Genesis 5:1

“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 first man was not begotten or produced in like manner as his sons are, but was…”

“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.”

“- 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, the second is a history, the third a genealogy. The first employs the name אלהים…”

“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. 1. That God created man. Man is not his own maker, therefore he must not be his…”

“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 the flood, and Abram inaugurated a new era. 5:1-2 This is the prologue to the…”

“book: The original word rendered "book," signifies a register, account, history, or any kind of writing. Gen 2:4, Gen 6:9, Gen 10:1; Ch1 1:1; Mat 1:1; Luk 3:36-38 in the likeness: Gen 1:26, Gen 1:27; Ecc 7:29, Ecc 12:1; Co1 11:7; Co2 3:18; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10; Heb 1:3, Heb 12:9 Genesis 5:2”

“The heading in Gen 5:1 runs thus: "This is the book (sepher) of the generations (tholedoth) of Adam." On tholedoth, see Gen 2:4. Sepher is a writing complete in itself, whether it consist of one sheet or several, as for instance the "bill of divorcement" in Deu 24:1, Deu 24:3. The addition of the clause, "in the day that God created man," etc., is analogous to Gen 2:4; the creation being mentioned again as the starting point, because all the development and history of humanity was rooted there. Genesis 5:3”