Genesis 5:29 kjv

And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

Genesis 5:29 nkjv

And he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed."

Genesis 5:29 niv

He named him Noah and said, "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed."

Genesis 5:29 esv

and called his name Noah, saying, "Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands."

Genesis 5:29 nlt

Lamech named his son Noah, for he said, "May he bring us relief from our work and the painful labor of farming this ground that the LORD has cursed."

Genesis 5 verses

Genesis 5 29 Meaning

Genesis 5:29 records Lamech's declaration at the birth of his son, Noah, whose name is linked to the Hebrew word for "comfort" or "rest." Lamech expresses a hopeful anticipation that Noah would bring relief from the burdensome toil and suffering that humanity endured due to the LORD's curse upon the ground, a consequence of the first sin in Eden. This verse highlights humanity's desperate yearning for solace and a break from the harsh realities of a fallen world.

Genesis 5 29 Context

Genesis 5 is primarily a genealogy, detailing the lineage from Adam to Noah, spanning over 1500 years according to its chronology. This chapter systematically lists the patriarchs, their lifespans, the age at which they had their specified son, and their subsequent years. Amidst this structured, repetitive enumeration of birth, life, and death, Genesis 5:29 stands out as a unique deviation. It breaks the pattern by offering a prophetic statement and explanation behind Noah's naming, signaling Noah's exceptional future significance beyond simply adding another link to the lineage. It highlights the oppressive reality of life after the fall (Genesis 3), marked by hard labor and pain stemming from the curse on the ground. Lamech's words reflect the collective yearning of humanity for relief from this constant struggle and point to an anticipation of divine intervention to alleviate their suffering. The naming of Noah thus injects a note of hope amidst the consistent narrative of mortality.

Genesis 5 29 Word analysis

• And he called his name Noah: This refers to Lamech, the father of Noah. The naming tradition often reflected hopes, circumstances, or prophetic insights.
• Noah (Noach, נֹחַ): Derived from the root nuach (נוח), meaning "to rest, settle, be at ease." It strongly links to the word nacham (נחם), which means "to comfort, console, lament, or repent." Lamech's accompanying statement immediately clarifies his intended meaning of comfort/rest.
• saying: Introduces Lamech's interpretative or prophetic declaration for the child's name.
• “This one (zeh, זֶה)”: A demonstrative pronoun, emphasizing this specific child.
• will comfort us (yĕnaḥămēnū, יְנַחֲמֵנוּ): From the root nacham (נחם), specifically meaning "to comfort" or "to console." This forms the direct wordplay with "Noah" (Noach). Lamech's statement connects Noah's name with relief and solace.
• concerning our work (ma'aseh, מַעֲשֶׂה) and the toil (‘ittsavon, עִצָּבוֹן) of our hands:
  • Ma'aseh generally means "work" or "deed."
  • ‘ittsavon is a crucial term here. It means "pain," "sorrow," "toil," "grievous labor," or "painful effort." It directly echoes God's words to Adam in Gen 3:17: "cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil (‘ittsavon) you shall eat of it all the days of your life." This explicit link reinforces humanity's experience of the curse.
• because of the ground (adamah, אֲדָמָה) which the LORD (Yahweh, יְהוָה) has cursed:
  • Adamah refers to the "ground," the very earth from which Adam was formed (adam). This connects humanity directly to the earth from which their painful livelihood is derived.
  • Yahweh (יְהוָה) is the personal, covenantal name of God. This specifies the divine authority behind the curse. It emphasizes that this hardship is not random, but a direct consequence of God's righteous judgment. The use of Yahweh here signifies that the expected comfort, if it comes, will also come from Him.
  • has cursed (arar, אָרַר): This verb specifically means "to utterly curse," often implying an imposed difficulty or removal of blessing. It again references Gen 3:17, where the ground was arar.

Genesis 5 29 Bonus section

• Lamech's declaration, made at a time before the specifics of the Flood were revealed, reflects an inspired foresight or perhaps a deeply ingrained generational yearning passed down from Adam, hinting at divine purpose even amidst judgment. It showcases the tension between human hardship and divine promise, even when the specifics are unclear.
• The phrase "comfort concerning our work and the toil of our hands" can be understood broadly as comfort from the pain of living in a sin-cursed world, which manifests heavily in physical labor but extends to mental and spiritual distress.
• This verse subtly lays the groundwork for understanding the later theological significance of Noah not just as a figure of judgment, but as a vehicle of preservation, new beginnings, and grace. He embodies God's plan to continue His covenant purposes despite human depravity.

Genesis 5 29 Commentary

Lamech's utterance in Genesis 5:29 stands as a beacon of hope in the pre-flood narrative, illuminating the depth of human suffering caused by the Edenic curse and the longing for its amelioration. The poignant connection between Noah's name (Noach - rest/comfort) and the verb "will comfort" (yĕnaḥămēnū), both derived from related roots, showcases a deliberate linguistic wordplay intended to convey Lamech's specific aspiration for his son.

Lamech understood that humanity's existence had become burdensome, defined by ceaseless ‘ittsavon (painful toil) directly linked to the ground ‘adamah cursed by Yahweh. This wasn't merely about farming difficulties, but a profound existential struggle affecting every aspect of life, born from sin. Lamech, echoing the universal cry of a fallen world, foresaw Noah, not necessarily as one who would entirely reverse the curse, but as a source of significant relief.

While the comprehensive fulfillment of Lamech's prophetic hope would ultimately come through Christ, Noah indeed brought a measure of comfort. He provided temporary salvation from utter destruction during the Flood and through him, a new beginning for humanity, leading to God's promise not to curse the ground in the same manner again (Gen 8:21). Noah cultivated the earth (Gen 9:20), and while toil remained, the post-flood world offered a form of reset. His life thus pointed to the possibility of divine mercy and a new covenant.

However, the "comfort" provided by Noah was a temporal and limited one. True and eternal comfort from the curse of sin and death is only fully realized in Jesus Christ, who delivers believers from the curse (Gal 3:13) and offers the ultimate rest for those who labor and are heavy laden (Matt 11:28). Noah foreshadowed this greater Redeemer, demonstrating God's sovereign plan to bring comfort and renewal to a world groaning under the weight of sin and its consequences (Rom 8:22).