Genesis 5:5 kjv

And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

Genesis 5:5 nkjv

So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.

Genesis 5:5 niv

Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5:5 esv

Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

Genesis 5:5 nlt

Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5 verses

Genesis 5 5 Meaning

Genesis 5:5 records the complete lifespan of Adam, stating that he lived for nine hundred and thirty years, culminating in his death. This verse powerfully underlines the fulfillment of the divine judgment decreed in Eden—that disobedience would inevitably lead to death. Despite an extraordinary lifespan, Adam ultimately faced mortality, signifying the entrance of physical death into the human experience as a direct consequence of sin. It marks the endpoint of the life of humanity's first representative and patriarch.

Genesis 5 5 Context

Genesis 5:5 stands within the genealogies of Genesis 5, often called the "Book of the Generations of Adam." This chapter presents a linear succession of patriarchs from Adam to Noah, detailing their lifespans and often noting their begetting of children before their death. The overarching theme of Genesis 5 is the persistent presence and consequence of death in a world now subjected to the Fall, even amidst extraordinarily long lifespans. Each patriarchal entry (with the notable exception of Enoch) concludes with the solemn, repetitive phrase "and he died," underscoring the universal grip of mortality initiated by Adam's sin. This specific verse acts as the concluding statement for Adam's life narrative, immediately following the mention of his fathering Seth. It reaffirms God's judgment and prepares the reader for the subsequent long but ultimately finite lives of Adam's descendants before the great flood.

Genesis 5 5 Word analysis

• So all the days that Adam lived:

  • This phrase acts as a summarizing and conclusive statement, typical of ancient genealogical records, bringing closure to Adam's individual entry.
  • The term "lived" (Hebrew: ḥay, חַי) signifies his physical existence and the duration of his earthly life, encompassing all his experiences, labors, and propagation.

• Adam:

  • (Hebrew: ’ādām, אָדָם): Literally means "man" or "mankind," and also serves as the proper name for the first man.
  • He is presented as the progenitor of all humanity and the federal head through whom sin and death entered the world. His life story sets the precedent for all human existence thereafter.

• were nine hundred and thirty years:

  • (Hebrew: šəlōšîm wəṯēša‘ mē’ôṯ šānâ, שְׁלֹשִׁים וְתֵשַׁע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה): Literally "thirty and nine hundreds years." This emphasizes the exact and incredibly long duration of Adam's life, an age far beyond modern human experience.
  • This longevity highlights God's grace in extending life even after the Fall and perhaps suggests a less harsh environment or inherent human physiology closer to the pre-Fall ideal, before the lifespan limitations recorded in Gen 6:3 and Psa 90:10.
  • The precise number underscores the historical and factual nature of the Genesis account for the original audience, distinguishing it from mythical or poetic narratives that might lack such specific details.

• and he died:

  • (Hebrew: wayyāmōṯ, וַיָּמֹת): A strong, simple past tense verb meaning "and he died."
  • This phrase is definitive and absolute, marking the cessation of life. It serves as the ultimate proof and inescapable fulfillment of God's word in Gen 2:17 and Gen 3:19 ("you shall surely die," "to dust you shall return").
  • Its repeated occurrence throughout Genesis 5, "and he died," establishes a rhythmic, dirge-like quality that underscores the pervasive consequence of the Fall and the universal reality of death for humanity, interrupted only by Enoch's translation (Gen 5:24).

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "So all the days that Adam lived... and he died": This structure succinctly encapsulates an entire life, from beginning to end, highlighting that even extended longevity culminates in mortality for a fallen humanity. It conveys a sense of finality and the inescapable decree of death.
  • "Nine hundred and thirty years, and he died": The juxtaposition of immense lifespan with inevitable death serves as a profound statement. It signifies that no amount of time, no matter how great, can ultimately reverse the judgment of physical death. Humanity, once promised immortality, now universally succumbs to the dust.

Genesis 5 5 Bonus section

• The precise dating and extraordinary lifespans in Genesis 5, including Adam's, allowed for significant overlap between early generations. Adam lived long enough to meet his descendant Lamech (Noah's father), potentially facilitating the direct oral transmission of divine revelation from creation down to the generation just before the Flood.
• The phrase "and he died" creates a deliberate literary rhythm throughout Genesis 5, serving as a powerful counterpoint to the phrase "and he begot." This structural pattern emphasizes that while life and procreation continued after the Fall, death was an ever-present, inescapable reality for almost every patriarch.
• The longevity figures in Genesis 5, while astonishing to modern readers, may reflect unique atmospheric or environmental conditions, different physiological states for early humanity, or even a demonstration of God's sustaining grace for a fallen world.
• Adam's life and death serve as the archetypal human experience—created in God's image, subject to temptation, falling into sin, facing the consequences of mortality, yet given a path for progeny. His end reminds humanity of its shared frailty and desperate need for divine intervention, foreshadowing the hope in the "seed of the woman" (Gen 3:15).

Genesis 5 5 Commentary

Genesis 5:5 is far more than a simple record of Adam’s age; it is a foundational theological statement. It definitively closes the narrative of the first human, confirming the irreversible impact of his disobedience on both himself and all his descendants. Adam's death, even after centuries, demonstrates the infallibility of God's judgment. It shows that even amidst divine patience, as evidenced by such a long lifespan, the wages of sin are indeed death (Rom 6:23). This verse sets the stage for the rest of human history, establishing death as a universal reality, while subtly pointing to God’s preserving grace in allowing such a span of life for the propagation of humanity and the continuation of the divine promise. The consistent reiteration of "and he died" in the ensuing genealogies builds a somber, rhythmic pattern, a continuous dirge emphasizing mortality as the defining feature of life in a fallen world, interrupted only by the mysterious departure of Enoch, which foreshadows a different path for the faithful (Heb 11:5).

• Example for Practical Usage: In light of this verse, consider the temporary nature of earthly life and the importance of stewardship over our allotted time. How does our recognition of mortality impact our priorities and relationship with God (Psa 90:12)? It also provides comfort to those mourning, reminding us that physical death is part of the human journey since Adam.