Genesis 5 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Genesis 5

Adam’s Descendants to Noah

5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man¹ when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 7 Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.

9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.

12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.

15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God² after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not,³ for God took him.

25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief⁴ from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” 30 Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Footnotes

[1] 5:2 Hebrew adam
[2] 5:22 Septuagint pleased God; also verse 24
[3] 5:24 Septuagint was not found
[4] 5:29 Noah sounds like the Hebrew for rest

Commentary

v1-2: God created Adam in His own likeness, granting a special relationship between God and mankind.

v3-5: Adam had a son in his own likeness, and so sin spread to all mankind. Although Adam obeyed the command to multiply, he could never re-enter the garden. To receive the eternal blessings of Christ, we must believe in Him, not seek to enter by our own efforts.

Seth is the son of Adam, at the head of the godly line; Genesis-4:26 links him to those who believe in God. These may be the "sons of God" in Genesis 6:4

v6-32:

Name	Born	Died	Life Span
Adam	-	930	930 years
Seth	b. 130	d. 1042
Enosh	b. 235	d. 1050	905 years
Kenan	b. 325	d. 1165	910 years
Mahalalel	b. 395	d. 1225	895 years
Jared	b. 460	d. 1422	962 years
Enoch	b. 622	(987)	365 years
Methuselah	b. 687	d. 1656	969 years
Lamech	b. 874	d. 1651	777 years
Noah	b. 1056
Shem/Ham/Japheth	b. 1556

Each one lived and died, with the exception being Enoch, whose name means ‘dedicated’; he walked with God, and God took him. Others may have known God, but it seems Enoch’s relationship with God is closer. See Amos 3.3; Heb 11.5.

Note too that the generations overlapped to a great extent, guaranteeing an accurate passing of historical information.

Methuselah’s name was prophetic, meaning that when he died the end would come. He died in the year of the flood. This also indicates God’s mercy, in granting him a particularly long life.

Lamech looks for rest, v29, doubtless being aware of the growing effects of sin on human society. Now we look to Christ to bring true rest and comfort. The cycle of life brings defeat, frustration and futility, Eccl 6.12; 9.3. Here rest comes through judgment, virtually destroying mankind.

This genealogy, the first in the Bible, leads to Noah; others go on to Abraham, Jacob, David, and ultimately to Christ. All things lead us to Christ.