And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

GENESIS 25:7KJV
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Genesis 25:7 (KJV)

What does Genesis 25:7 mean?

Genesis 25:7 states that Abraham lived for 175 years. This verse records the total length of Abraham’s life, marking the end of his earthly journey.

Genesis 25:7 is part of a section where the narrative pauses to summarize Abraham’s lifespan before describing his death and burial. The writer is giving a formal account of Abraham’s years, which was a common way in ancient times to honor someone’s life and legacy. This sets the stage for the transition to the next generation in the story.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 25:7

  • "days" (יָמִים, yamim): This word emphasizes not just the years but the fullness of Abraham’s lived experience, highlighting each day as part of his story.
  • "years" (שָׁנִים, shanim): Used repeatedly in this verse, this word underscores the importance of counting and remembering the span of a significant life.
  • "life" (חַי, chai): This word refers to Abraham’s living existence, not just his age, but the life he actually lived.
  • "lived" (חָיָה, chayah): This verb means “to live,” focusing on Abraham’s active years, not just the passage of time.

Why Genesis 25:7 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Abraham’s life was considered significant and worthy of careful record, reflecting his importance in the biblical story.
  • By stating Abraham’s age, the verse connects his story to earlier promises about his descendants and the length of his days, showing fulfillment of God’s words.
  • The formal summary of Abraham’s life marks a turning point in Genesis, moving the focus from Abraham to his children and the next stage of the narrative.

Where else these words appear

“lived” Hebrew H2425 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
  • Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
  • Nehemiah 6:11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

“fifteen” Hebrew H7657 · used in 90 verses

  • Genesis 4:24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
  • Numbers 7:79 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • 2 Chronicles 2:2 And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.