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Genesis Chapter Five

                             

I. Content of the Chapter

 

Adam’s Genealogy

A.  Adam begot Seth (v.1-5);

B.  Seth begot Enosh (v.6-8);

C.  Enosh begot Cainan (v.8-11);

D.  Cainan begot Mahalalel (v.12-14);

E.  Mahalalel begot Jared (v.15-17);

F.   Jared begot Enoch (v.18-20);

G.  Enoch walked with God after he begot Methuselah (v.21-24);

H.  Methuselah begot Lamech (v.25-27);

I.     Lamech begot Noah (v.28-30);

J.   Noah begot Shem Ham and Japheth (v.31-32);

 

II. Verse by Verse Commentary

 

Gen. 5:1 “This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man He made him in the likeness of God.”

YLT: “This an account of the births of Adam: In the day of God's preparing man in the likeness of God He hath made him;”

Meaning of Words: genealogy”: birth descent family;

Enlightenment in the Word: God made man in His “image” according to His “likeness” (Gen. 1:26-27) which indicated that God made man for the purpose of letting man be like Him and manifesting Him.

 

Gen. 5:2 “He created them male and female and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.”

YLT: “a male and a female He hath prepared them and He blesseth them and calleth their name Man in the day of their being prepared.”

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) “God blessed them” ---- be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen. 1:28). Therefore God’s purpose is to let man represent Him to restore and govern the ground occupied by the devil so as to conquer His enemy.

  2) “Mankind” and “Adam” are the same word in the original. In the sight of God the whole mankind is Adam. All mankind is the race of Adam.

 

Gen. 5:3 “And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years and begot a son in his own likeness after his image and named him Seth.”

YLT: “And Adam liveth an hundred and thirty years and begetteth in his likeness according to his image and calleth his name Seth.”

Meaning of Words: Adam”: red dust; “Seth”: new sprout new seed appoint set;

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) All the offspring of Adam are like Adam in the inner nature (“image”) and outer likeness (“likeness”) without exception.

  2) All mankind inherits the nature of the fallen old creation and becomes the image of sinner (Rom. 5:12 19). Such as he made of dust such also those made of dust (1Cor. 15:48).

 

Gen. 5:4 “After he begot Seth the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters.”

YLT: “And the days of Adam after his begetting Seth are eight hundred years and he begetteth sons and daughters.”

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) God desires that we shall be fruitful and multiply on the earth. During our days on the earth if we do not preach the gospel and beget spiritual children we have failed to fulfill the mission God has entrusted to us.

  2) The fathers’ mission of their whole life was nothing else than “having sons and daughters”. Therefore in the family of the living God there is nothing more important than to preach the gospel and bear spiritual children.

  3) Every believer shall experience the travail of birth. Let no one adopt the children of others.

 

Gen. 5:5 “So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.”

YLT: “And all the days of Adam which he lived are nine hundred and thirty years and he dieth.”

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) Adam was mortal no matter how long he had lived. Man always lived under the shadow of death.

  2) By sin death and thus death passed upon all men (Rom. 5:12). And as it is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment (Heb. 9:27);

  3) Death is the destination and end of men but not that of Christians. Death to Christians is merely sleep and rest from their labors. One day we shall all rise and be with the Lord in glory forever.

 

Gen. 5:6 “Seth lived one hundred and five years and begot Enosh.”

YLT: “And Seth liveth an hundred and five years and begetteth Enos.”

Meaning of Words: “Enosh”: weak mortal;

 

Gen. 5:7 “After he begot Enosh Seth lived eight hundred and seven years and had sons and daughters.”

YLT: “And Seth liveth after his begetting Enos eight hundred and seven years and begetteth sons and daughters.”

Literal Meaning: please compare the genealogy of Cain in chapter four with that of Seth here. The days of Cain’s offspring are not recorded but the days of Seth’s offspring are respectively recorded here. 

Spiritual Meaning: the offspring of Seth typify the race of the new creation.

Enlightenment in the Word: believers’ spiritual days are calculated according to their respective conditions before God. All the days we have lived in Christ will be remembered by God.

 

Gen. 5:8 “So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died.”

YLT: “And all the days of Seth are nine hundred and twelve years and he dieth.”

 

Gen. 5:9 “Enosh lived ninety years and begot Cainan.”

YLT: “And Enos liveth ninety years and begetteth Cainan.”

Meaning of Words: Cainan”: blacksmith;

 

Gen. 5:10 “After he begot Cainan Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years and had sons and daughters.”

YLT: “And Enos liveth after his begetting Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years and begetteth sons and daughters.”

 

Gen. 5:11 “So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died.”

YLT: “And all the days of Enos are nine hundred and five years and he dieth.”

 

Gen. 5:12 “Cainan lived seventy years and begot Mahalalel.”

YLT: “And Cainan liveth seventy years and begetteth Mahalaleel.”

Meaning of Words: Mahalalel”: praise of God;

 

Gen. 5:13 “After he begot Mahalalel Cainan lived eight hundred and forty years and had sons and daughters.”

YLT: “And Cainan liveth after his begetting Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years and begetteth sons and daughters.”

 

Gen. 5:14 “So all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died.”

YLT: “And all the days of Cainan are nine hundred and ten years and he dieth.”

 

Gen. 5:15 “Mahalalel lived sixty-five years and begot Jared.”

YLT: “And Mahalaleel liveth five and sixty years and begetteth Jared.”

Meaning of Words: Jared”: descent humble;

 

Gen. 5:16 “After he begot Jared Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years and had sons and daughters.”

YLT: “And Mahalaleel liveth after his begetting Jared eight hundred and thirty years and begetteth sons and daughters.”

 

Gen. 5:17 “So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died.”

YLT: “And all the days of Mahalaleel are eight hundred and ninety and five years and he dieth.”

 

Gen. 5:18 “Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years and begot Enoch.”

YLT: “And Jared liveth an hundred and sixty and two years and begetteth Enoch.”

Meaning of Words: “Enoch”: initiated delicate train up;

 

Gen. 5:19 “After he begot Enoch Jared lived eight hundred years and had sons and daughters.”

YLT: “And Jared liveth after his begetting Enoch eight hundred years and begetteth sons and daughters.”

 

Gen. 5:20 “So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died.”

YLT: “And all the days of Jared are nine hundred and sixty and two years and he dieth.”

 

Gen. 5:21 “Enoch lived sixty-five years and begot Methuselah.”

YLT: “And Enoch liveth five and sixty years and begetteth Methuselah.”

Meaning of Words: Methuselah”: there will be execution when he dies; there will be great events when he dies; archer;

 

Gen. 5:22 “After he begot Methuselah Enoch walked with God three hundred years and had sons and daughters.”

YLT: “And Enoch walketh habitually with God after his begetting Methuselah three hundred years and begetteth sons and daughters.”

Literal Meaning: Enoch received the revelation of God and knew that there would be execution when his son died. Therefore he named his son “Methuselah” (meaning in the original) which proved he believed the word of God. Such faith makes him fear God in life and walk with Him.

  “Walked with God”: follow closely God and dare not to lag behind; in the words of the New Testament he had the mind of Christ Jesus in him (Phil. 2:5) and was guided by Him in everything.

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) Enoch walked with God for three hundred years. Obedience to God is not for one time but forever.

  2) “Having sons and daughters” do not hinder Enoch from “walking with God”. The multiplication of children and entanglement of household duties should not be excuses for the shortage of reading the Bible and prayer.

  3) “Walk with God” does not mean ignoring human duties. A spiritual man is not a “strange” man. The more one is spiritual the more normal he is.

  4) “Having sons and daughters” is holy. Everything in family shall be dealt with in an attitude of fearing and serving God. that will be a testimony of walking with God.

  5) If a believer wants to lead their children to love God truly he himself should be a man “who walk with God”.

 

Gen. 5:23 “So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.”

YLT: “And all the days of Enoch are three hundred and sixty and five years.”

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) Enoch lived the shortest days among all those who were recorded in this chapter but had the most value thereof. The value of one’s life just like an article does not depend on the length but the content.

  2) No matter how long one lives the most important is to live for the Lord.

 

Gen. 5:24 “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not for God took him.”

YLT: “And Enoch walketh habitually with God and he is not for God hath taken him.”

Spiritual Meaning: Enoch typifies the overcomers among believers namely the first-fruits (Rev. 14:4) who will be kept out of the tribulation to the world (Rev. 3:10; Luke 21:34-36) and will not taste the death and be with the Lord forever (1Thess. 4:17).

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) No matter “life” and “death” both are “walking with God” to Enoch. This is his difference from all.

  2) Those who “walk with God” in the end of the world will be taken when the Lord comes again (Matt. 24:40-41).

 

Gen. 5:25 “Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years and begot Lamech.”

YLT: “And Methuselah liveth an hundred and eighty and seven years and begetteth Lamech.”

Meaning of Words: Lamech”: strong mighty wild:

 

Gen. 5:26 “After he begot Lamech Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years and had sons and daughters.”

YLT: “And Methuselah liveth after his begetting Lamech seven hundred and eighty and two years and begetteth sons and daughters.”

 

Gen. 5:27 “So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.”

YLT: “And all the days of Methuselah are nine hundred and sixty and nine years and he dieth.”

Literal Meaning: Methuselah” the names means “there will be execution when he dies” or “there will be great events when he dies”. Methuselah begot Lamech when he lived one hundred and eighty-seven years (v.25) and Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years (v.28) and Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was on the earth (Gen. 7:6). The sum of the above three numbers is exactly nine hundred and sixty-nine years. In the nine hundred and sixty-ninth year Methuselah died.

 

Gen. 5:28 “Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years and had a son.”

YLT: “And Lamech liveth an hundred and eighty and two years and begetteth a son ”

 

Gen. 5:29 “And he called his name Noah saying "This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands because of the ground which the LORD has cursed."”

YLT: “and calleth his name Noah saying `This doth comfort us concerning our work and concerning the labour of our hands because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.'”

Meaning of Words: “Noah”: rest quietness: “work”: toil; “comfort”: deep breath;

Literal Meaning: man’s whole life is merely work and toil unto death with little comfort.

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) Believers on the earth groan and travail in pain and bear the curse of God with the whole creation together (Rom. 8:22). Therefore we have to still labor and work what is honest with hands (Eph. 4:28).

  2) Thanks the Lord. In the world we have tribulation and in Him we have peace (John 16:33).

 

Gen. 5:30 “After he begot Noah Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years and had sons and daughters.”

YLT: “And Lamech liveth after his begetting Noah five hundred and ninety and five years and begetteth sons and daughters.”

 

Gen. 5:31 “So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died.”

YLT: “And all the days of Lamech are seven hundred and seventy and seven years and he dieth.”

 

Gen. 5:32 “And Noah was five hundred years old and Noah begot Shem Ham and Japheth.”

YLT: “And Noah is a son of five hundred years and Noah begetteth Shem Ham and Japheth.”

Meaning of Words: Shem”: reputation fame: “Ham”: hot warm; “Japheth”: expansion enlargement;

Literal Meaning: here is means Noah was five hundred years old when he begot the eldest son. Noah was five hundred and two years old when he begot Shem (Gen. 11:10; 7:6) so Shem was not the eldest son. The Bible mentions the name of Shem first for the people of Israel were the offspring of Shem.

Spiritual Meaning: “Enoch” typifies believers of Pre-tribulation Rapture (Gen. 5:24).

  “Noah” typifies believers of Post-tribulation Rapture.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

In Adam

A.  All those in Adam are “of the dust”(the meaning of “Adam”);

B.  All those in Adam are in his own likeness after his image (v.3);

C.  All those in Adam died (v.5 8 11 14 17 20 27 31).

 

Things Learnt From the Meanings of the Names in This Chapter

A.  We believers were originally “of the dust” ---- “Adam” (v.1);

B.  We have obtained “the new life” in Christ on account of the grace of God ---- “Seth” (v.3);

C.  We then know our natural life is “mortal” ---- “Enosh” (v.6);

D.  Thus we seek Christ with diligence and obtain Christ as our “possession” ---- “Cainan” (v.9);

E.  This is what God “pleases” and “approves” ---- “Mathalalel” (v.12);

F.   God will give grace to such “humble” man ---- “Jared” (v.15);

G.  So that they begin to “learn” the will of God ---- “Enoch” (v.18);

H.  Thus they know God will judge this world “and the judgment comes when he dies” ---- “Methuselah” (v.21);

I.     Therefore they “abound the work” of the Lord ---- “Lamech” (v.25);

J.   And they enjoy the full “rest” in the Lord ---- “Noah” (v.29);

K.  And they bear “much fruit” and receive great “effect” of their “works” ---- “Shem Ham and Japheth” (v.32);

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

Translated by Mary Zhou