1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.
This begins the second “generations of _______” section in Genesis. Whereas the previous section was the generations of creation, this one is the generations of Adam, or the descendants of Adam.
It echoes the original creation of Mankind, male and female, in God’s image and likeness.
3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
When Adam and Eve give birth to Seth, the text again repeats the ideas of likeness and image. Adam was created in the likeness of God, Seth in the likeness of Adam. This says a few things:
- First, Adam’s relationship with God was similar to how a son relates to his father, and God might have indeed seen Adam as a son.
- Second, because Seth was in Adam’s likeness, and Adam in God’s, it follows that Seth, and in fact all humans, are made in God’s image and likeness. This speaks to the uniqueness of humanity among the rest of creation.
- Third, although this is not explicitly stated, it can be inferred that since Adam was now tainted by sin, likewise Seth, made in the image and likeness of Adam, was also tainted by sin, even before he was born.
4 The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.
There is some debate as how to understand the long lifespans of humanity prior to the flood, whether it is a literal 930 years, or a symbolic one, or even if they just messed up how they counted years prior to the flood. I tend toward the most literal understanding of the text, perhaps with the understanding that, prior to the flood, humanity aged much slower than they do today. This also provided opportunity for humanity to populate the world rather quickly, capable of having hundreds of children between a single couple.
The rest of the chapter is mostly a list of the line from Adam to Noah, but there are some interesting points to look at, especially if the text is taken at its most literal.
Adam is 130 when Seth is born.
6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 7 Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.
Seth also died, indisputable evidence that he was indeed tainted by sin.
Seth is 105 when Enosh is born. Adam is 235.
9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.
Enosh is 90 when Kenan is born. Seth is 195. Adam is 325.
12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.
Kenan is 70 when Mahalalel is born. Enosh is 160. Seth is 265. Adam is 395.
15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.
Mahalalel is 65 when Jared is born. Kenan is 135. Enosh is 225. Seth is 330. Adam is 460.
18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.
Jared is 162 when Enoch is born. Mahalalel is 227. Kenan is 297. Enosh is 387. Seth is 492. Adam is 622.
21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Enoch is the first true exception to the pattern, being listed as walking with God, and being taken away. The text does not say that he died, as opposed to everyone else up to this point. In fact the New Testament says that Enoch did not die, but rather was taken into heaven before death. Enoch walked with God, and so God spared him from death.
Enoch is 65 when Methuselah is born. Jared is 227. Mahalalel is 292. Kenan is 362. Enosh is 452. Seth is 557. Adam is 687.
25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.
Methuselah lives longer than anyone else recorded. His name means “when I die it will be sent” perhaps referring to the flood, which happens the same year as his death.
Methuselah is 187 when Lamech is born. Enoch is 252. Jared is 414. Mahalalel is 479. Kenan is 549. Enosh is 639. Seth is 744. Adam is 874.
Adam dies when he is 930. Seth is 800. Enosh is 695. Kenan is 605. Mahalalel is 535. Jared is 470. Enoch is 308. Methuselah is 243. Lamech is 56.
Enoch is taken away when he is 365. Seth is 857. Enosh is 752. Kenan is 662. Mahalalel is 592. Jared is 527. Methuselah is 300. Lamech is 113.
Seth dies when he is 912. Enosh is 807. Kenan is 717. Mahalalel is 647. Jared is 582. Methuselah is 355. Lamech is 168.
28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” 30 Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.
The extra detail given to Noah’s birth and name are significant in introducing the next main character in the narrative. the name Noah means “rest or relief.” Lamech is seeing the struggles of humanity, and the deaths of the earliest generations. He prophesies Noah as a deliverer from these struggles and deaths. Noah will have a big part to play, and in a sense does save humanity. However, he himself is not the one to truly deliver everyone from the curse.
Noah is part of the first generation to have not known Adam, nor Seth for that matter.
Lamech is 182 when Noah is born. Methuselah is 369. Jared is 596. Mahalalel is 661. Kenan is 731. Enosh is 821.
From here on, all the generation before Noah are mostly dead by the time Noah has his sons. All of them will be dead by the time of the flood. Noah’s father, Lamech dies “young” at the age of 777, so Noah lives without a father for several years before the flood.
32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Although the text lists Shem, Ham, and Japheth as being born when Noah is 500, this does not nessicarally mean that they were triplets, although this is also possible. However it is more likely that Noah is 500 by the time Japheth (the youngest) is born. This leads right up to the flood narrative.