Genesis 5:31

31 And all the days of Lamech were made seven hundred [and] seventy and seven years, and he was dead. (And all the days of Lamech were made seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and then 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 [he] called his name Noe , and said, This man shall comfort us of the works and travails of our hands, in the land which the Lord cursed. (and he called his name Noah, and said, This son shall bring us comfort from all the work and labour of our hands, on the land which the Lord hath cursed.)

30 And Lamech lived after that he begat Noe five hundred [and] ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters. (And after that he begat Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years, and begat sons and daughters.)

31 And all the days of Lamech were made seven hundred [and] seventy and seven years, and he was dead. (And all the days of Lamech were made seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and then he died.)

32 Forsooth Noe, when he was of five hundred years, begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (And Noah, when he was five hundred years old, begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.)