Genesis 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, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

3 Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Shet.

4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Shet were eight hundred years, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

5 All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.

6 Shet lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh.

7 Shet lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

8 All the days of Shet were nine hundred 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 fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

11 All the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

12 Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalal'el.

13 Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalal'el eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters

14 and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.

15 Mahalal'el lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Yered.

16 Mahalal'el lived after he became the father of Yered eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

17 All the days of Mahalal'el were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.

18 Yered lived one hundred sixty-two years, and became the father of Hanokh.

19 Yered lived after he became the father of Hanokh eight hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

20 All the days of Yered were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.

21 Hanokh lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Metushelach.

22 Hanokh walked with God after he became the father of Metushelach three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

23 all the days of Hanokh were three hundred sixty-five years.

24 Hanokh walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

25 Metushelach lived one hundred eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamekh.

26 Metushelach lived after he became the father of Lamekh seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

27 All the days of Metushelach were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.

28 Lamekh lived one hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of a son,

29 and he named him Noach, saying, "This same will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed."

30 Lamekh lived after he became the father of Noach five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

31 All the days of Lamekh were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.

32 Noach was five hundred years old, and Noach became the father of Shem, Ham, and Yefet.

Genesis 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

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, ( Amos 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, ( Hebrews 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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 5

This chapter contains a list or catalogue of the posterity of Adam in the line of Seth, down to Noah; it begins with a short account of the creation of Adam, and of his life and death, Ge 5:1-5 next of five of the antediluvian patriarchs, their age and death, namely Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Ge 5:6-20 then a particular relation of Enoch, his character and translation, Ge 5:21-24 then follows an account of Methuselah, the oldest man, and Lamech's oracle concerning his son Noah, Ge 5:12-29 and the chapter is closed with the life and death of Lamech, and the birth of the three sons of Noah, Ge 5:30-32.