Genesis 5:20

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 5:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
Genesis 5:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two 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 Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years, and he died.] The name of this patriarch signifies “descending”; and, according to the Arabic writers f337, he had his name from the posterity of Seth, descending from the holy mountain in his time; for upon a noise being heard on the mountain, about an hundred men went down to the sons of Cain, contrary to the prohibition and dehortation of Jared, and mixed themselves with the daughters of Cain, which brought on the apostasy: when Jared was near his end, he called to him Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, and their children, and said unto them, ye know what some have done, that they have gone down from the mountain, and have had…”
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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
“he died: Gen 5:5 Genesis 5:21”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification