The Message of Genesis 5: A Line of Hope

The Generations of Adam

Genesis 5 functions as a vital historical and theological bridge, connecting the dawn of humanity with the era of the great flood. The chapter is a formal record, a 'book of the generations of Adam,' that traces ten patriarchs from Adam to Noah. Through its structured and repetitive account, it paints a picture of a world under the curse of sin while simultaneously highlighting God's unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan.

Adam's Legacy: A Faded Image  (Genesis 5:1-5)

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

The Long Generations and the Unbroken Cycle  (Genesis 5:6-20)

⁶ When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh.
⁷ Thus all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.
⁸ Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.
⁹ When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan.
¹⁰ After he fathered Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters.
¹¹ Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.
¹² When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel.
¹³ Thus all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.
¹⁴ And Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters.
¹⁵ When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared.
¹⁶ Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.
¹⁷ Thus all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.
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.

Enoch: An Interruption of Hope  (Genesis 5:21-24)

²¹ When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he fathered Methuselah.
²² Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah three hundred 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.

A Prophecy of Rest  (Genesis 5:25-32)

²⁵ When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech.
²⁶ When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh.
²⁷ Thus all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, and he died.
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 five hundred ninety-five years and had other sons and daughters.
³¹ Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.
³² After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.