Genesis 5:17

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 5:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
Genesis 5:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17and all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years, and he died.] He also is spoken well of by the Arabic writers f336 as a good governor, a pious man that walked in the way of righteousness; and when he died blessed his children, and adjured them by the blood of Abel, not to suffer any of theirs to descend from the mountain to the sons of Cain: according to Bishop Usher he died A. M. 1290.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- 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…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“am 1290, bc 2714 died: Gen 5:5 Genesis 5:18”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification