Genesis 5:21 kjv

And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

Genesis 5:21 nkjv

Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.

Genesis 5:21 niv

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.

Genesis 5:21 esv

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah.

Genesis 5:21 nlt

When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah.

Genesis 5 verses

Genesis 5 21 Meaning

Genesis 5:21 marks the initial point in the detailed biblical account of Enoch's life, specifically noting that he lived sixty-five years before fathering Methuselah. This genealogical statement, consistent with the pattern of the patriarchs in Genesis chapter 5, is highly significant because it immediately precedes the distinct narrative of Enoch's exceptional walk with God and his subsequent translation without experiencing death, setting him apart from all others in this list. It is the beginning of the journey leading to one of the most unique divine interactions recorded in the early chapters of Genesis, affirming his place within the holy lineage through which God's purposes unfolded.

Genesis 5 21 Context

Genesis chapter 5, often called the "Book of the Generations of Adam," provides a detailed, formulaic genealogy tracing the patriarchal line from Adam, through Seth, to Noah. Each entry meticulously records the age of a patriarch when his first son was born, the years he lived after that birth, his total lifespan, and the consistent phrase "and he died," which underscores the universal consequence of sin introduced in Genesis 3. Within this repetitive pattern, Genesis 5:21 introduces Enoch's life in line with the established form. However, this verse serves as the immediate preamble to Enoch's unique departure from this earthly life (vv. 22-24), where he uniquely "walked with God" and was "taken" without dying. Therefore, this verse establishes the point in Enoch's life where a profound spiritual journey and special divine connection began or became markedly significant, differentiating him from all others in this genealogical record who eventually succumbed to death. It sets the stage for a dramatic shift in narrative emphasis from mere lifespan and death to the triumph of faith and intimate communion with God, amidst a world increasingly falling into corruption towards the eventual judgment of the Flood.

Genesis 5 21 Word analysis

• And Enoch: This opening phrase links Enoch directly into the established patriarchal sequence in the "Book of Generations of Adam." The name Ḥanōḵ (חֲנוֹךְ) means "dedicated" or "initiated," which prophetically describes his deep, spiritual walk. This Enoch is distinguished from Cain's son, Enoch, belonging instead to the righteous lineage through Seth.
• lived: The Hebrew verb ḥay (חַי), meaning "to live" or "existed," indicates Enoch's literal life within the human timeline. Its common usage across the genealogy highlights the passage of time and the continuation of humanity through each generation.
• sixty and five years: This numerical detail, šimšim ḵhamish šanim (שְׁמֹנִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים), specifies Enoch's age at Methuselah's birth. While relatively young compared to the exceptionally long lifespans of other antediluvian patriarchs, this precise age is presented as a critical chronological marker for the commencement of the intensified "walking with God" that distinguishes his life from this point onward.
• and begat: The Hebrew vayyōled (וַיּוֹלֶד), meaning "and he fathered" or "and he caused to be born," is the standard genealogical verb for procreation. It signifies the continuity of the divinely ordained human lineage and the fulfillment of God's command to be fruitful and multiply, ensuring the preservation of the Messianic seedline.
• Methuselah: The name Məṯûšelaḥ (מְתוּשֶׁלַח) carries profound significance. It is most commonly interpreted as "his death shall bring forth" or "when he dies, it shall be sent." This interpretation is prophetic, implying a divine delay in the Great Flood until Methuselah, who lived the longest of all patriarchs, had died. Thus, Methuselah's birth is inextricably linked to God's future judgment and long-suffering.

Word-group analysis:

• "And Enoch lived sixty and five years": This specific statement precisely places Enoch within the historical and chronological framework of the antediluvian period. The detail of his age, just like the other patriarchs, emphasizes the continuity of life and generational transfer within the biblical genealogy. This established age serves as the marker just prior to his distinct walk with God mentioned in the subsequent verses.
• "and begat Methuselah": This action, outwardly similar to other entries in the genealogy, holds exceptional spiritual and prophetic weight for Enoch. It immediately precedes the unique, deeper communion Enoch experiences with God, leading to his miraculous translation. Many biblical scholars suggest that the responsibilities of fatherhood, or the profound spiritual insight potentially granted to him upon naming Methuselah (given its prophetic meaning related to the Flood), may have been a catalyst for Enoch's intense and faithful walk with God. The act of bringing Methuselah into the world thus takes on an eternal dimension, linking Enoch's life to God's patient yet ultimately resolute plan for judgment on the pre-Flood world.

Genesis 5 21 Bonus section

• Enoch, the Seventh from Adam: In Jude 1:14, Enoch is explicitly identified as "the seventh from Adam." Biblically, the number seven often symbolizes completeness, divine perfection, or spiritual culmination. This unique numbering places Enoch in a significant, almost climactic, position within the initial generations of humanity, indicating a high point of faith and intimacy with God amidst a world steadily declining into wickedness before the Flood.
• Distinct from Cain's Line: The Bible carefully distinguishes Enoch of Seth's lineage (Gen 5) from Cain's son, also named Enoch (Gen 4:17). This distinction is vital in maintaining the narrative of two "seeds" (Gen 3:15)—the righteous line (through Seth and leading to Christ) and the unrighteous line (through Cain), underscoring the biblical emphasis on purity of lineage for the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
• Literary Foreshadowing: Enoch's singular "translation" without experiencing physical death (Gen 5:24) stands as a profound biblical anomaly, serving as a powerful foreshadowing. It provides an early glimpse within the Genesis narrative of God's power over death, hinting at future divine acts that would culminate in Christ's victory over death and the future promise of transformation and eternal life for believers, such as the resurrection and rapture.

Genesis 5 21 Commentary

Genesis 5:21 introduces a turning point in the patriarchal lineage narrative through the life of Enoch. Far from being a mere entry in a list, this verse establishes the foundational human milestone that immediately precedes Enoch's unparalleled spiritual journey. His begetting of Methuselah at 65 years old marks the ordinary domestic context in which an extraordinary divine relationship began to flourish. This detail suggests that Enoch's devotion was not born of isolation but developed amidst the responsibilities of family life, offering a powerful example of godliness integrated into everyday existence. Furthermore, the name "Methuselah," signifying "his death shall bring forth," imbues this moment with prophetic undertones. It implicitly links Enoch's family to God's patient justice, where the timing of the coming Great Flood would coincide with Methuselah's passing. Thus, Genesis 5:21 encapsulates the intersection of personal faithfulness, family life, and God's overarching redemptive plan, foreshadowing both divine grace (through Methuselah's long life) and eventual judgment.