Genesis Chapter 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.
2 He created them male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, he named them Adam.
3 Adam lived one hundred and 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 other sons and daughters.
5 All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, then he died.
6 Seth lived one hundred and five years, then became the father of Enosh.
7 Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.
8 All of the days of Seth were nine hundred and 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 and fifteen years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.
11 All of the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, then he died.
12 Kenan lived seventy years, then became the father of Mahalalel.
13 Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred and forty years, and became the father of other sons and daughters
14 and all of the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years, then he died.
15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, then became the father of Jared.
16 Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.
17 All of the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, then he died.
18 Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, then became the father of Enoch.
19 Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.
20 All of the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, then he died.
21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, then became the father of Methuselah.
22 After Methuselah's birth, Enoch walked with God for three hundred years, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
23 All the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took him.
25 Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, then became the father of Lamech.
26 Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.
27 All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, then he died.
28 Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, then became the father of a son.
29 He named him Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground which the LORD has cursed."
30 Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred and ninety-five years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.
31 All the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, then he died.
32 Noah was five hundred years old, then Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Footnotes
- Verse 2 (Adam)
- "Adam" and "Man" are spelled with the exact same consonants in Hebrew, so this can be correctly translated either way.
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Genesis Chapter 5 Guide
In this chapter we have a condensed account of fifteen centuries in human history. The ruin of the race had come through man's belief in the devil's lie. "Ye shall not surely die." The repetition throughout the chapter of the sentence, "And he died," indicates the vindication of God against the lie of the devil. The chapter with its account of the ages of these men is of value as it reveals how early history was preserved. Adam was yet alive when Methuselah was born, and Methuselah was yet alive when Noah was born. Thus two persons form a link of connection between Adam and Abraham, a span of two thousand years. The story of creation and the fall may have been told by Adam to Methuselah, and by him to Noah. Noah still lived to be contemporary with Terah, the father of Abraham. This, of course, is merely suggestive, but does indicate a possibility.
It will be realized that the supreme glory of this chapter is its brief but wonderful picture of Enoch. One man who though living contemporaneously with Lamech yet lived in conformity with the will of God in life and conduct as it is so remarkably expressed, "Enoch walked with God." As a result of this fellowship in life, he was "translated that he should not see death," God thus indicating, even in the midst of all the darkness, His power to triumph by grace over the consequences of evil when man submits himself to Him on the basis of faith.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Genesis Chapter 5 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Adam and Seth. -- (1-5)
- The patriarchs from Seth to Enoch. -- (6-20)
- Enoch. -- (21-24)
- Methuselah to Noah. -- (25-32)
Verses 1-5
Adam was made in the image of God; but when fallen he begat a son in his own image, sinful and defiled, frail, wretched, and mortal, like himself. Not only a man like himself, consisting of body and soul, but a sinner like himself. This was the reverse of that Divine likeness in which Adam was made; having lost it, he could not convey it to his seed. Adam lived, in all, 930 years; and then died, according to the sentence passed upon him, "To dust thou shalt return." Though he did not die in the day he ate forbidden fruit, yet in that very day he became mortal. Then he began to die; his whole life after was but a reprieve, a forfeited, condemned life; it was a wasting, dying life. Man's life is but dying by degrees.
Verses 6-20
Concerning each of these, except Enoch, it is said, "and he died." It is well to observe the deaths of others. They all lived very long; not one of them died till he had seen almost eight hundred years, and some of them lived much longer; a great while for an immortal soul to be prisoned in a house of clay. The present life surely was not to them such a burden as it commonly is now, else they would have been weary of it. Nor was the future life so clearly revealed then, as it now under the gospel, else they would have been urgent to remove to it. All the patriarchs that lived before the flood, except Noah, were born before Adam died. From him they might receive a full account of the creation, the fall, the promise, and the Divine precepts about religious worship and a religious life. Thus God kept up in his church the knowledge of his will.
Verses 21-24
Enoch was the seventh from Adam. Godliness is walking with God: which shows reconciliation to God, for two cannot walk together except they be agreed, Am 3:3. It includes all the parts of a godly, righteous, and sober life. To walk with God, is to set God always before us, to act as always under his eye. It is constantly to care, in all things to please God, and in nothing to offend him. It is to be followers of him as dear children. The Holy Spirit, instead of saying, Enoch lived, says, Enoch walked with God. This was his constant care and work; while others lived to themselves and the world, he lived to God. It was the joy of his life. Enoch was removed to a better world. As he did not live like the rest of mankind, so he did not leave the world by death as they did. He was not found, because God had translated him, Heb 11:5. He had lived but 365 years, which, as men's ages were then, was but the midst of a man's days. God often takes those soonest whom he loves best; the time they lose on earth, is gained in heaven, to their unspeakable advantage. See how Enoch's removal is expressed: he was not, for God took him. He was not any longer in this world; he was changed, as the saints shall be, who are alive at Christ's second coming. Those who begin to walk with God when young, may expect to walk with him long, comfortably, and usefully. The true christian's steady walk in holiness, through many a year, till God takes him, will best recommend that religion which many oppose and many abuse. And walking with God well agrees with the cares, comforts, and duties of life.
Verses 25-32
Methuselah signifies, he dies, there is a dart,' a sending forth,' namely, of the deluge, which came the year that Methuselah died. He lived 969 years, the longest that any man ever lived on earth; but the longest liver must die at last. Noah signifies rest; his parents gave him that name, with a prospect of his being a great blessing to his generation. Observe his father's complaint of the calamitous state of human life, by the entrance of sin, and the curse of sin. Our whole life is spent in labour, and our time filled up with continual toil. God having cursed the ground, it is as much as some can do, with the utmost care and pains, to get a hard livelihood out comfort us." It signifies not only that desire and expectation which parents generally have about their children, that they will be comforts to them and helpers, though they often prove otherwise; but it signifies also a prospect of something more. Is Christ ours? Is heaven ours? We need better comforters under our toil and sorrow, than the dearest relations and the most promising offspring; may we seek and find comforts in Christ.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.