Genesis 5:1-32

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• The genealogical records from Adam to Noah (and his sons). The predominant feature is the recording of the ages of the people who are listed.

Comments

This is the beginning of the second "eyewitness" account in the book of Genesis. (It ends part-way into chapter 6.) This chapter focuses on pre-Flood genealogy; the beginning of chapter 6 describes the world conditions at the end of this period of time. Since Noah and his offspring provide the "transition" between pre-Flood and post-Flood, the pattern carried throughout the rest of the genealogy ("he lived... had children... died") is not completed.

Scripture

Genesis 5:1-32 - The genealogy of Adam, through his son Seth.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Gen 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God's likeness. Gen 5:2 He created them male and female, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.	Another affirmation of the nature of male/female; image of God; etc. (See Genesis 1:26-28.) Note that the name "Adam" represented both the individual, as well as all humanity - both male and female. Adam as "Mankind" Image of God Significance of Male-Female
Gen 5:3 Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. Gen 5:4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of sons and daughters. Gen 5:5 All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.	Adam's offspring (which includes us) would be born in Adam's "likeness." Even though they still bear the "image of God, it will be marred. Now they will carry in them the sin nature they inherited from Adam. Image of Adam Sin Nature Even so, the physical and genetic degeneration that we experience today had had hardly begun... long life was still possible. Human Lifespans Genetic Issues
Gen 5:6 Seth lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh. Gen 5:7 Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters. Gen 5:8 All the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.	Note the potential for huge population increases. With such long lives, a woman's ability to bear children could span several centuries! Reproduction-Population There would also be a great overlap between generations; and this fact has many implications about the ability to communicate verbal information accurately down through the centuries. If there are no breaks (omitted names) in the genealogy, Lamech (Noah's father) would have been 56 years old when Adam died! Genealogy Issues Communication of Pre-Flood Accounts
Gen 5:9 Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan. Gen 5:10 Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters. Gen 5:11 All the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.
Gen 5:12 Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel. Gen 5:13 Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters Gen 5:14 and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.
Gen 5:15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Jared. Gen 5:16 Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of sons and daughters. Gen 5:17 All the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.
Gen 5:18 Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, and became the father of Enoch. Gen 5:19 Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters. Gen 5:20 All the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.
Gen 5:21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Gen 5:22 Enoch walked with God after he became the father of Methuselah three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters. Gen 5:23 All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years. Gen 5:24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.	This world is not a "closed system," but is open to influences from outside the system (such as, God). See also Hebrews 11:5. People Being Taken to Heaven People Who Have Not Died Walking with God
Gen 5:25 Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech. Gen 5:26 Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of sons and daughters. Gen 5:27 All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.	The longest-living human in recorded history. He would have died the year of the Flood.
Gen 5:28 Lamech lived one hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of a son, Gen 5:29 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." Gen 5:30 Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of sons and daughters. Gen 5:31 All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.	Lamech could have personally known Adam. Lamech seemed to be keenly aware of the "cursedness" of God's curse on the ground; and he longed for some relief from the burden. He considered the birth of Noah to be an answer to his longing. (The name "Noah" is related to the Hebrew words for "comfort" or "rest.") Was the burden of working the ground increasing, perhaps through being overworked for many centuries (combined with massive population growth)? If so, there are many potential ecological implications. This "second world" will soon come to an end, in Noah's day (the "Second World Judgment"); but the reasons for the judgment, given in chapter 6, have to do with moral issues, not ecological ones.
Gen 5:32 Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.	The genealogy ends abruptly and changes focus to describing the conditions of the world during the days of Noah. (See chapter 6.)

Scripture Passages (Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.) Genesis  •  Exodus  •  Leviticus  •  Numbers  •  Deuteronomy  •  Joshua  •  Judges  •  Ruth  •  1 Samuel  •  2 Samuel  •  1 Kings  •  2 Kings  •  1 Chronicles  •  2 Chronicles  •  Ezra  •  Nehemiah  •  Esther  •  Job  •  Psalms  •  Proverbs  •  Ecclesiastes  •  Song of Solomon  •  Isaiah  •  Jeremiah  •  Lamentations  •  Ezekiel  •  Daniel  •  Hosea  •  Joel  •  Amos  •  Obadiah  •  Jonah  •  Micah  •  Nahum  •  Habakkuk  •  Zephaniah  •  Haggai  •  Zechariah  •  Malachi Matthew  •  Mark  •  Luke  •  John  •  Acts  •  Romans  •  1 Corinthians  •  2 Corinthians  •  Galatians  •  Ephesians  •  Philippians  •  Colossians  •  1 Thessalonians  •  2 Thessalonians  •  1 Timothy  •  2 Timothy  •  Titus  •  Philemon  •  Hebrews  •  James  •  1 Peter  •  2 Peter  •  1 John  •  2 John  •  3 John  •  Jude  •  Revelation

—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.