Genesis 11:13 (KJV)

What does Genesis 11:13 mean?

Genesis 11:13 records that Arphaxad’s life continued long after the birth of his son Salah. The verse places Salah within a larger family: Arphaxad lived another 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

The 403 years are counted from Salah’s birth, not from Arphaxad’s own birth. Following the age given at Salah’s birth in verse 12, the number allows a reader to work out Arphaxad’s total lifespan.

Why Genesis 11:13 matters

• The family line follows one named son without implying that he was an only child. “Sons and daughters” shows that Arphaxad had other children.
• The age in verse 13 is only part of Arphaxad’s life. Verse 12 says he was 35 when Salah was born, making his total lifespan 438 years by the numbers given in the KJV.
• The verse fits a repeated pattern in the passage: it names a son, then gives the father’s remaining years and mentions other children. That pattern continues with Salah in verses 14–15.