Genesis 5:20 kjv

And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

Genesis 5:20 nkjv

So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died.

Genesis 5:20 niv

Altogether, Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5:20 esv

Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.

Genesis 5:20 nlt

Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5 verses

Genesis 5 20 Meaning

Genesis 5:20 succinctly states the conclusion of Mahalaleel's long life, declaring that his total lifespan encompassed eight hundred ninety and five years, followed by his death. This verse forms part of a genealogical record, systematically detailing the descendants of Adam through Seth, underscoring both the extended longevity of humanity in the pre-Flood era and the recurring, universal reality of mortality as a consequence of the Fall.

Genesis 5 20 Context

Genesis chapter 5, often called "The Book of the Generations of Adam," meticulously traces the patriarchal lineage from Adam through Seth down to Noah, highlighting humanity's rapid decline after the Fall, yet showing God's preservation of a righteous line. Each entry, including Mahalaleel's, follows a fixed pattern: age at fatherhood, years lived thereafter, total lifespan, and the consistent phrase, "and he died." This pattern contrasts the divine promise of life in Eden with the inescapable reality of death after sin entered the world. The remarkable longevity reported for these early humans suggests a pre-Flood world with different environmental or biological conditions, potentially linked to God's original perfect creation. This orderly, factual presentation implicitly contrasts with ancient mythical narratives of the era that often featured chaotic origins or capricious gods, presenting instead a world subject to God's sovereign design and consequences. Mahalaleel, meaning "Praise of God," may subtly connect to the earlier record in Genesis 4:26, where men "began to call upon the name of the Lord," perhaps indicating a continued devotion to God within this lineage.

Genesis 5 20 Word analysis

• And all the days of (וַיִּהְיוּ כָּל־יְמֵי - vayyihiyu kol-y'mei):
  • This phrase emphasizes the entirety and completeness of Mahalaleel's lifespan. It signals a definitive record, a full account of his time on earth before the ultimate outcome.
• Mahalaleel (מַהֲלַלְאֵל - Mahalal'el):
  • His name translates to "Praise of God" or "Praise of El (God)." This is significant in a lineage where godliness is noted (e.g., Enoch). It could reflect a parent's devotion or hope, acknowledging God even amidst life's brevity. This stands as a quiet testimony to a divine connection in an era marked by increasing corruption.
• were eight hundred ninety and five years (שְׁמֹנֶה מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה וְחָמֵשׁ וְתִשְׁעִים שָׁנָה - shmoneh me'ot shanah v'chamesh v'tish'im shanah):
  • This numerical statement emphasizes the extraordinary longevity of the early patriarchs. It implies robust biological resilience or differing atmospheric/environmental conditions from modern times. This extended lifespan allowed for slower population growth and ample time for knowledge transmission, contrasting with humanity's current shorter existence.
• and he died (וַיָּמֹת - vayyamot):
  • This two-word phrase is the somber refrain of Genesis 5, repeated for almost every patriarch except Enoch. It powerfully underscores the universal and inescapable consequence of sin introduced by Adam (Gen 3:19). This repetition hammers home the reality of mortality, confirming that even astounding longevity does not exempt one from the ultimate decree. It is the final and conclusive mark of life in a fallen world.

Genesis 5 20 Bonus section

• The strict, repetitive structure of Genesis chapter 5 (birth of son, duration of life, overall age, death) provides a historical framework, serving as a divinely inspired genealogical record. This careful structuring contrasts sharply with more fluid, less precise mythical records common in ancient Near Eastern literature, asserting the historicity and factual nature of the account.
• Mahalaleel's placement in the genealogy, the fourth generation after Seth (Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalaleel), links him to a line through whom the "seed" would come, as prophesied in Gen 3:15, thus maintaining the continuous redemptive thread from Eden.
• The absence of unique biographical details for most of the patriarchs in Gen 5, beyond their lifespans and the common denominator of death, emphasizes the overarching theological message of the curse of sin and the brevity of earthly life even at advanced ages, setting the stage for the narrative shift towards Noah and the Flood.
• The repeated phrase "and he died" not only stresses the universality of death but also indirectly magnifies the exceptional nature of Enoch's departure, highlighting divine intervention and a foretaste of victory over death.

Genesis 5 20 Commentary

Genesis 5:20 offers a simple, declarative statement about Mahalaleel's full life and its conclusion, encapsulating core truths of the post-Fall world. Despite living for nearly nine centuries, Mahalaleel's fate was sealed by the same universal decree that befell all humanity descended from Adam: physical death. The specific mention of his age highlights the remarkable lifespans prevalent in the antediluvian era, a period when genetic purity was higher or environmental factors more favorable, perhaps pointing back to God's original creation intent. However, the consistent "and he died" refrain throughout this genealogy starkly reminds us of the profound impact of sin and the curse pronounced in Eden. Every life, no matter how long, culminates in this reality. The meaning of Mahalaleel's name, "Praise of God," might suggest a family or societal commitment to God during his time, perhaps influencing the later biblical narrative where only Enoch of this lineage does not die, a profound counterpoint that foreshadows a hope beyond the grave for those who truly walk with God. The verse serves as a historical marker within the lineage leading to Noah and ultimately to Christ, yet also as a theological assertion of death's dominion until ultimate redemption.