UNROLL
A long grassy ridge at dusk with a line of low stone cairns running along it into the distance, each one a little smaller.

The Book of

Genesis 5

Name after name, life after life, and each ends the same way. Then one man walks with God and is gone.

32 verses≈ 4 min5 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–11BeginningsCreation, fall, flood, BabelChapter 5
  2. 12–24AbrahamThe call and the promise
  3. 25–36Isaac and JacobThe promise passed on
  4. 37–50JosephGod meant it for good

The Descendants of Adam

This is the book of the generations of Adam.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

A large family of every age gathered around an evening fire outside black goat-hair tents, sparks rising into the dusk.

In the day that God created man, He made him in His own likeness. Male and female He created them, and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.”

0:14

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

An old man's weathered hands resting one over the other on the head of a wooden shepherd's staff, in warm evening light.

Family line

Adam to Mahalalel

  1. 930 years

    Father of Seth at 130 · lived 800 more · and he died

    A son in his own likeness

    When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and he named him Seth. And after he had become the father of Seth, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. So Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

  2. 912 years

    Father of Enosh at 105 · lived 807 more · and he died

    When Seth was 105 years old, he became the father of Enosh. And after he had become the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. So Seth lived a total of 912 years, and then he died.

  3. Enosh905 years

    Father of Kenan at 90 · lived 815 more · and he died

    When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan. And after he had become the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. So Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died.

  4. Kenan910 years

    Father of Mahalalel at 70 · lived 840 more · and he died

    When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel. And after he had become the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. So Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and then he died.

  5. Mahalalel895 years

    Father of Jared at 65 · lived 830 more · and he died

    When Mahalalel was 65 years old, he became the father of Jared. And after he had become the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. So Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years, and then he died.

Reflect

And then he died

Read down the line and the same words keep coming: “and then he died.” Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel. Hundreds of years each, “other sons and daughters,” and still every life ends the same way. Genesis isn’t being gloomy here; it’s being honest. Your life has an end too. What do you want it to be about? Write it down.

God Takes Up Enoch

Family line

Jared and Enoch

  1. Jared962 years

    Father of Enoch at 162 · lived 800 more · and he died

    When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch. And after he had become the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. So Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.

  2. 365 years

    Father of Methuselah at 65

    walked with God 300 years

    When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he had become the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. So Enoch lived a total of 365 years.

Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away.

Enoch walked with God

Genesis 5:24

Pray

Walk with God

Enoch’s whole life is summed up in four words: “Enoch walked with God.” No great deed is recorded, only a long walk, day after day, while he raised “other sons and daughters.” Ask God to make your ordinary days a walk with Him: to keep in step with Him, to listen to Him, and to trust Him with where the path ends.

From Methuselah to Noah

An immense, ancient olive tree with a hollow, twisted trunk standing alone on a hillside at evening.

Family line

The longest life

  1. 969 years

    Father of Lamech at 187 · lived 782 more · and he died

    When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech. And after he had become the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. So Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.

Lamech

May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands

Genesis 5:29

Question

Quick question

One name in this family line breaks the pattern.

Whose row in Genesis 5 does not end with “and then he died”?

You’ve experienced

Genesis 5

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A verse to carry with you

Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away.

Genesis 5:24

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