Genesis 5

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 5

1¶ This [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.

6¶ And 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.

21¶ And 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.

25¶ And 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.

28¶ And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Genesis chapter 5 presents the genealogical record from Adam to Noah, detailing the lineage of the patriarchs. It consistently lists their ages at the birth of their primary son, their subsequent years, and their total lifespans, concluding with the phrase "and he died." A notable exception is Enoch, who "walked with God" and was taken by God without experiencing death.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins by establishing the "book of the generations of Adam," created in the likeness of God as male and female. It then systematically traces the direct line from Adam through Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, and Lamech, culminating in Noah. For each patriarch, the text records their age when they begat their named son, the number of years they lived thereafter, and their total lifespan, consistently stating that they died. The account of Enoch stands apart, as he lived 365 years, "walked with God," and "was not; for God took him," signifying a unique departure from the pattern of death. The chapter concludes with Lamech naming his son Noah, expressing hope for comfort from the cursed ground, and Noah's age when he begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Long Summary

Genesis chapter 5 commences with the foundational statement regarding the "book of the generations of Adam," emphasizing that humanity was created in the likeness of God, both male and female. The narrative then meticulously outlines the direct patriarchal line, beginning with Adam, who lived 130 years before begetting Seth in his own likeness, and subsequently lived 800 more years, totaling 930 years before his death. This pattern is repeated for each successive patriarch: Seth begat Enos at 105 and lived 912 years; Enos begat Cainan at 90 and lived 905 years; Cainan begat Mahalaleel at 70 and lived 910 years; Mahalaleel begat Jared at 65 and lived 895 years; and Jared begat Enoch at 162 and lived 962 years. A significant divergence occurs with Enoch, who begat Methuselah at 65, but then "walked with God" for 300 more years, totaling 365 years, and uniquely, "he was not; for God took him," bypassing the common fate of death. Methuselah, the longest-lived, begat Lamech at 187 and lived 969 years. Lamech, in turn, begat Noah at 182, naming him with the hope that he would bring comfort from the toil of the cursed ground, and lived 777 years. The chapter concludes by stating that Noah was 500 years old when he begat his three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth, thus completing the genealogical bridge to the subsequent narrative.

Core Concepts

  • Book of GenerationsThe chapter opens with this phrase, indicating a formal record of the lineage and descendants of Adam, establishing the historical progression of humanity.
  • Divine LikenessIt is stated that God created man, male and female, in His own likeness, highlighting the unique relationship and design of humanity at creation.
  • Patriarchal LongevityThe chapter records the exceptionally long lifespans of the early patriarchs, many living for over 800 or 900 years, a characteristic feature of this early period.
  • The Cycle of Life and DeathFor most individuals listed, the consistent pattern of birth, begetting children, living many years, and then the declaration "and he died" underscores the pervasive reality of mortality after the Fall.
  • Enoch's TranslationEnoch is presented as a unique exception to the pattern of death; he "walked with God" and "was not; for God took him," indicating a divine removal from earthly life without experiencing death.
  • Lamech's ProphecyLamech names his son Noah, expressing a hope that he would bring comfort from the toil and sorrow caused by the ground which the LORD had cursed, foreshadowing Noah's future role.
  • Lineage to NoahThe primary purpose of this chapter is to meticulously trace the direct genealogical line from Adam to Noah, setting the stage for the events of the subsequent chapters.