And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:

GENESIS 5:4KJV
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Genesis 5:4 (KJV)

What does Genesis 5:4 mean?

Genesis 5:4 says that after Adam became the father of Seth, Adam lived another eight hundred years and had other sons and daughters. This verse highlights the long lifespan of Adam and notes that Seth was not his only child.

Genesis 5:4 is part of a genealogy list in the book of Genesis, where the writer is recording the generations after Adam. The verse is not a speech but a historical summary, showing that Adam’s family continued to grow for centuries after Seth’s birth. This detail helps set up the broader story of humanity’s early generations.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 5:4

  • "Adam" (אָדָם, ’adam): This word means "man" or "Adam," the first human. Here, it refers specifically to the individual named Adam, emphasizing his role as the ancestor of all people.
  • "begotten" / "begat" (יָלַד, yalad): This verb means "to give birth" or "to father." The repeated use underlines that Adam had many children, not just Seth.
  • "days" (יֹום, yom): This word often means "day," but in this context, it refers to the span of Adam’s life, emphasizing the remarkable length of time.
  • "years" (שָׁנָה, shanah): This word simply means "years," and its use with the numbers stresses the unusually long lifespans described in early Genesis.

Why Genesis 5:4 matters

  • Genesis 5:4 clarifies that Adam had many children beyond the well-known figures of Cain, Abel, and Seth, which helps explain how the early population of the earth grew.
  • The verse highlights the extraordinary lifespans recorded in Genesis, which is a distinctive feature of the early chapters and often raises questions about ancient timekeeping and storytelling.
  • By noting Adam’s other sons and daughters, the verse sets the stage for the spread of humanity and the development of later genealogies in the Bible.

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 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
  • 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.

“Seth” Hebrew H8352 · used in 9 verses

  • Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
  • 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:
  • Genesis 5:8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

“eight” Hebrew H8083 · used in 105 verses

  • Genesis 5:7 And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
  • 1 Kings 7:15 For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.
  • 2 Chronicles 35:19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.