Genesis 5 27

Genesis 5:27 kjv

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

Genesis 5:27 nkjv

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

Genesis 5:27 niv

Altogether, Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5:27 esv

Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

Genesis 5:27 nlt

Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5 verses

Genesis 5 27 Meaning

Genesis 5:27 records the exact duration of Methuselah's life, stating that he lived nine hundred sixty-nine years before his death. This verse climaxes the remarkable longevity of the antediluvian patriarchs documented in Genesis chapter 5, marking Methuselah as the oldest person whose age is explicitly recorded in the biblical narrative. It underscores both the extraordinary life spans common before the Great Flood and the universal reality of death that applied even to those with exceptionally long lives, fulfilling the consequences of the Fall.

Genesis 5 27 Context

Genesis chapter 5, often called the "Book of the Generations of Adam," provides a detailed genealogy of the line of Seth, Adam's third son, from Adam himself down to Noah. This chapter stands in stark contrast to the Cainite lineage in Genesis 4, which is marked by violence and spiritual decline. Genesis 5, instead, highlights God's continued presence and blessing through the lineage destined to preserve the promise of salvation. Each entry follows a specific formula: name, age at fatherhood, total lifespan, and the repeated phrase "and he died," underscoring the pervasive reality of mortality following the Fall (Gen 3).

Methuselah's lifespan, the longest recorded at 969 years, appears in this direct succession leading to Noah, who eventually survives the Great Flood. His death, by biblical chronology, occurs in the very year of the Flood, making his extended life a testament to God's incredible patience with humanity before widespread judgment. The cultural context suggests an era when divine favor or different environmental factors allowed for such exceptional lifespans, which steadily declined after the Flood. The precision of the years served not only as a record but also for chronological calculation, embedding the patriarchs within a historical framework. There are no direct polemics here, but the emphasis on a historical lineage and precise ages subtly distinguishes it from mythical narratives of eternal or infinitely long-lived beings prevalent in surrounding cultures, by affirming life's ultimate culmination in death even at advanced ages.

Genesis 5 27 Word analysis

• And: וְ (wə) - A common conjunction, here meaning "and" or "but." Connects this statement to the preceding genealogy.
• all: כָּל־ (kāl-) - Hebrew kol, meaning "all," "every," or "whole." Emphasizes the totality and entirety of Methuselah's days, leaving no part unaccounted for. This highlights the precise and complete nature of the chronological record.
• the days: יְמֵי (yəmê) - Hebrew yamim, meaning "days" or "years." In this context, used idiomatically for a lifespan or duration of life, consistent with its usage throughout Gen 5. It signifies time, a finite period allocated to human existence.
• of Methuselah: מְתוּשֶׁלַח (Məṯūšeilaḥ) - The name of Noah's grandfather. In Hebrew, often interpreted as "when he dies, it shall be sent" (from muth, "to die," and shalach, "to send/thrust"). This interpretative meaning, while debated etymologically, aligns remarkably with the biblical chronology: Methuselah dies in the very year the Flood is sent. This unique name adds prophetic weight to his extraordinarily long life.
• were: (implied in Hebrew, hayu) - The verb "to be" is understood, linking his life's entirety to the specified duration.
• nine hundred sixty and nine: תשַׁע מֵאוֹת שִׁשִּׁים וְתֵשַׁע (tiššaʿ mêʾôṯ šiššîm wəṯêšaʿ) - The Hebrew numbers explicitly state "nine hundred, sixty, and nine." The numerical specificity is critical, providing exact chronological data and reinforcing the historical record of this individual. This is the highest individual age reported in the Bible.
• years: שָׁנָה (šānâ) - Hebrew shanah, meaning "year." This confirms that the lifespan is measured in annual cycles.
• and he died: וַיָּמֹת (wayyā·mōṯ) - This phrase, wa-yamot, meaning "and he died," is a recurring refrain in Genesis 5 for every patriarch listed, except Enoch. Its constant repetition emphasizes the stark reality and universality of death for all humankind as a direct consequence of sin, even for those gifted with extreme longevity.

Words-group analysis:

• "And all the days of Methuselah were...": This standardized formula initiates the lifespan declaration, emphasizing meticulous record-keeping. It signifies the culmination of his existence, accounting for its entire span. The deliberate recording of such precise numbers highlights the theological importance of genealogy and time in God's plan.
• "...nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.": This segment pairs the pinnacle of human longevity with the universal end—death. The juxtaposition emphasizes that no matter how long life is extended, the decree of mortality (Gen 3:19) remains in effect. The immense duration serves as a testament to divine patience before the looming judgment of the Flood, allowing ample time for humanity to repent, while his inevitable death signifies that the period of grace was concluding and judgment would be "sent" once the most patient of human lives reached its conclusion.

Genesis 5 27 Bonus section

The pre-Flood lifespans are sometimes interpreted non-literally, suggesting different calendars, numerical symbolism, or dynasties, but the plain sense of the text in Genesis is literal years, given the consistent chronological pattern and direct linkages (e.g., "was X years old when he begot Y"). The reason for such extreme longevity before the Flood is subject to scholarly discussion, including factors like unique physiological conditions, the absence of disease-causing mutations (a pristine genome from Adam), environmental conditions (pre-Flood canopy protecting from cosmic radiation), and unique divine sustaining power directly applied to these early patriarchs. This era represents a vastly different epoch in human history before the covenant changes and significant environmental shifts accompanying the Great Flood led to dramatically reduced lifespans (e.g., Gen 6:3; Psa 90:10).

Genesis 5 27 Commentary

Genesis 5:27 provides the concluding detail for Methuselah, solidifying his unique place in biblical history as the longest-living human recorded. This isn't merely a genealogical statistic; it carries profound theological weight. His remarkable age of 969 years is interpreted by many scholars to illustrate God's boundless patience with humanity during the pre-Flood era. If his name, "when he dies, it shall be sent," carries a prophetic meaning, then his extraordinary lifespan truly embodies divine forbearance, allowing for the maximum possible time for repentance before the devastating judgment of the Flood.

The exact timing of his death, simultaneous with or immediately preceding the Flood by careful biblical chronology (Noah was 600 at the Flood; Methuselah was 187 when Lamech was born, Lamech 182 when Noah was born, total 369 years, plus Noah's 600 years equals 969 years from Methuselah's birth to the Flood, exactly his lifespan), intensifies this message. Methuselah literally lived through the entire antediluvian period up to the cusp of judgment, suggesting that when even this final link to a deeply entrenched generation passed, the moment for divine intervention arrived. The concluding phrase "and he died" serves as a poignant reminder that despite immense blessing and longevity, humanity could not escape the universal consequence of sin: physical death. This verse encapsulates both God's enduring grace and His unwavering justice, presenting the pre-Flood world as a testament to the full measure of divine longsuffering.