painting of adam and eve

Genesis 5

Chapter notes
Discussion questions

Chapter notes

Intro Notes for Genesis
15:6

“Father” is more literally “ancestor.”

25:24

On the basis of this statement, many have taught that Enoch never died, but that God airlifted him to heaven. Many see a parallel with the story of a whirlwind with a chariot of fire carrying away the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 2:11), though others say Elijah may have walked into a lightning storm and a tornado.

35:27

Longest-living man in the Bible. Some formulas for dating events in the Bible have him dying in the Flood. Others have him surviving the Flood by 14 years.

45:29

“Noah” sounds like a Hebrew word for kicking back and taking it easy—words like rest, relaxation, or comfort.

Discussion questions

  • The Genesis writer described the resemblance between Adam and his third son Seth in the same way the writer described the resemblance between humans and God: “When God created humans, he made them resemble him…. When Adam was 130 years old he had another son who resembled him: Seth” (5:1, 3). Do you think the writer is suggesting that humans in some way actually look like God?

  • If people today lived as long as the Bible says people lived before the Flood, George Washington could host a Ken Burns documentary about all the battles in American history. Scholars have theories about what to do with those long lifespans. Some say it’s accurate reporting; the Bible got it right. Some say the writer was working with a different calendar. Others say the high numbers are like an honorary doctorate—a way of showing respect to someone. What do you think about those long lifespans that reach almost 1,000 years?

  • Many Christians say that Enoch, like the prophet Elijah, never died. They say God took him directly to paradise. They base that on what the Genesis writer said: “Enoch lived 365 years, in a close relationship with God. Then Enoch disappeared. God took him” (5:23-24). How well do you think that description supports the theory that Enoch never died?

  • If we work the math in ancient editions of the Bible, we discover that Methuselah, the oldest man in the Bible, either died in the Flood in 1656 BC or he died 14 years after the Flood. Different copies of the story suggest different years of his death. How should we deal with that report in the Bible?

  • LIFE APPLICATION. Noah is the Hebrew word for “rest.” His dad gave him that name for a reason: “Once this child grows up, he will let us rest in peace from our struggle to work this land that God has cursed” (5:29). Who knows, maybe he was looking ahead to retirement, when his son would look after him. We don’t generally let our parents move in with us in their old age. What are some of the reasons we use to defend that? And what are some of the arguments to suggest we consider taking aging parents under our wing?

Genesis 5

Adam's family tree

GENERATION 1

1This is the family tree of Adam. When God created humans, he made them resemble him. 2He created male and female. Then he blessed them and he called them human. 3When Adam was 130 years old he had another son who resembled him: Seth.

GENERATION 2

4After Seth was born, Adam lived another 800 years. During that time he had other children, sons as well as daughters. 5Adam lived to age 930, then he died. 6Seth, at the age of 105, became the father [1] of Enosh. 7After that, Seth lived another 807 years. He had more sons and daughters. 8In all, Seth lived 912 years before he died.

GENERATION 3

9Enosh, at the age of 90, became the father of Kenan. 10After that, Enosh lived another 815 years. He had more sons and daughters. 11In all, Enosh lived 905 years before he died.

GENERATION 4

12Kenan, at the age of 70, became the father of Mahalael. 13After that, Kenan lived another 840 years. He had more sons and daughters. 14In all, Kenan lived 910 years before he died.

GENERATION 5

15Mahalael, at the age of 65, became the father of Jared. 16After that, Mahalael lived another 830 years. He had more sons and daughters. 17In all, Mahalael lived 895 years before he died.

GENERATION 6

18Jared, at the age of 162, became the father of Enoch. 19After that, Jared lived another 800 years. He had more sons and daughters. 20In all, Jared lived 962 years before he died.

GENERATION 7

21Enoch, at the age of 65, became the father of Methuselah. 22After that, Enoch lived in a close relationship with God for 300 years. He had more sons and daughters. 23In all, Enoch lived 365 years, 24in a close relationship with God. Then Enoch disappeared. God took him. [2]

GENERATION 8

25Methuselah, at the age of 187, became the father of Lamech. 26After that, Methuselah lived another 782 years. He had more sons and daughters. 27In all, Methuselah lived 969 years before he died. [3]

GENERATION 9

28Lamech, at the age of 182, became the father of Noah. 29Lamech named him Noah [4] because he said, “Once this child grows up, he will let us rest in peace from our struggle to work this land that God has cursed.” 30After that, Lamech lived another 595 years. He had more sons and daughters. 31In all, Lamech lived 777 years before he died.

GENERATION 10

32Noah, after the age of 500, became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

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