Genesis 5

1 hic est liber generationis Adam in die qua creavit Deus hominem ad similitudinem Dei fecit illum
2 masculum et feminam creavit eos et benedixit illis et vocavit nomen eorum Adam in die qua creati sunt
3 vixit autem Adam centum triginta annis et genuit ad similitudinem et imaginem suam vocavitque nomen eius Seth
4 et facti sunt dies Adam postquam genuit Seth octingenti anni genuitque filios et filias
5 et factum est omne tempus quod vixit Adam anni nongenti triginta et mortuus est
6 vixit quoque Seth centum quinque annos et genuit Enos
7 vixitque Seth postquam genuit Enos octingentis septem annis genuitque filios et filias
8 et facti sunt omnes dies Seth nongentorum duodecim annorum et mortuus est
9 vixit vero Enos nonaginta annis et genuit Cainan
10 post cuius ortum vixit octingentis quindecim annis et genuit filios et filias
11 factique sunt omnes dies Enos nongentorum quinque annorum et mortuus est
12 vixit quoque Cainan septuaginta annis et genuit Malalehel
13 et vixit Cainan postquam genuit Malalehel octingentos quadraginta annos genuitque filios et filias
14 et facti sunt omnes dies Cainan nongenti decem anni et mortuus est
15 vixit autem Malalehel sexaginta quinque annos et genuit Iared
16 et vixit Malalehel postquam genuit Iared octingentis triginta annis et genuit filios et filias
17 et facti sunt omnes dies Malalehel octingenti nonaginta quinque anni et mortuus est
18 vixitque Iared centum sexaginta duobus annis et genuit Enoch
19 et vixit Iared postquam genuit Enoch octingentos annos et genuit filios et filias
20 et facti sunt omnes dies Iared nongenti sexaginta duo anni et mortuus est
21 porro Enoch vixit sexaginta quinque annis et genuit Mathusalam
22 et ambulavit Enoch cum Deo postquam genuit Mathusalam trecentis annis et genuit filios et filias
23 et facti sunt omnes dies Enoch trecenti sexaginta quinque anni
24 ambulavitque cum Deo et non apparuit quia tulit eum Deus
25 vixit quoque Mathusalam centum octoginta septem annos et genuit Lamech
26 et vixit Mathusalam postquam genuit Lamech septingentos octoginta duos annos et genuit filios et filias
27 et facti sunt omnes dies Mathusalae nongenti sexaginta novem anni et mortuus est
28 vixit autem Lamech centum octoginta duobus annis et genuit filium
29 vocavitque nomen eius Noe dicens iste consolabitur nos ab operibus et laboribus manuum nostrarum in terra cui maledixit Dominus
30 vixitque Lamech postquam genuit Noe quingentos nonaginta quinque annos et genuit filios et filias
31 et facti sunt omnes dies Lamech septingenti septuaginta septem anni et mortuus est
32 Noe vero cum quingentorum esset annorum genuit Sem et Ham et Iafeth

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.

Genesis 5 Commentaries

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.