Genesis 5:31

31 And all the days of Lamech are seven hundred and seventy and seven years, and he dieth.

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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Genesis 5:31 In-Context

29 and calleth his name Noah, saying, `This [one] doth comfort us concerning our work, and concerning the labour of our hands, because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.'
30 And Lamech liveth after his begetting Noah five hundred and ninety and five years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
31 And all the days of Lamech are seven hundred and seventy and seven years, and he dieth.
32 And Noah is a son of five hundred years, and Noah begetteth Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.