This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

GENESIS 5:1KJV
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Genesis 5:1 (KJV)

What does Genesis 5:1 mean?

Genesis 5:1 introduces a written record of Adam’s descendants, stating that when God created humanity, He made them to resemble Himself. The verse marks the beginning of a genealogy, emphasizing that humans were made in the likeness of God.

Genesis 5:1 is a heading for a section that lists the generations coming from Adam. The verse is presented as a formal record (“the book of the generations of Adam”), suggesting a written or organized account. It reminds the reader that, from the very start, God created mankind (“man”) in His own likeness, connecting this genealogy back to the creation story in Genesis 1.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 5:1

  • “book” (סֵפֶר, sefer): This word points to a written document or record, highlighting that what follows is meant to be an official account, not just an oral tradition.
  • “generations” (תּוֹלְדוֹת, toledot): This term refers to family histories or genealogies, marking a new section in Genesis focused on tracing family lines.
  • “likeness” (דְּמוּת, demut): This word means resemblance or similarity. By using it, the verse stresses that humans were created to reflect something of God’s nature or character, not just physical form.

Why Genesis 5:1 matters

  • Genesis 5:1 clarifies that the following verses are not random stories but a structured genealogy, helping the reader understand the organization of early Genesis.
  • The verse connects the genealogy of Adam back to the creation narrative, showing continuity between God’s creation and the unfolding human story.
  • By repeating that humans were made in God’s likeness, Genesis 5:1 emphasizes human dignity and value, which is a foundational idea for understanding the rest of the Bible’s view of people.

Where else these words appear

“Adam” Hebrew H121 · used in 9 verses

  • Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
  • Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
  • Joshua 3:16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

“likeness” Hebrew H1823 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
  • Ezekiel 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
  • Ezekiel 8:2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

“This” Hebrew H2088 · used in 37 verses

  • Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
  • Exodus 13:8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
  • 1 Kings 17:24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

“generations” Hebrew H8435 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
  • Exodus 6:16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.
  • Numbers 1:40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;