Genesis 11:11 kjv

And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:11 nkjv

After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:11 niv

And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:11 esv

And Shem lived after he fathered Arpachshad 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:11 nlt

After the birth of Arphaxad, Shem lived another 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11 verses

Genesis 11 11 Meaning

Genesis 11:11 records the lifespan of Arpachshad, son of Shem and grandson of Noah, after the birth of his son Shelah. It specifies that Arpachshad lived for four hundred and three years subsequent to Shelah's birth, and during this prolonged period, he continued to father more children, both sons and daughters. This verse primarily serves as a vital component in the chronological and genealogical record of the lineage leading from Noah through Shem to Abraham, thereby underpinning the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

Genesis 11 11 Context

Genesis 11:11 is embedded within the "Toldot Shem" (generations of Shem) section, specifically a genealogical register bridging the general humanity post-Flood (Chapters 6-10) to the chosen line that leads to Abraham (Chapter 12 onwards). It follows the scattering of peoples from Babel (Gen 11:1-9) and immediately precedes the listing of Shelah's and his descendants' generations. These genealogies are not merely dry lists but establish a direct, traceable, and chronological connection from Noah through Shem to Terah, Abram's father. Historically and culturally, such detailed lineage records were critical in the ancient Near East for validating identity, tribal affiliation, land claims, and even priestly succession, ensuring legitimacy and continuity within a family and tribe. For the original audience, it provided assurance of the divine oversight and the preservation of a specific line through which God's promises would progress.

Genesis 11 11 Word analysis

• And Arpachshad (וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁד, vəʾArpakhshad): The prefixed vav ("and") links this verse chronologically to the previous statements in the genealogy. Arpachshad (or Arphaxad) is a significant name, as he is identified as the third son of Shem (Gen 10:22) and an ancestor of Abraham (Gen 11:12-26; Luke 3:36). His name's exact etymology is debated but possibly relates to the "region of the Chaldees" (Ur Kaśdim), from which Abraham later emerged, hinting at an early geographic connection.
• lived (וַיְחִי, vay'chi): From the Hebrew root ḥyâ (חָיָה), meaning "to live," "to exist," or "to be alive." This verb highlights the physical existence and duration of life, a key feature in the biblical genealogies that often specify the age at which an heir was begotten and the total years lived.
• after he begat (אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ, ʾakharei holido): ʾakharei (אַחֲרֵי) means "after," indicating a sequential timeframe. holido (הוֹלִידוֹ) is a Piel infinitive construct of the verb yālad (יָלַד), "to beget" or "to bear." This precise phraseology specifies that the following years are counted from the birth of the designated heir, not from Arpachshad's own birth. This exactitude is crucial for establishing the chronology from Noah to Abraham.
• Shelah (שֶׁלַח, Shelah): The specific son through whom the Messianic line is traced in the patriarchal genealogies. The name means "shoot" or "branch," a theme common in biblical prophecies referring to the future Davidic King or Messiah (e.g., Isa 11:1).
• four hundred and three years (אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים, arbaʿ mēʾot shālosh shānīm): This exact figure denotes a significant, prolonged lifespan by modern standards but represents a continued decrease in longevity compared to the antediluvian patriarchs (Gen 5) and even some immediate post-Flood figures like Shem. This meticulous numerical detail emphasizes the reliability and historical accuracy of the biblical record for its ancient audience, allowing them to construct an internal chronology.
• and begat (וַיּוֹלֶד, vayyoled): Again from the root yālad, meaning "to beget." The vav prefixed to the verb signifies a continuation or result.
• sons and daughters (בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת, banim uvanot): This phrase indicates the continuation of procreation and population growth. It demonstrates Arpachshad's ongoing fulfillment of God's command to "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen 1:28, Gen 9:1), highlighting a broader progeny beyond just the single heir listed for the primary genealogical line.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Arpachshad lived after he begat Shelah four hundred and three years": This phrase encapsulates the core genealogical and chronological information of the verse. It confirms Arpachshad's continued life after his son Shelah was born, providing the specific duration, which when added to the age he was when Shelah was born (Gen 11:10), gives his total lifespan (35 + 403 = 438 years). This precise calculation is foundational for biblical chronology connecting the Flood to the call of Abraham.
• "and begat sons and daughters": This common concluding formula in the Genesis genealogies serves multiple purposes. It shows that while only one specific heir is named for the primary lineage leading to Christ, the patriarchs had many children, contributing to the re-population of the earth after the Flood and indicating continued fruitfulness and the blessing of abundant offspring from God. It highlights the thriving nature of the family and wider kin groups during this post-diluvian period.

Genesis 11 11 Bonus section

The genealogical records in Genesis, including Genesis 11:11, underscore the historical and theological continuity of God's plan. They refute the notion that biblical figures are mythical, instead grounding the narrative in concrete historical timelines and family relationships. The declining lifespans observed from the antediluvian to post-diluvian patriarchs (e.g., Adam 930 years, Noah 950, Shem 600, Arpachshad 438, Terah 205, Abraham 175) are significant. This reduction likely points to the escalating effects of sin, a harsher post-Flood environment, and potentially changes in human genetic makeup, yet divine grace still granted remarkably long lives, facilitating the re-population of the earth. These genealogies serve as critical anchors for understanding the unfolding of God's redemptive strategy, culminating in the birth of the Messiah. The inclusion of "sons and daughters" highlights that God’s plan ensures the ongoing growth of humanity, providing the population base from which nations would emerge (Gen 10), even as a distinct covenant lineage was maintained.

Genesis 11 11 Commentary

Genesis 11:11, while appearing as a simple numerical entry, is crucial for establishing the divine timeline and tracing the redemptive narrative. It serves primarily as a bridge, meticulously connecting humanity from the universal Flood event to the specific call of Abraham and the establishment of God's covenant people. The verse emphasizes continuity—life goes on, generations succeed generations, and despite the scattering at Babel and the decline in lifespans, God's purpose through the chosen lineage of Shem remains intact. The precise ages are not arbitrary but signify God's careful orchestration of history. The mention of "sons and daughters" beyond the principal heir reinforces the theme of God's blessing of fruitfulness (Gen 1:28; Gen 9:1) even as humanity faces the ongoing effects of the Fall and a new environment post-Flood. This persistent fertility ensures the burgeoning of the human family and ultimately the fulfillment of God's promise to bring salvation through a specific lineage.

• Example 1: The meticulous detail of these ages, combined with others in Gen 5 and Gen 11, allows believers to construct a continuous biblical timeline, reinforcing the historical reality of God's interaction with humanity from creation to redemption.
• Example 2: This verse shows how even in a fallen world, God continued to bless procreation and lineage, demonstrating His patience and long-suffering plan to bring forth the seed of redemption.