Genesis Chapter 5

Old Testament Law (Torah) 32 Verses

What is Genesis 5 about?

The book of beginnings — creation, the Fall, Noah's flood, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
2male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
3And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
4and the days of Adam after he begat Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters.
5And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
6And Seth lived a hundred and five years, and begat Enosh:
7and Seth lived after he begat Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
8and all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
9And Enosh lived ninety years, and begat Kenan.
10and Enosh lived after he begat Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
11and all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
12And Kenan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalalel:
13and Kenan lived after he begat Mahalalel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
14and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.
15And Mahalalel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
16And Mahalalel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:
17and all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
18And Jared lived a hundred sixty and two years, and begat Enoch:
19and Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
20And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
21And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
22and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
25And Methuselah lived a hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:
26and Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters.
27And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
28And Lamech lived a hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
29and he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, [which cometh] because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.
30And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
31And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
32And Noah was five hundred years old: And Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“This is the book of the generations of Adam, etc.] An account of persons born of him, or who descended from him by generation in the line of Seth, down to Noah, consisting of ten generations; for a genealogy of all his descendants is not here given, not of those in the line of Cain, nor of the collateral branches in the line of Seth, only of those that descended one from another in a direct line to Noah: in the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; this is repeated from (<010127>Genesis 1:27) to put in mind that man is a creature of God; that God made him, and not he himself; that the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“GENEALOGY OF THE PATRIARCHS. (Gen. 5:1-32) book of the generations--(See Gen 11:4). Adam--used here either as the name of the first man, or of the human race generally.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“- Section V - The Line to Noah - The Line of Sheth 1. ספר sepher “writing, a writing, a book.” 9. קינן qēynān, Qenan, “possessor, or spearsman.” 12. מהללאל mahelal'ēl, Mahalalel, “praise of ‘El.” 15. ירד yerĕd, Jered, “going down.” 21. מתוּשׁלה metûshālach, Methushelach, “man of the missile.” 29. נה noach, Noach, “rest,” נחם nācham “sigh; repent; pity; comfort oneself; be revenged.” 32. שׁם shēm, Shem, “name, fame; related: be high.” חם chām Cham, “hot.” יפת yāpet, Japheth, “spreading; related: spread out.” We now enter upon the third of the larger documents contained in Genesis. The first is a diary,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“The first words of the chapter are the title of argument of the whole chapter; it is the book of the generations of Adam - It is the list or catalogue of the posterity of Adam, not of all, but only of the holy seed, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came; the names, ages, and deaths of those that were the successors of the first Adam in the custody of the promise, and the ancestors of the second Adam. Where we have a brief rehearsal of what was before at large related concerning the creation of man. This is what we have need frequently to hear of, and carefully to acquaint ourselves with. Observe here.…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“5:1-32 The genealogies of Genesis go beyond simply recording history. By selective information and by structure, they communicate spiritual truth. The genealogies highlight God’s blessing, authenticate the family heritage of important individuals, and hold the Genesis narrative together by showing familial continuity. Adam’s genealogy through Seth traces ten generations to Noah (see 1 Chr 1:1-4; Luke 3:36-38), with the flood intervening before another ten generations from Noah to Abram. The number ten indicates completeness (ten plagues, Exod 7:8–11:10; Ten Commandments, Exod 20:2-17). Noah closed history before…”
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