Grace Thoughts
Teaching Notes: On Genesis 5
Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.
Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.
These teaching notes are from a series of studies about the Book of Genesis.
[These notes are from a study from almost 45 years ago.]
Genesis 5:1-5
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth: And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
This is a very important section for two reasons:
- Adam died. God said he would and he did. Spiritual death came at the entrance of sin. Physical death for Adam came at 930 years.
- The Messianic or godly line is begun through Seth.
Adam was probably created full-grown, so he was really older than 930. He had other sons and daughters. If. he had a slower rate of metabolism or other reason for a long life, he may have been able to have children with Eve until they were 800 years old. This would have created a large early civilization of godly people.
Genesis 5:6-8
And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
Seth (šêṯ) was 105 when he fathered Enosh (’ĕnōšh). Adam would have been 235. Seth lived another 807 years and had many sons and daughters. He was 912 when he died.
Genesis 5:9-11
And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan: And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
Enosh was 90 when Cainan (qênān) was born. Adam was 325. Enosh lived another 815 years and had other sons and daughters. He died at 905.
Genesis 5:12-14
And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel: And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters: And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel: And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.
Cainan had Mahalaleel (mahălal’êl) when he was 70. Adam would have been 395. Cainan lived another 840 years and raised a large family He died at 910.
Genesis 5:15-17
And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared: And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters: And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared: And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
Mahalaleel fathered Jared (yāreḏ) when he was 65. Adam would have been 460. Mahalaleel lived another 830 years and died at 895. He, too, had a large family.
Genesis 5:18-20
And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
Jared fathered Enoch (ḥănōḵ) when he was 162. Adam was 622. Jared livd another 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Jared lived until he was 962.
Genesis 5:21-24
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Enoch fathered Methuselah (məṯūšālaḥ) when he was 65. Adam would have been 687. Enoch was the 7th generation from Adam. He had other sons and daughters until at the age of 365 God “took” (lāqaḥ) him. Hebrews 11:5 uses the Greek word metetethē – “transfer, changed, translated.” Genesis 5:22 says Enoch “walked with God” 300 years after he fathered Methuselah. God may have taken Enoch to spare him from what would happen to the godly line of Seth. Adam would have been dead about 57 years when Enoch was raptured.
Genesis 5:25-27
And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech. And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech. And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
Methuselah was 187 when he fathered Lamech (lāmeḵ). Adam would have been 874 when Lamech was born. He lived until Lamech was about 56. Methuselah lived another 782 years after Lamech and had other sons and daughters. He died at the age of 969, the oldest known person.
Genesis 5:28-31
And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed. And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
Lamech father Noah (nōaḥ), which means “rest,” at the age of 182. He lived another 595 years. Lamech died at 777.
For some reason Lamech thought that Noah would comfort the people in their painful toil. Prophetic?
Genesis 5:32
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Noah fathered three sons after he was 500 years old: Shem (šêm), Ham (ḥām), and Japheth (yāp̄eṯ).
Methuselah overlapped Adam’s life by 243 years and Shem’s life by 98 years, thus making a connecting link between the Garden of Eden and the Post-Flood world. (1)
(1) Halley’s Bible Handbook, pg. 71
Next Time
We will look at Genesis Chapter 6 in the next part of our special series.
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from almost 45 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your life and ministry.]
AdamDeathGenesisNoahPre-Flood World
Published by gracelifethoughts
Founder & Director of GraceLife Ministries View all posts by gracelifethoughts
