Genesischapter 5

32 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 146 cross-references outward and receives 103 — heaviest partner: Genesis.

Chapter summary

The toledoth of Adam — ten generations from Adam to Noah. The refrain ‘and he died’ strikes like a bell across the chapter: Eden's sentence is made visible in nine generations. Two exceptions break the pattern. Enoch ‘walked with God, and he was not, for God took him’ — Henry calls this the sweetest note in the whole genealogy. And Lamech names his son Noah (‘rest’) with a prophecy of comfort from the ground the LORD has cursed. The genealogy is not filler; it is the narrowing of the line of promise through Seth toward the one who will find grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Genesis overview for the book's full setting.

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

2 male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

3 And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

4 and the days of Adam after he begat Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters.

5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

6 And Seth lived a hundred and five years, and begat Enosh:

7 and Seth lived after he begat Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:

8 and all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

9 And Enosh lived ninety years, and begat Kenan: