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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
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 Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou