What Does Genesis 5:6-20 Mean?
Genesis 5:6-20 describes the lineage from Seth to Jared, listing how long each man lived, when he fathered his son, and that he had other children. This family line shows how life continued after Adam, pointing forward to Noah and God's plan to preserve humanity. Though these names may seem distant, they remind us that God was at work, keeping His promise to bring hope through a coming Savior.
Genesis 5:6-20
When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. Thus all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died. Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died. When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. After he fathered Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died. When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. Thus all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died. And Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died. Thus all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died. When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Narrative
Date
Approximately 1440 BC
Key Themes
Key Takeaways
- God preserves life through generations despite sin's curse.
- Death's reign highlights the need for a Savior.
- Walking with God matters more than long life.
Context of Genesis 5:6-20
This section continues the family line from Adam through Seth, showing how God kept His promise to preserve humanity after sin entered the world.
These verses list five generations - Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, and Jared - each following a similar pattern: the man lives a certain number of years, fathers a son, lives longer, has more children, and then dies. Though the years vary, all these men share one thing: they die, reminding us that the consequence of sin - death - still spread through every generation.
This steady line from Adam to Noah sets the stage for Enoch, the next figure, who 'walked with God' and did not experience death like the others (Genesis 5:24).
The Meaning Behind the Years and the Refrain 'And He Died' in Genesis 5
This list of long lives and repeated deaths is a deliberate pattern. It shows both the goodness of God in sustaining life and the ongoing power of sin's curse, beyond mere ancient record-keeping.
Back then, age reflected more than years lived. It showed a person's honor, legacy, and role in God's unfolding promise. The numbers themselves may reflect symbolic or cultural ways of expressing completeness and divine order, rather than literal counts. But the real emphasis comes in the refrain: 'and he died' - a phrase repeated over and over, underscoring that even with lifespans stretching close to a thousand years, death still ruled, exactly as God said it would after Adam sinned (Genesis 2:17).
The repeated phrase 'and he died' isn't just a fact - it's a sober reminder that sin's grip remained strong, generation after generation.
This consistent pattern sets up a sharp contrast with Enoch in the next verses, who 'walked with God, and he was not, for God took him' (Genesis 5:24) - showing that a different way was possible for those who lived in close relationship with God.
The Pastoral Takeaway: Human Mortality and the Hope of Offspring
The repeated pattern of life, fatherhood, and death in Genesis 5 reminds us that even in a broken world, people kept living, loving, and hoping through their children.
Each man's long life and the birth of a son showed God's ongoing blessing - life continued, families grew, and the human story moved forward. Yet the refrain 'and he died' reminds us that no one escaped the reality of death, pointing ahead to the need for a Savior who could truly break sin's power.
Even in the shadow of death, each new generation carried the quiet hope of God's promised future.
Enoch's story stands out because he walked closely with God, not for his longevity. This legacy points further toward the hope we have in God's presence, rather than solely in our offspring.
From Seth to Jesus: The Family Line That Points to a Savior
The genealogy from Seth to Jared may seem distant, but it's actually a vital thread in the larger story that leads straight to Jesus, the 'second Adam' who undoes the damage of the first.
Centuries later, Luke traces Jesus' lineage all the way back to Adam through this very line - specifically naming Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, and Jared in Luke 3:37-38: 'the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.' This connection shows that Jesus didn't come out of nowhere. He entered into real human history, joining the family of those who lived, died, and hoped for something more.
This ancient list isn't just names and numbers - it's a quiet promise that God was still moving toward sending the One who would fix what sin broke.
By becoming part of this line, Jesus shares in our mortality and takes on our brokenness, not to end in death like the others, but to conquer it - and offer us eternal life as children of God. This sets the stage for the coming of Noah, whose story will reveal both judgment and rescue, another echo of the gospel.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I once went through a season where every day felt like a countdown - bills piling up, health fading, relationships strained. I was living under the weight of 'and he died,' feeling like my life was one name among many in a long list of people passing through. But studying this passage changed how I see my story. These men lived long lives, yet none escaped death. That refrain hit me: no amount of time, success, or legacy can outrun it. But then I remembered Enoch, who was mentioned a few verses earlier. He walked so closely with God that death didn't get the final word. It reminded me that my value isn't in how long I live or what I build, but in whether I'm walking with God right now. That shift - from performance to presence - changed everything. Now, even in hard days, I ask: Am I walking with Him today?
Personal Reflection
- Where am I relying on achievements, plans, or people to give my life meaning, as if building a legacy could stop death's shadow?
- What would it look like for me to 'walk with God' in my daily routines, rather than solely in big spiritual moments?
- How does knowing Jesus came through this very family line shape the way I see my own place in God's story?
A Challenge For You
This week, choose one ordinary moment - a morning coffee, a commute, a chore - and turn it into a time of quiet connection with God. Talk to Him like a friend, thanking Him for being present. Then, read Genesis 5:21-24 and notice how Enoch's story stands out not because of how long he lived, but because of how he lived.
A Prayer of Response
God, it's sobering to see all those lives end with 'and he died.' I feel the weight of time passing and the fragility of life. Thank You that You didn't leave us there - that You entered our story, lived, died, and rose again. Help me not to chase length of days, but closeness with You. Teach me to walk with You, right here, right now, as Enoch did. And give me hope that one day, death won't have the last word for me either.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Genesis 5:1-5
Sets the stage by introducing Adam's lineage and the pattern of life, fatherhood, and death.
Genesis 5:21-24
Follows immediately with Enoch's unique story, contrasting mortality with divine communion and translation.
Connections Across Scripture
Luke 3:37-38
Connects Seth to Jesus, showing God's redemptive plan unfolding through this ancient line.
Hebrews 11:5
Affirms Enoch's faith as the key to his divine approval and escape from death.
Romans 5:12
Explains how sin and death entered through Adam, clarifying the pattern seen in Genesis 5.