This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:
And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:
And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:
And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.
And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:
And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:
And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
And 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.
And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 5 serves as a vital bridge, connecting the creation narrative and the early history of humanity to the time of Noah and the great flood. It meticulously traces the generations from Adam through Seth to Noah, establishing a lineage of both physical and spiritual significance. This chapter highlights God's initial design for humanity, the pervasive consequences of sin, and the enduring hope for redemption. Understanding Genesis 5 is crucial for grasping the context of God's judgment and subsequent covenant with Noah.
The Image of God Endures
The chapter begins by reiterating the profound truth that God created humankind in His own image (Genesis 5:1-2). This "image" (Hebrew: tselem) isn't primarily about physical resemblance. Rather, it signifies that humans were created to represent God on earth, to share in His dominion over creation. It’s about sharing with humanity His responsibility to rule and subdue the rest of creation. Being made in God's likeness also means that each human life has great value in God's eyes. This inherent dignity and purpose are passed down from generation to generation, as Adam fathers Seth, and Seth fathers Enosh. This lineage, beginning with Adam and continuing through Seth, reflects a heritage of calling on the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26), a contrast to the path of Cain.
The Long Shadow of the Fall
Genesis 5 also reveals critical details about the lives of people after the fall, separated from God and living under the weight of His curse. The lifespans of these early humans were extraordinarily long, a testament to the original vitality of creation before the pervasive effects of sin and environmental degradation. While some debate whether these numbers should be taken literally, a straightforward reading suggests a world where such longevity was possible. These extended lifespans likely contributed to rapid population growth.
Despite this apparent prosperity, the curse of sin remained an oppressive reality. While Genesis 4 detailed the violence and aggression of Cain's descendants, Genesis 5 hints at a longing for relief from the toilsome labor of the ground, as expressed by Lamech, Noah's father (Genesis 5:29).
Mortality's Unwavering Grip
A stark and recurring theme throughout Genesis 5 is the inevitability of death. The phrase "and he died" appears repeatedly, a constant reminder of the ultimate consequence of sin. No matter how long these patriarchs lived, mortality cast a long shadow over their existence.
However, within this litany of death, one name shines brightly: Enoch. He is commended for "walking with God" (Genesis 5:22, 24), and uniquely, he did not experience death but was taken directly into God's presence. Enoch's story becomes a beacon of hope, demonstrating that a life lived in fellowship with God transcends the limitations of mortality. His case becomes unique in all of history.
A Living Link to the Beginning
The remarkable lifespans of these patriarchs also emphasize that the events leading up to the flood were not shrouded in ancient history. According to the timelines provided, Adam and Seth were both alive when Lamech, Noah's father, was born. Methuselah, who died in the same year as the flood, lived for over two centuries after Adam's death. This means that the generation facing God's judgment had direct access to eyewitness accounts of God's power and provision in the early world. Their descent into sin and depravity, therefore, cannot be attributed to ignorance but to willful disobedience.
Preparing for Judgment and Grace
Genesis 5 concludes with the birth of Noah's sons (Genesis 5:32), setting the stage for the narrative of God's righteous judgment of human sin through the flood. This chapter serves not only as a genealogical record but also as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the enduring hope found in a life lived in faithful obedience to God, as exemplified by Seth and his line, culminating in Noah, who would find grace in the eyes of the Lord. The contrast between Cain's self-centered worship and Seth's God-centered worship is a crucial foreshadowing of the coming judgment and the preservation of a righteous remnant. God raised up another family tree. In place of Abel God granted Eve a son named Seth (Genesis 4:25). Seth typified the same type of worship as his deceased brother Abel, because in connection with Seth, people began to call on the name of the LORD (Genesis 4:26). The prideful way of worship, Cain’s way (see Jude 11), points to itself. The humble way of worship, Abel and Seth’s way, calls out to God. It is no surprise, then, that when God wanted to choose an obedient servant, hundreds of years later, that servant—Noah—would come from Seth’s line (Genesis 5:28-32).
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:
And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:
And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:
And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.
And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:
And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:
And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
And 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.
And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 5 serves as a vital bridge, connecting the creation narrative and the early history of humanity to the time of Noah and the great flood. It meticulously traces the generations from Adam through Seth to Noah, establishing a lineage of both physical and spiritual significance. This chapter highlights God's initial design for humanity, the pervasive consequences of sin, and the enduring hope for redemption. Understanding Genesis 5 is crucial for grasping the context of God's judgment and subsequent covenant with Noah.
The Image of God Endures
The chapter begins by reiterating the profound truth that God created humankind in His own image (Genesis 5:1-2). This "image" (Hebrew: tselem) isn't primarily about physical resemblance. Rather, it signifies that humans were created to represent God on earth, to share in His dominion over creation. It’s about sharing with humanity His responsibility to rule and subdue the rest of creation. Being made in God's likeness also means that each human life has great value in God's eyes. This inherent dignity and purpose are passed down from generation to generation, as Adam fathers Seth, and Seth fathers Enosh. This lineage, beginning with Adam and continuing through Seth, reflects a heritage of calling on the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26), a contrast to the path of Cain.
The Long Shadow of the Fall
Genesis 5 also reveals critical details about the lives of people after the fall, separated from God and living under the weight of His curse. The lifespans of these early humans were extraordinarily long, a testament to the original vitality of creation before the pervasive effects of sin and environmental degradation. While some debate whether these numbers should be taken literally, a straightforward reading suggests a world where such longevity was possible. These extended lifespans likely contributed to rapid population growth.
Despite this apparent prosperity, the curse of sin remained an oppressive reality. While Genesis 4 detailed the violence and aggression of Cain's descendants, Genesis 5 hints at a longing for relief from the toilsome labor of the ground, as expressed by Lamech, Noah's father (Genesis 5:29).
Mortality's Unwavering Grip
A stark and recurring theme throughout Genesis 5 is the inevitability of death. The phrase "and he died" appears repeatedly, a constant reminder of the ultimate consequence of sin. No matter how long these patriarchs lived, mortality cast a long shadow over their existence.
However, within this litany of death, one name shines brightly: Enoch. He is commended for "walking with God" (Genesis 5:22, 24), and uniquely, he did not experience death but was taken directly into God's presence. Enoch's story becomes a beacon of hope, demonstrating that a life lived in fellowship with God transcends the limitations of mortality. His case becomes unique in all of history.
A Living Link to the Beginning
The remarkable lifespans of these patriarchs also emphasize that the events leading up to the flood were not shrouded in ancient history. According to the timelines provided, Adam and Seth were both alive when Lamech, Noah's father, was born. Methuselah, who died in the same year as the flood, lived for over two centuries after Adam's death. This means that the generation facing God's judgment had direct access to eyewitness accounts of God's power and provision in the early world. Their descent into sin and depravity, therefore, cannot be attributed to ignorance but to willful disobedience.
Preparing for Judgment and Grace
Genesis 5 concludes with the birth of Noah's sons (Genesis 5:32), setting the stage for the narrative of God's righteous judgment of human sin through the flood. This chapter serves not only as a genealogical record but also as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the enduring hope found in a life lived in faithful obedience to God, as exemplified by Seth and his line, culminating in Noah, who would find grace in the eyes of the Lord. The contrast between Cain's self-centered worship and Seth's God-centered worship is a crucial foreshadowing of the coming judgment and the preservation of a righteous remnant. God raised up another family tree. In place of Abel God granted Eve a son named Seth (Genesis 4:25). Seth typified the same type of worship as his deceased brother Abel, because in connection with Seth, people began to call on the name of the LORD (Genesis 4:26). The prideful way of worship, Cain’s way (see Jude 11), points to itself. The humble way of worship, Abel and Seth’s way, calls out to God. It is no surprise, then, that when God wanted to choose an obedient servant, hundreds of years later, that servant—Noah—would come from Seth’s line (Genesis 5:28-32).