Question 1

What does Genesis 5:21 mean?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 5:21 records that Enoch lived for sixty-five years before he became the father of Methuselah. This verse is part of a genealogy, simply noting Enoch’s age at the birth of his son. Genesis 5 is a list of the descendants of Adam, tracing the generations through the line of Seth. The verse is not spoken by a particular person but is part of a written record, likely compiled to show the passage of time and the continuity of the family line. Enoch is a notable figure in this list because, unlike most others, later verses will highlight something unique about his life and relationship with God.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Genesis 5:21

Accepted Answer

אֲנוֹךְ (Enoch, transliterated "Chanokh"): This name means "dedicated" or "initiated," and Enoch stands out in the genealogy for his later description as someone who "walked with God." יָחַי (lived, transliterated "chayah"): This word means "to live" or "to be alive," emphasizing the span of Enoch’s life up to the birth of Methuselah. יָלַד (begat, transliterated "yalad"): This verb means "to father" or "to bring forth," marking the moment Enoch becomes a parent, which is a key event in genealogical records.

Question 3

Why Genesis 5:21 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse sets up the introduction of Methuselah, who will become the longest-lived person recorded in the Bible, making Enoch’s role as his father significant in the larger narrative. The verse is part of a pattern in Genesis 5, where each entry notes a man’s age at the birth of his son, connecting each generation and emphasizing the passage of time from Adam onward. Enoch’s mention here prepares the reader for the unusual details about his life that follow, highlighting that something sets him apart from the other figures in this genealogy.

Genesis 5:21 (KJV)