Genesis 5:8 kjv
And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
Genesis 5:8 nkjv
So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died.
Genesis 5:8 niv
Altogether, Seth lived a total of 912 years, and then he died.
Genesis 5:8 esv
Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.
Genesis 5:8 nlt
Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.
Genesis 5 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:17 | "...in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." | Consequence of disobedience |
| Gen 3:19 | "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." | Divine curse and human mortality |
| Gen 5:5 | "Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died." | Pattern of longevity and death for Adam |
| Gen 5:11 | "So all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died." | Continuing genealogical pattern |
| Gen 5:24 | "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him." | Unique exception to the death pattern |
| Gen 6:3 | "Then the LORD said, 'My Spirit shall not abide in man forever... his days shall be 120 years.'" | God limits human lifespans after the Flood |
| Gen 11:12 | "...Arpachshad lived 35 years, and fathered Shelah." | Post-Flood lifespans begin to shorten |
| Ps 90:10 | "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away." | Brevity of human life post-Fall/Flood |
| Job 14:1-2 | "Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble... he flees like a shadow and does not continue." | Human transience and mortality |
| Isa 40:6-7 | "All flesh is grass... the grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it." | Humanity's fragile, temporary nature |
| Rom 5:12 | "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—" | Sin's entry led to universal death |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Death as the outcome of sin |
| 1 Cor 15:21-22 | "For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die..." | Adam's sin brings death to all |
| 1 Cor 15:54-57 | "...Then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'" | Ultimate triumph over death in Christ |
| Heb 9:27 | "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..." | Appointed nature of death for humanity |
| Heb 11:5 | "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death..." | Echoes the exceptional nature of Enoch's removal |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | "For 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls...'" | Emphasizes the perishable nature of human life |
| Jas 4:14 | "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." | Life's fleeting nature |
| Ps 8:4 | "What is man (אֱנ֥וֹשׁ - 'enosh) that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him?" | Connects to "Enosh" meaning mortal man |
| Ps 90:3 | "You return man to dust and say, 'Return, O children of man!'" | God's sovereign decree regarding death |
| Eccl 3:20 | "All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return." | Universal destiny of humanity after death |
| Luke 3:38 | "...the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God." | Enosh in the Messiah's lineage |
Genesis 5 verses
Genesis 5 8 Meaning
Genesis 5:8 records the lifespan and death of Enosh, stating that "And all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years: and he died." This verse forms part of a genealogical record, detailing the lineage from Adam to Noah. It succinctly conveys the complete duration of Enosh's life and his ultimate submission to the universal consequence of sin: physical death. The specific enumeration of years highlights the extended lifespans characteristic of the pre-Flood world, while the concluding phrase, "and he died," underscores the pervasive reality of mortality established after the fall of humanity.Genesis 5 8 Context
Genesis chapter 5 presents the first *toledot* (generations) section, titled "This is the book of the generations of Adam" (Gen 5:1). This genealogy primarily serves as a chronological bridge, meticulously tracing the sacred lineage from Adam through his son Seth to Noah. It focuses on the righteous line, differentiating it from the ungodly line of Cain. Each entry in this "death roll" follows a consistent literary pattern: person A lived X years, fathered B, lived X' more years after fathering B, and then died. This repetitive structure emphasizes the enduring impact of the curse from the Fall—death as an inescapable end for all humanity, despite their extraordinarily long lifespans. Enosh's lifespan and death fit precisely into this pattern, reinforcing the sober reality of universal mortality within a framework designed to show God's faithfulness in preserving a chosen seed through which His promises would eventually be fulfilled. The context also hints at the profound spiritual and moral decline foreshadowed in Gen 4 and amplified later in Gen 6.Genesis 5 8 Word analysis
- And (וַיְהִ֥י - vayhiy): This conjunctive prefix ("And it was" or "And were") signals the continuation of the genealogical record and emphasizes a sequential flow of events and lifespans. It links Enosh's entry to the preceding ones, establishing a pattern.
- all (כָּל־ - kol-): Signifies completeness and totality. "All the days" indicates the entire, full duration of Enosh's life, from his birth until his death, without omission.
- the days (יְמֵי־ - yemey-): Refers to the span of time lived, emphasizing the temporal nature of human existence. It highlights the measured and finite duration of life on earth.
- of Enosh (אֱנֹשׁ֙ - Enosh):
- This proper noun is transliterated from the Hebrew אֱנֹשׁ (’enosh).
- The name itself carries significant meaning, being a common noun for "man," "mortal," or "frail man," distinguishing from אָדָם (adam), which often means "man" as in mankind, or the first man Adam.
- The choice of this name for Adam’s grandson underlines the recognition of humanity’s frail and mortal condition after the Fall, a truth that Enosh's own death confirms. It connects conceptually to Gen 4:26 where "people began to call upon the name of the LORD," emphasizing a new realization of human dependence on God in light of their mortality.
- were nine hundred and five years (תְּשַׁ֣ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנִ֣ים וְחָמֵ֑שׁ - tesha me'ot shanim vekhamesh):
- This precise numerical statement reflects the detailed genealogical records maintained in ancient cultures.
- The immense longevity is a striking feature of the antediluvian period recorded in Genesis 5. Scholars propose various explanations for these lifespans, including differing environmental conditions, genetic purity closer to creation, or divine intervention to allow population growth and a longer period for the righteous line to establish itself and to facilitate the oral transmission of truth. This longevity contrasts sharply with post-Flood lifespans (Gen 11), indicating a significant change in the human condition.
- and he died (וַיָּמֹֽת - vayyamot):
- This phrase, repeated eight times in Genesis 5 (for Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Lamech, and Methuselah), is the poignant and inescapable refrain of the chapter.
- The Hebrew verb וַיָּמֹת (vayyamot) means "and he died." It is a direct and definitive statement.
- Its repetitive inclusion solemnly emphasizes the universal reality and ultimate consequence of Adam's sin (Gen 2:17, Gen 3:19). Death is portrayed not as a natural biological cycle as understood in many pagan mythologies, but as an intrusion, a penalty, a clear demonstration of humanity’s fallen state. It underscores God's pronouncement coming to pass for every individual listed, reinforcing the grave seriousness of sin. The solitary exception to this refrain is Enoch (Gen 5:24), whose unusual end highlights the unique sovereignty of God over life and death.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And all the days of Enosh were...": This phrase sets the stage, drawing attention to the full temporal journey of Enosh. It speaks to the linear progression of time and the complete lifespan allotted to each individual in this divine register. It implies a sense of completion for that specific life.
- "...nine hundred and five years: and he died.": This segment provides the conclusive information about Enosh's earthly existence. The extended age underscores the antediluvian conditions and the divine allowance for such long lives, while the phrase "and he died" stands as the powerful, sobering declaration, reinforcing the inescapable finality of life apart from divine intervention, making the chapter's pattern a solemn funeral march.
Genesis 5 8 Bonus section
- Genealogical Purpose: Genesis 5, including Enosh's entry, serves a crucial role in the Bible's meta-narrative. It bridges the creation accounts (Gen 1-4) with the coming narrative of the Flood (Gen 6-9), establishing a direct, unbroken line of descent from Adam to Noah, who would be key to the continuation of humanity and God's redemptive plan. It emphasizes the historicity of early humanity and the chosen lineage through which the covenant would eventually be established.
- Significance of Enosh's Name: While the verse directly states his name and lifespan, the meaning of "Enosh" (mortal, frail man) subtly colors the understanding of this chapter. It highlights that even with great age and lineage, humanity is inherently fragile and subject to death, providing a counterpoint to any perceived self-sufficiency and underscoring the need for God.
- The Uniqueness of Enoch: The repeated refrain "and he died" is broken only once in Genesis 5 for Enoch (Gen 5:24). This provides a sharp contrast, illustrating God's power over death and offering a glimmer of hope beyond the universal decree of mortality, foreshadowing divine translation and resurrection. Enoch's exception elevates the otherwise repetitive death toll into a message of divine exception and supernatural deliverance.
- Literal vs. Symbolic Lifespans: Biblical scholars extensively discuss the longevity described in Genesis 5. While some interpret these numbers symbolically, a strong case can be made for them being literal given the detailed and consistent reporting, implying unique environmental conditions or genetic factors prior to the Flood. The Bible's own progression to shorter lifespans post-Flood (Gen 11) further supports this as a historical rather than purely metaphorical account of longevity reduction.