Genesis 5:31

31 Thus all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died.

Genesis 5:31 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 5:31

And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and
seven years, and he died.
] According to the Greek version, he lived but seven hundred and fifty three; and according to the Samaritan version, only six hundred and fifty three: but it is best and safest in these, and all the above numbers, to follow the original Hebrew, and the numbers in that, with which the Targum of Onkelos exactly agrees, written about the time of Christ; and these numbers were just the same when the two Talmuds were composed. Some of the Jewish writers, and so some Christians, confound this Lamech with the other Lamech, who was of the race of Cain, spoken of in the preceding chapter, and say he was a bigamist and a murderer; and that in his days sins were committed openly, and witchcraft was throughout the whole world ^F5: he died, according to Bishop Usher, A. M. 1651. Eight times in this chapter the phrase is used, "and he died", to put us in mind of death; to observe that it is the way of all flesh; that those that live longest die at last, and it must be expected by everyone.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Shalshalet Hakabal, fol. 1. 2. & 74. 2.

Genesis 5:31 In-Context

29 and called his name Noah, saying, "Out of the ground which the LORD has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil of our hands."

30 Lamech lived after the birth of Noah five hundred and ninety-five years, and had other sons and daughters.

31 Thus all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died.

32 After Noah was five hundred years old, Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.