Question 1

What does Genesis 11:15 mean?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 11:15 states that after Salah became the father of Eber, he lived for another 403 years and had other sons and daughters. This verse is part of a genealogy, recording the lifespan and family line from Salah to his descendants. Genesis 11:15 is found in a list tracing the descendants of Shem after the flood, showing the generations leading up to Abraham. The verse simply reports the years Salah lived after Eber was born and notes that he had more children, emphasizing the continuation and growth of the family line in early biblical history.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Genesis 11:15

Accepted Answer

"lived" (חָיָה, chayah): This word means to be alive or to continue living. Here, it marks the span of years Salah continued to live after Eber’s birth, highlighting the long lifespans attributed to people in this era. "begat" (יָלַד, yalad): This verb means to father or bring forth children. The verse uses it twice, first for Eber and then for unnamed sons and daughters, showing the ongoing expansion of Salah’s family.

Question 3

Why Genesis 11:15 matters

Accepted Answer

Genesis 11:15 helps establish the timeline and connections between key ancestors in the biblical story, especially as it leads toward Abraham. The verse shows that the people in these genealogies often had many children, not just the one named heir, which suggests a broader and growing population. By recording both the years lived and the additional children, the verse emphasizes the continuity and faithfulness of the family line through generations after the flood.

Genesis 11:15 (KJV)