and twelve years, and he dieth.

9And Enos liveth ninety years, and begetteth Cainan. 10And Enos liveth after his begetting Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begetteth sons and daughters. 11And all the days of Enos are nine hundred and five years, and he dieth.

12And Cainan liveth seventy years, and begetteth Mahalaleel. 13And Cainan liveth after his begetting Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begetteth sons and daughters. 14And all the days of Cainan are nine hundred and ten years, and he dieth.

15And Mahalaleel liveth five and sixty years, and begetteth Jared. 16And Mahalaleel liveth after his begetting Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begetteth sons and daughters. 17And all the days of Mahalaleel are eight hundred and ninety and five years, and he dieth.

God Takes Up Enoch

18And Jared liveth an hundred and sixty and two years, and begetteth Enoch. 19And Jared liveth after his begetting Enoch eight hundred years, and begetteth sons and daughters. 20And all the days of Jared are nine hundred and sixty and two years, and he dieth.

21And Enoch liveth five and sixty years, and begetteth Methuselah. 22And Enoch walketh habitually with God after his begetting Methuselah three hundred years, and begetteth sons and daughters. 23And all the days of Enoch are three hundred and sixty and five years. 24And Enoch walketh habitually with God, and he is not, for God hath taken him.

From Methuselah to Noah

25And Methuselah liveth an hundred and eighty and seven years, and begetteth Lamech. 26And Methuselah liveth after his begetting Lamech seven hundred and eighty and two years, and begetteth sons and daughters. 27And all the days of Methuselah are nine hundred and sixty and nine years, and he dieth.

28And Lamech liveth an hundred and eighty and two years, and begetteth a son, 29and calleth his name Noah, saying, 'This one doth comfort us concerning our work, and concerning the labour of our hands, because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.' 30And Lamech liveth after his begetting Noah five hundred and ninety and five years, and begetteth sons and daughters. 31And all the days of Lamech are seven hundred and seventy and seven years, and he dieth.

32And Noah is a son of five hundred years, and Noah begetteth Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Genesis 5?
2Introduction to Genesis 5
3Context of Genesis 5
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Genesis 5 Unique Insights
7Genesis 5 Connections to Yeshua
8Genesis 5 Scriptural Echoes
9Genesis 5 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Genesis 5?

Introduction to Genesis 5

Genesis 5 presents the genealogical record from Adam to Noah, often called the Book of the Generations of Adam. This chapter bridges the gap between creation and the flood narrative, spanning approximately 1,656 years of human history. Far from being a mere list of names and numbers, this genealogy reveals God’s faithfulness in preserving the messianic line despite humanity’s fall into sin. The chapter’s structure emphasizes the reality of death entering the world through Adam’s sin while simultaneously highlighting the hope of redemption through the promised seed.

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Context of Genesis 5

Within the immediate context of Genesis, chapter 5 serves as a crucial transition between the aftermath of the Fall (Genesis 3-4) and the great flood narrative (Genesis 6-9). It follows the tragic account of Abel’s murder and Cain’s lineage, contrasting the godly line of Seth with the rebellious line of Cain detailed in chapter 4. This genealogy establishes the ancestral connection between Adam and Noah, through whom God would preserve humanity during the flood.

The chapter fits into the larger biblical narrative by establishing the first major toledot (“generations”) section in Genesis, a key structural marker used throughout the book. This genealogy is more than a family tree; it’s a carefully crafted theological document that traces the line of promise and demonstrates God’s preservation of a righteous remnant through whom the Messiah would eventually come. The pattern of birth, life, and death throughout the chapter serves as a sobering reminder of Genesis 2:17‘s fulfillment while pointing forward to humanity’s need for redemption.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • תּוֹלְדֹת (toledot) – “generations”: This term serves as a structural marker throughout Genesis, introducing new sections and emphasizing the historical progression of God’s redemptive plan. It appears in verse 1 and signals the importance of what follows as part of the larger biblical narrative.
  • בִּדְמוּת (bidmut) – “in the likeness”: Used in verse 3 to describe Seth’s relationship to Adam, echoing the creation of Adam in God’s image. This term emphasizes the transmission of the divine image through the godly line, despite the fall.
  • וַיּוֹלֶד (wayyoled) – “and he begot”: This verb appears repeatedly throughout the chapter, emphasizing the continuation of life and the fulfillment of God’s command to be fruitful and multiply.
  • וַיָּמֹת (wayyamot) – “and he died”: The repetition of this phrase for each patriarch (except Enoch) serves as a stark reminder of sin’s consequences and humanity’s mortality.
  • הִתְהַלֵּךְ (hithallek) – “walked”: Used specifically of Enoch’s relationship with God, this term implies an intimate, continuous fellowship and describes a life of faithful obedience.
  • לָקַח (laqach) – “took”: Used uniquely for Enoch’s translation, indicating God’s supernatural intervention in breaking the pattern of death.
  • יְנַחֲמֵנוּ (yenachamenu) – “he will comfort us”: The meaning of Noah’s name, expressing hope for relief from the curse on the ground and pointing toward future redemption.
  • בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת (banim uvanot) – “sons and daughters”: This phrase appears repeatedly, demonstrating the fulfillment of God’s blessing of multiplication while also indicating that the genealogy is selective rather than exhaustive.

Compare & Contrast

  • Verse 1’s use of סֵפֶר (sefer, “book”) rather than just a simple genealogical list emphasizes the official, authoritative nature of this record. This choice elevates the genealogy beyond mere family history to sacred text.
  • The phrase “in his own likeness, according to his image” in verse 3 deliberately echoes Genesis 1:26, but with a crucial difference: Adam begets in his own image, not God’s, highlighting the effects of the fall while maintaining the connection to divine image-bearing.
  • The consistent pattern of “lived X years, and begot…” followed by “lived after he begot… Y years” creates a precise chronological framework. This structure contrasts with ancient Near Eastern king lists that often contained mythological lifespans of thousands of years.
  • Enoch’s description uniquely breaks the “and he died” pattern with “he was not, for God took him.” This dramatic departure emphasizes the possibility of escaping death through walking with God.
  • The naming of Noah includes a prophetic wordplay connecting נחם (nacham, “comfort”) with the curse on the ground, anticipating his role in the flood narrative and humanity’s fresh start.
  • The consistent mention of “other sons and daughters” prevents misunderstanding these genealogies as complete family records, while maintaining focus on the line of promise.
  • The decreasing lifespans from Adam to Noah subtly document the increasing effects of sin and death on human vitality.

Genesis 5 Unique Insights

The genealogy in Genesis 5 contains several layers of profound meaning often missed by casual readers. The Jewish tradition notes that the names in this genealogy, when read in sequence, form a prophetic message about the coming Messiah. Adam (man), Seth (appointed), Enosh (mortal), Kenan (sorrow), Mahalalel (the blessed God), Jared (shall come down), Enoch (teaching), Methuselah (his death shall bring), Lamech (the despairing), Noah (rest/comfort). When read together: “Man is appointed mortal sorrow, but the blessed God shall come down teaching that His death shall bring the despairing rest.”

The Midrash Rabbah discusses the unique righteousness of Enoch, suggesting that his “walking with God” involved such intimate fellowship that his physical nature was gradually transformed until he could be taken directly into God’s presence. This interpretation finds support in the New Testament letter to the Hebrews 11:5, which explicitly connects Enoch’s translation with his faith.

The extraordinarily long lifespans recorded in this chapter have been the subject of much scholarly discussion. Some ancient Jewish commentators, including Josephus, understood these ages literally and attributed them to superior antediluvian conditions and God’s desire to allow rapid population growth. The numbers also serve a theological purpose, demonstrating both the vigor of God’s original creation and the gradually increasing effects of sin and death on human longevity.

The chapter’s structure employs the number seven in significant ways – Enoch is the seventh from Adam and lives 365 years (the number of days in a solar year), suggesting divine completeness and perfection. This numerical symbolism would have resonated deeply with ancient readers familiar with the significance of seven in biblical literature.

Genesis 5 Connections to Yeshua

Genesis 5’s genealogy points to Yeshua (Jesus) in several significant ways. First, it establishes the beginning of the messianic line through Seth, preserving the “seed of the woman” promised in Genesis 3:15. This lineage is later cited in Luke 3:23-38, tracing Jesus’ human ancestry back to Adam through Seth.

Enoch’s supernatural departure from earth foreshadows the resurrection and ascension of the Messiah. Just as Enoch “walked with God” and was taken directly into God’s presence without experiencing death, so Yeshua maintained perfect fellowship with the Father and ascended bodily into heaven after His resurrection. This parallel is further developed in Hebrews 11:5-6, where Enoch’s faith is presented as a model for believers’ relationship with God through Christ.

Genesis 5 Scriptural Echoes

The genealogical pattern established in Genesis 5 echoes throughout Scripture. It’s referenced directly in 1 Chronicles 1:1-4 and Luke 3:36-38, establishing the historical continuity of God’s redemptive plan. The theme of walking with God introduced with Enoch resonates in passages like Micah 6:8 and 1 John 1:7.

The concept of being “taken” by God (as with Enoch) finds parallel in Elijah’s translation (2 Kings 2:11) and ultimately in the promised rapture of believers (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The theme of death’s reign over humanity is developed in Romans 5:12-14, where Adam’s role in bringing death is contrasted with Christ’s role in bringing life.

Genesis 5 Devotional

This genealogy reminds us that every life matters in God’s grand narrative. Though we may feel insignificant, each person listed played a crucial role in preserving the line through which salvation would come. Like Enoch, we’re called to “walk with God” in close fellowship, demonstrating that genuine relationship with Him transforms our daily lives.

The repeated phrase “and he died” serves as a sobering reminder of our mortality, challenging us to consider how we’re using our limited time on earth. Yet Enoch’s translation offers hope that death need not have the final word for those who walk faithfully with God. Noah’s name and its meaning (“comfort”) encourage us to trust in God’s promises even in times of widespread wickedness and judgment.

Did You Know

  • Methuselah’s name literally means “his death shall bring” or “man of the spear.” Jewish tradition suggests that his death coincided with the start of the flood, as his lifespan of 969 years is the longest recorded in Scripture.
  • The total years from Adam’s creation to Noah’s flood can be calculated from this genealogy as 1,656 years, assuming no gaps in the genealogical record.
  • Enoch lived 365 years, corresponding to the number of days in a solar year, which some scholars suggest symbolically represents a complete life cycle.
  • The ages given for pre-flood patriarchs follow a decreasing pattern, possibly reflecting the gradual effects of sin on human longevity.
  • Noah’s father Lamech is not the same as Lamech in Cain’s line (Genesis 4:18-24), though both named sons related to comfort/rest.
  • The phrase “walked with God” used for Enoch appears only one other time in Genesis, describing Noah (Genesis 6:9).
  • Ancient Near Eastern king lists often claimed reigns of tens of thousands of years, making the biblical ages seem modest by comparison.
  • The genealogy demonstrates remarkable mathematical precision, with each patriarch’s age at firstborn son, remaining years, and total lifespan carefully recorded.
  • The name “Seth” means “appointed” or “placed,” reflecting Eve’s understanding that God had appointed him as a replacement for Abel.
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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

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