Genesis 5

Genesis 5 is often referred to as the genealogy of Adam, detailing the lineage from Adam to Noah. This chapter emphasizes the longevity of the early patriarchs and the continuous line of descendants leading to Noah, who plays a significant role in the narrative of the flood. The chapter also reinforces the effects of Adam's fall, as each descendant is described as living and then dying, showing that death has become part of human existence.

Genesis 5:1-3 (NKJV)
This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.
He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.
And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

These verses establish the foundation of humanity, reminding us of Adam and Eve's creation in God's image. However, after the fall, Adam’s descendants are now born in his likeness, not the perfect likeness of God. Seth is mentioned as the next important figure after Abel’s death and Cain’s fall into sin, signifying the continuation of the godly line through which God's purposes will unfold. Seth’s birth represents hope and a new beginning for humanity, despite the consequences of the fall.

Genesis 5:4-5 (NKJV)
After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters.
So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.

Adam's long life emphasizes the unique longevity of humanity in its early generations. Despite living many years and having numerous descendants, the final phrase, "and he died," serves as a sobering reminder of the curse of death introduced by sin. Adam’s death marks the fulfillment of God’s word in Genesis 2:17, showing the inescapable reality of mortality, even for the first man.

Genesis 5:6-8 (NKJV)
Seth lived one hundred and five years, and begot Enosh.
After he begot Enosh, Seth lived eight hundred and seven years, and had sons and daughters.
So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died.

Seth, continuing the line of Adam, becomes the father of Enosh, representing the next generation. The genealogy highlights that despite long lives, each patriarch eventually faces death. The repetition of “and he died” reinforces the ongoing reality of sin's consequences. Still, Seth’s descendants represent the hope of godliness, as it was during the days of Enosh that people began to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26).

Genesis 5:9-11 (NKJV)
Enosh lived ninety years, and begot Cainan.
After he begot Cainan, Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years, and had sons and daughters.
So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died.

The pattern continues with Enosh, who lived 905 years and fathered Cainan. While the genealogy maintains the rhythm of life and death, it subtly suggests the continuity of the godly line that remains faithful to God. Though they lived extended lives, death continued to reign over humanity, a reminder of the fall's lasting impact.

Genesis 5:12-14 (NKJV)
Cainan lived seventy years, and begot Mahalalel.
After he begot Mahalalel, Cainan lived eight hundred and forty years, and had sons and daughters.
So all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died.

Cainan, like his ancestors, lived a long life and fathered Mahalalel. The genealogical record keeps repeating the rhythm of life, fatherhood, and death. Each generation seems to emphasize that despite the curse of death, humanity continued to multiply and fill the earth, in fulfillment of God’s original command to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).

Genesis 5:15-17 (NKJV)
Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and begot Jared.
After he begot Jared, Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years, and had sons and daughters.
So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died.

Mahalalel's life follows the familiar pattern, and through him, the lineage progresses to Jared. The mention of sons and daughters underscores the continuity of humanity, but the refrain “and he died” is ever-present, reminding us of the mortality that began with Adam. The genealogy continues to push forward, each generation bringing humanity closer to the coming of Noah.

Genesis 5:18-20 (NKJV)
Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch.
After he begot Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years, and had sons and daughters.
So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died.

Jared fathers Enoch, one of the more notable figures in the genealogy. Jared’s life follows the established pattern of longevity and eventual death, but the mention of Enoch signals something different in the upcoming verses. The repeated phrase "and he died" becomes a backdrop to the unique mention of Enoch, hinting at a break in the cycle of death.

Genesis 5:21-24 (NKJV)
Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.
After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.
So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Enoch stands out as an exception in this genealogy. Unlike the others, it is said that Enoch "walked with God," implying a special, close relationship with the Creator. His departure from this world is unique, as "he was not, for God took him." This suggests that Enoch did not experience death in the usual way but was taken by God, symbolizing faithfulness and divine favor. “God took him” is understood to mean that Enoch was translated directly to heaven or into God’s presence without experiencing death. This phrase implies that Enoch’s relationship with God was so profound that he was spared the normal process of dying. This is one of only two instances in the Bible where someone is taken to heaven without dying—the other being the prophet Elijah, who was taken up in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). Enoch’s translation into God's presence likely meant he was granted a special, prolonged life with God, but not the fullness of eternal life, which was only made possible after Christ’s mission to defeat sin and death. Enoch’s experience foreshadowed the hope of eternal life, but it was only through Christ’s death and resurrection that true eternal life became available for all humanity.

Genesis 5:25-27 (NKJV)
Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech.
After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters.
So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.

Methuselah, the son of Enoch, is famous for living the longest recorded life in the Bible—969 years. His extraordinary lifespan stands as a testimony to the longevity of pre-flood humanity, during a time when people lived much longer than they do today. Despite this great length of life, Methuselah, like all others, faces death, fulfilling the consequence of sin that entered through Adam, as seen in Genesis 5 with each patriarch's final statement: "and he died."

Methuselah’s death is traditionally understood to have occurred in the same year as the flood, possibly representing the closing of a significant era in biblical history—just before God's judgment on the earth through Noah’s flood. This connection between Methuselah's death and the flood may suggest that God’s patience extended throughout Methuselah’s life before finally bringing judgment.

The Lamech mentioned here is from the line of Seth, not to be confused with Lamech from the line of Cain in Genesis 4. This Lamech, the father of Noah, is part of the righteous lineage that would continue through the flood. Unlike Cain’s Lamech, who is associated with violence and pride, Noah’s father represents the godly line through which God would preserve humanity.

Genesis 5:28-31 (NKJV)
Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son.
And he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed.”
After he begot Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years, and had sons and daughters.
So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died.

Lamech’s life introduces Noah, who is described as the one who will bring comfort in the face of the cursed ground. Lamech's prophetic words about Noah hint at the coming flood and the new beginning that Noah will bring for humanity. Lamech’s lifespan, 777 years, also symbolically echoes completion or divine intervention, further highlighting Noah’s significance in the unfolding story of redemption.

Genesis 5:32 (NKJV)
And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The chapter concludes by mentioning Noah’s three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who will play key roles in the events that follow, particularly in the flood narrative. Their mention marks the transition from the genealogy of Adam to the story of Noah, setting the stage for the flood and the new beginning for humanity that Noah represents.