Genesis — Chapter 5

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

2Male and female He created them, and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.”

3When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and he named him Seth.

4And after he had become the father of Seth, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.

5So Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

6When Seth was 105 years old, he became the father of Enosh.

7And after he had become the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters.

8So Seth lived a total of 912 years, and then he died.

9When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan.

10And after he had become the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters.

11So Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died.

12When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel.

13And after he had become the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters.

14So Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and then he died.

15When Mahalalel was 65 years old, he became the father of Jared.

16And after he had become the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters.

17So Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years, and then he died.

18When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch.

19And after he had become the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.

20So Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.

21When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah.

22And after he had become the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.

23So Enoch lived a total of 365 years.

24Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away.

25When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech.

26And after he had become the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters.

27So Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.

28When Lamech was 182 years old, he had a son.

29And he named him Noah, saying, “May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed.”

30And after he had become the father of Noah, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters.

31So Lamech lived a total of 777 years, and then he died.

32After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

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 an 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 had begotten 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 an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:

7And Seth lived after he begat Enos 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 Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:

10And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:

11And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.

12And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:

13And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:

14And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.

15And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:

16And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:

17And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

18And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he 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 an 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 an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

29And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD 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.

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.

1This is the record of the family line of Adam.When God created humankind, he made them in the likeness of God.

2He created them male and female; when they were created, he blessed them and named them “humankind.”

3When Adam had lived 130 years he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and he named him Seth.

4The length of time Adam lived after he became the father of Seth was 800 years; during this time he had other sons and daughters.

5The entire lifetime of Adam was 930 years, and then he died.

6When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh.

7Seth lived 807 years after he became the father of Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters.

8The entire lifetime of Seth was 912 years, and then he died.

9When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan.

10Enosh lived 815 years after he became the father of Kenan, and he had other sons and daughters.

11The entire lifetime of Enosh was 905 years, and then he died.

12When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel.

13Kenan lived 840 years after he became the father of Mahalalel, and he had other sons and daughters.

14The entire lifetime of Kenan was 910 years, and then he died.

15When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared.

16Mahalalel lived 830 years after he became the father of Jared, and he had other sons and daughters.

17The entire lifetime of Mahalalel was 895 years, and then he died.

18When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch.

19Jared lived 800 years after he became the father of Enoch, and he had other sons and daughters.

20The entire lifetime of Jared was 962 years, and then he died.

21When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.

22After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters.

23The entire lifetime of Enoch was 365 years.

24Enoch walked with God, and then he disappeared because God took him away.

25When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech.

26Methuselah lived 782 years after he became the father of Lamech, and he had other sons and daughters.

27The entire lifetime of Methuselah was 969 years, and then he died.

28When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son.

29He named him Noah, saying, “This one will bring us comfort from our labor and from the painful toil of our hands because of the ground that the Lord has cursed.”

30Lamech lived 595 years after he became the father of Noah, and he had other sons and daughters.

31The entire lifetime of Lamech was 777 years, and then he died.

32After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

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

2He created them male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, he named them “Adam”.

3Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

4The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of other sons and daughters.

5All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.

6Seth lived one hundred five years, then became the father of Enosh.

7Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

8All of the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.

9Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan.

10Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

11All of the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

12Kenan lived seventy years, then became the father of Mahalalel.

13Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of other sons and daughters

14and all of the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.

15Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, then became the father of Jared.

16Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

17All of the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.

18Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, then became the father of Enoch.

19Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

20All of the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.

21Enoch lived sixty-five years, then became the father of Methuselah.

22After Methuselah’s birth, Enoch walked with God for three hundred years, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

23All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years.

24Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took him.

25Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, then became the father of Lamech.

26Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

27All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.

28Lamech lived one hundred eighty-two years, then became the father of a son.

29He named him Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground which Yahweh has cursed.”

30Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

31All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.

32Noah was five hundred years old, then Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

This chapter records the genealogy from Adam to Noah across ten generations, each entry noting a man's age at his son's birth, his remaining years, and his total lifespan before closing with his death (vv. 1-32). The recurring pattern of long life ending in death underscores that death now reigns as the consequence of the Fall. Enoch stands out as an exception - he walks with God and is taken away without dying (vv. 21-24). The genealogy closes by introducing Noah and his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, setting up the flood narrative (vv. 28-32).

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 5 is the genealogy from Adam to Noah — ten generations spanning approximately 1,656 years (using the ages given). This is the "book of the generations of Adam" (v.1) — the second of eleven "toledoth" (generations) sections that structure Genesis. The chapter traces Seth's godly line (in contrast to Cain's line in ch.4) and demonstrates both the reality of death ("and he died" — repeated 8 times) and the hope of life (Enoch, who didn't die).
Classification: Historical Narrative
Key Themes: ten generations from Adam to Noah spanning over sixteen centuries by their own recorded ages, a repeated closing clause, and he died, tolling eight separate times like a bell across the chapter, one man alone breaking the pattern, Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him, a genealogy built entirely around the same formula of living, begetting and dying, and a final birth named Noah in the explicit hope that he might bring comfort from the very ground God had cursed
The Refrain of Death (vv.1-20,25-27): Each entry follows a pattern: lived X years, begat a son, lived Y more years, begat sons and daughters, "and he died." Eight times the phrase "and he died" tolls like a funeral bell — the consequence of Genesis 3:19 playing out generation after generation. Eight generations, and the same closing clause on each one.
The Exception: Enoch (vv.21-24): "Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (v.24). In a chapter dominated by death, one man doesn't die. He "walked with God" — intimate, sustained fellowship — and God took him directly to Himself. A preview of resurrection hope.
Noah's Birth (vv.28-32): Lamech names his son Noah ("rest/comfort"), saying: "This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed" (v.29). A prophetic hope that the curse might be addressed.

Map & Geography

  • No specific geography in this chapter — it is a genealogy from Adam to Noah.
  • The long lifespans and genealogical structure suggest humanity spreading across the earth, though no locations are named.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik covers the genealogy's purpose, the refrain of death, Enoch's translation, and Noah's prophetic name.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Genesis 4-5 | Cain & Abel | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

The Descendants of Adam - Genesis 5
David Guzik

Articles

  • BibleProject: bibleproject.com On the whole book: how its opening chapters work as literature and how they set up everything that follows.
  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Genesis -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • An Inherited Likeness (v.3) — Adam passes on his own likeness to Seth, carrying the fallen nature forward into every generation that follows. Are you still living out of that old inherited nature, or letting Christ renew you into His image?
  • The Tolling Refrain of Death (vv.5-31) — "And he died" repeats through the genealogy like a funeral bell, the direct consequence of the fall playing out generation after generation. Does the certainty of death create any urgency in how you're living today?
  • Enoch Walked With God (v.24) — In a chapter dominated by death, Enoch alone doesn't die — because he walked with God in steady, daily companionship. What does walking with God actually look like in your daily routine, and is it habitual or only occasional?
  • A Name That Holds Out Hope (v.29) — Lamech names his son Noah in hope that he will bring comfort from the toil of a cursed ground. Where are you looking for relief from the hard, wearying parts of life, and is that hope ultimately anchored in Christ?