Bible Commentaries
Genesis 5

Verses 1-32

THE FAMILY OF ADAM - THROUGH SETH

This chapter is called "the book of the genealogy of Adam" (v.1). However, the line of Cain is omitted and only the line of Seth included. The reason for this is indicated in this verse: "in the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God." But Cain, through his rebellion, lost that likeness, therefore only the line of Seth was recognized as "sons of God," while the women of Cain's line were called "the daughters of men" (Genesis 6:2).

Though God created male and female, He called their name Adam (or Man). Because they were "one flesh" (ch.2:24) they had one name. Society has wisely concurred with God's decision, in having the wife accept her husband's name. some have resented this, but the only reason is pride and self-will, as though the creature is wiser than his Creator.

It may seem strange that Seth was not born till Adam was 130 years old. But whatever length of time passed, Adam could only bear a child in his own likeness and image. In measure this was still in God's likeness and image, though it had been spoiled by sin. After this Adam had more sons and daughters, but we are not told how many. Though he lived to the great age of 930 years, yet he died, as God had promised he would.

Following Seth there were seven generations before Noah. Most of these lived over 900 years, though Mahalaleel was five years short of 900 (v.17) and Lamech died at 777 years (v.31). "Enoch has not died, though God took him, for Enoch was translated so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." In the fact of his translation he is a type of Christ in His ascension to glory after His resurrection. But as well as this the rapture of the assembly, the church of God, is pictured in this unusual event. The godly walk and testimony of Enoch bore evident fruit in the fact that his son, Methuselah, lived longer on earth than any other person -- 969 years (Cf. Ephesians 6:2-3). The church, in whatever measure, pleased God, and He will translate her to heaven before the tribulation falls. The tribulation is pictured in the flood of Noah's day occurring after Enoch's translation, typically after the rapture.

Lamech, the son of Methuselah, called his son's name Noah, meaning "rest." whatever Lamech's thoughts were in what he said about Noah, yet his words were prophetic, being inspired by God (v.29). Noah would "comfort us" or "give us rest from our works and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed" (NASB). We may be sure that Lamech did not know how this was to be done. For the rest that was to come was dependent upon Noah's long years of labor in building the ark. Thus the great work of the Lord Jesus in His sacrifice of Calvary is the basis of rest for the believer. The curse of sin has spoiled the earth for us, but the work of Christ has brought in eternal blessing above the level of earth, giving rest to weary hearts. Of course Noah's work is only a very faint picture of this.

Verse 32 speaks of Noah being 500 years old, then of this three sons being born, which seems to indicate that his sons were born during the time of the building of the ark, for it seems likely that Noah was told to build the ark 120 years before the flood took place (Chapter 6:3), which would be 20 years before he became 500, since he was 600 when the flood came.