Home / Commentary / Genesis / Genesis Chapter 5

Genesis 5 Commentary

Please choose a passage:

Genesis 5:1-11

The beginning of the generations starts with Adam and his son Seth. Adam was 930 years old when he died. Seth was the father of Enosh.

Genesis 5:12-24

Kenan was the father of Mahalalel. He was the father of Jared, who became the father of Enoch. Enoch was the father of Methuselah.

Genesis 5:25-32

Methuselah was the father of Lamech and the grandfather of Noah. God chose Noah for a special purpose. Noah was the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Additional Resources

Genesis is a book about many beginnings. The beginnings of the world, the human race, sin and redemption, and the nation of Israel to name a few. In fact, the word Genesis from the Greek means “origin,” and in Hebrew it means “beginning.” The book of Genesis contains the events of the flood, tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the lives of the Patriarchs.

In the beginning, God created everything by simply speaking, “God said…and it was so” (Genesis 1:6-7, 9, 11, 14-15). This is not a scientific technical account of creation, but it shows a loving God creating a universe and mankind to rule it and fellowship with God. Man was formed especially from the ground and given the breath of life from God. The woman was made from the man’s rib (Genesis 2:7).

After man fell into sin, things began to spin out of control quickly. Cain murdered his brother Abel and the human race became so violent that God decided to destroy them all with a flood. God saved one righteous man (Noah) and his family in an ark filled with animals to deliver the human race from extinction. God chose Abraham and blessed a special group of people named “Israel.” God began to unfold a plan of salvation from a coming famine by sending Joseph to rule in Egypt. The failure of man in every circumstance is met by the salvation of God. We fail, but the good news is God saves us.

Chapter Context

Genesis 5 takes us from the days of Adam to the time of Noah. It also shows us the fulfillment of death because of sin (Genesis 2:17). This chapter contains the ten generations from Adam to Noah. It notes the age at which each person dies. While we are told that these men had sons and daughters, the only names of those recorded are the direct succession from Adam to Noah. We learn about Enoch who, “walked with God” and Methuselah, the oldest man in the Biblical record.