Genesis 11:19 kjv

And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:19 nkjv

After he begot Reu, Peleg lived two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:19 niv

And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:19 esv

And Peleg lived after he fathered Reu 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:19 nlt

After the birth of Reu, Peleg lived another 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11 verses

Genesis 11 19 Meaning

Genesis 11:19 is a concise statement within the post-flood genealogical record, stating, "and Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor." This verse precisely records Serug's age at the birth of his son Nahor, forming a crucial link in the unbroken lineage from Noah's son Shem to Abraham. It serves to establish chronological continuity and to highlight the preservation of a specific family line through which God's redemptive purposes would unfold, leading to the chosen nation and ultimately to the Messiah.

Genesis 11 19 Context

Genesis 11:19 is embedded within the critical genealogical list of Shem's descendants, from Shem to Terah (Abram's father), found in verses 10-26 of Genesis chapter 11. This genealogy follows immediately after the narrative of the Tower of Babel (verses 1-9), which explains the scattering of humanity across the earth and the origin of diverse languages.

The genealogy in Genesis 11, including Serug's entry, serves as a literary bridge. It connects the post-flood, dispersed world with the specific call of Abraham in Genesis 12. Unlike the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, which describes the widespread proliferation of humanity, the Shemite genealogy in Chapter 11 narrows the focus to a single, chosen line. This narrowing demonstrates God's consistent purpose in selecting a specific family through whom He would initiate His covenant relationship and eventually bring about redemption for all peoples.

Historically and culturally, genealogies in the ancient Near East were vital records. They established lineage, validated tribal identity, inheritance rights, and chieftainship. For the original Hebrew audience, this meticulous record highlighted the historical reality of their origins and reinforced God's faithful hand in preserving a pure lineage from Adam, through Noah, and now leading inexorably towards Abraham, the father of their nation. It counteracted the fragmented and mythical origin stories prevalent in surrounding cultures by presenting a concrete, sequential historical account of humanity's descent.

Genesis 11 19 Word analysis

• And Serug: In Hebrew, "וַיְחִי שְׂרוּג" (vay'chi Serug).

  • וַיְחִי (va-y'chi): Literally "and he lived." This is a standard waw-consecutive perfect form, marking sequential action. It is the typical opening phrase for the entries in the Genesis genealogies (e.g., Gen 5 and Gen 11), emphasizing the lifespan and continuity of life before procreation.
  • שְׂרוּג (Serug): A proper noun, identifying the specific patriarch. His name may relate to concepts like "branch," "entwine," or "intertwine," possibly hinting at his place within a connecting family line.

• lived thirty years,: In Hebrew, "שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה" (sh'lo·shim sha·nah).

  • שְׁלֹשִׁים (sh'lo·shim): "Thirty." This cardinal number specifies Serug's exact age at the birth of his son. It marks a continued trend of decreasing lifespans among patriarchs post-Flood compared to pre-Flood, suggesting changes in human conditions or divine regulation.
  • שָׁנָה (sha·nah): "Year." The unit of time.

• and begat Nahor.: In Hebrew, "וַיּוֹלֶד נָחוֹר" (va-yo·led Na·cho·r).

  • וַיּוֹלֶד (va-yo·led): Literally "and he begat" or "and he fathered." This is a waw-consecutive hiphil perfect of the verb יָלַד (yalad), meaning "to bear, bring forth, beget." The Hiphil stem indicates causing someone to be born or becoming a father. It definitively identifies Serug as the biological father of Nahor, ensuring the clarity of the direct lineage.
  • נָחוֹר (Na·cho·r): A proper noun, identifying Serug's son. Nahor is significant as the grandfather of Abraham. His name might derive from a root meaning "to snort" or "to breathe hard," or related to "slaying."

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Serug lived thirty years": This phrase precisely establishes Serug's biological milestone, anchoring his existence in chronological time. It reflects the meticulous record-keeping characteristic of ancient Near Eastern genealogical texts but also, for the biblical authors, underscores the historical progression towards God's specific plan for humanity. The reduction in lifespans to "thirty" (compared to much older begetting ages pre-Flood) reflects a significant post-Flood biological and environmental shift.
• "and begat Nahor": This segment explicitly confirms the parent-child relationship. The consistent use of "begat" throughout these genealogies removes any ambiguity about adoption or metaphorical descent, establishing a direct, unbroken biological chain leading to the central figure of Abraham and the promised seed. This meticulous detailing is crucial for later biblical theology, demonstrating the physical, historical lineage of Christ (Rom 1:3; Gal 3:16).

Genesis 11 19 Bonus section

• Masoretic Text vs. Septuagint Differences: While modern English Bibles largely follow the Masoretic Text, which states Serug begat Nahor at 30, the Septuagint (LXX) — the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament — states that Serug was 130 years old when he begat Nahor. This numerical difference (found across several names in the Gen 11 genealogy) results in significantly different overall chronologies. The Masoretic Text lineage leads to a date for Abraham’s birth roughly 350 years after the Flood, while the Septuagint places it approximately 1070 years after. Theologically, neither textual variant impacts the central message of a continuous lineage to Abraham, but highlights textual transmission differences that scholars examine.
• Literary Foreshadowing: This genealogy, while seemingly repetitive, serves as a powerful literary device, patiently leading the reader's focus towards the single family line from which the "Seed" promised since Gen 3:15 would come. It creates an anticipation, demonstrating God's consistent focus on His promise through the centuries despite human rebellion and widespread sin.

Genesis 11 19 Commentary

Genesis 11:19 is a single entry within a divinely inspired chronology, yet it holds profound significance. Far from being a mere list of names and numbers, it functions as a critical connector between humanity's dispersion after Babel and the re-centering of God's redemptive work through Abraham. By stating Serug's age at the birth of Nahor, the verse provides a vital time stamp, helping to bridge the perceived chasm between the antediluvian world and the age of the patriarchs.

The very consistency of the "X lived Y years and begat Z" formula throughout Genesis 5 and 11 reinforces the historicity of these accounts. It conveys a clear sense of lineal descent, assuring the original audience and subsequent readers that God's plan of salvation flows through concrete historical figures, not mythical beings. This emphasis on biological succession highlights God's faithfulness in preserving a chosen line, demonstrating His sovereignty over human history even amidst sin and societal scattering. Serug's lifespan of "thirty years" at Nahor's birth, compared to the centuries lived by earlier patriarchs, subtly underscores the accelerated decline in human longevity post-Flood, preparing the reader for a different human experience leading up to Abraham's time. This verse, therefore, quietly but powerfully points forward to the larger narrative of redemption, which begins with a particular family in a specific moment of history.