Genesis 5:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech.

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

NASB: Now Methuselah lived 187 years, and fathered Lamech.

CSB: Methuselah was 187 years old when he fathered Lamech.

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

KJV: And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:

NKJV: Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech.

The prior verses, describing the life of Enoch, were an unusual break from the normal pattern of this passage. Enoch is said—twice—to have "walked with God," indicating a deep and obedient relationship. Then, unique among all the men of this genealogy, Enoch is not given the summary phrase "and he died." Rather, he is taken by God prior to his natural death. This occurs at the relatively young age of 365 years, making Enoch's life the shortest recorded in this chapter. Interestingly, the shortest life recorded in Genesis chapter 5 is that of the father of the longest life recorded in the entire bible: his son, Methuselah.

Here, in verse 25, the genealogy resumes its normal pattern. Enoch's son, Methuselah, fathered his son Lamech at the age of 187 years old. It's important to note that this Lamech, though he shares the same name as one of Cain's descendants, is not the same man. The man described as a murderer with two wives (Genesis 4:23–24), Lamech's lineage was through Cain, Enoch (also not the same as the Enoch of this chapter), Irad, Mehujael, and Methushael (Genesis 4:17–18). Then, as now, most people were given names similar or identical to those others already had.

However, this common name also creates in interesting contrast. Cain's descendant will revel in his own sin, while Seth's descendant will mourn over the suffering caused by the fall of man (Genesis 5:29).

Genesis 5:1-32 is a bridge of genealogy connecting the time of Adam and his son Seth to the time of Noah. This brings the Bible's historical record to the era of the flood. It provides a small, but helpful set of details: early humans lived a long time, had many children, and all died as a result of ubiquitous human sin. Enoch is the exception that proves the rule, commended for walking with God and seemingly taken away before his physical death. Despite the presence of early God-worshippers such as Adam and Seth, man will quickly descend into extraordinary wickedness, as seen in chapter 6. The coming of Noah at the end of this chapter prepares us for God's response to the sins of humankind.

Chapter 5 uses a simple genealogy of Adam's descendants through Seth to link the earliest humans with the time of Noah and the flood. In the generations after the garden, human beings live extraordinarily long lives, have great numbers of children, and continue to be in relationship with God though separated from Him physically and spiritually. The description of Enoch being ''taken'' by God is the exception that proves the rule: No matter how long a person lives, sin always leads to death.

Genesis 4 ends with the birth of Seth's son Enosh, and a statement that people had begun to call on the Lord's name. Chapter 5 details the generations from Adam through Seth to Noah, connecting the time of Adam and Seth with the time of Noah and his sons as described in chapter 6. This sets the stage for God's judgment of mankind's pervasive sin in the flood.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.