Genesis 5:27 - Printer Friendly

What does Genesis 5:27 mean?

ESV: Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

NIV: Altogether, Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.

NASB: So all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

CSB: So Methuselah’s life lasted 969 years; then he died.

NLT: Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.

KJV: And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

NKJV: So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.

Verse Commentary:

Methuselah's status as the oldest person recorded in the Bible is the reason his name is often a punchline. Modern people sometimes jokingly refer to a very old person as "Methuselah." At 969 years, Methuselah not only lived more than 200 years in parallel with Adam, he saw the world as it was just prior to the great flood.

The long lifespans of this chapter can be attributed to many possible effects. The earth of this era would have been free from most diseases and pollution. Nearly perfectly-clean air, food, and water would have been the norm. And, humanity had not yet suffered the effects of long-term genetic decay. So, given that both human biology and human environments were "brand new," it's not shocking to imagine people surviving to extraordinary old age. Even today, modern biology suggests that length of life is far more influenced by biology and environment than anything else: living things die because of corruption.

In some respects, Methuselah's story is just like the others recorded in this genealogy. His story ends with the common phrase, "and he died." He is said to have fathered many sons and daughters. However, there are some aspects of his life which are remarkable. Among these, of course, are his long life, and the unusual fate of his father, Enoch (Genesis 5:24). Methuselah also outlives his son, Lamech, who will die five years before him.

Methuselah's name has a dual interpretation. It can be taken to mean "man of the dart," or "his death brings judgment." As it turns out, according to the ages given in this chapter, Methuselah will die in the same year as the flood. This, combined with the fact that Methuselah was born prior to the death of Adam, is especially important. Right up the point of destruction, mankind still had access to (at worst) second-hand accounts of the origins of our entire race. Genesis chapter 6 describes humanity at the end of Methuselah's life as deeply depraved (Genesis 6:5). And yet, the history of mankind was not lost or obscure. There were men and women walking the earth who had seen, personally, what had happened in the past, and who God was. This makes the depth of sin during Noah's era all the more tragic.

What's also intriguing about Methuselah are questions about his life, and his character. Clearly, most of his children were not followers of God—only his grandson Noah would be rescued by God. Strictly speaking, we don't know anything about Methuselah or his relationship with God. He might have been devout like his father, or he might not. The fact that he dies in the same year as the flood could even mean he was killed by it. We simply do not know.

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 Summary:

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.

Chapter Context:

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.

Accessed 11/21/2024 10:54:52 PM