Bible Studies In The Word of God

GENESIS 5

 

 

 

Verse 1. Generations. This is from toldah and Strong defines It "descent, I. e., family; (figuratively) history.” The statement means that it Is the family history, as to descent, of Adam. Adam. The Hebrew word here Is spelled the same as the English and defined as follows. “To show blood (in the face), i. e., flush or turn rosy: ruddy, i. e., a human being (an Individual or the species, mankind, etc,).”

Verse 2. Adam. See previous verse. Also in Josephus, Ant. 1-1-2 we are told the original color of the earth was red. This would account for the coincident of the name of the first man being the same as a word that means "red.” Their name. Since the writer is speaking of the human species it is significant that the plural pronoun refers to the same common name. And since this first Adam (see 1 Cor. 15:45) was a type of Christ the second Adam, it was fitting that the name be used in common. This agrees with the idea that both the second Adam and his partners should have a name of common meaning namely, Christ - Christians.

Verses 3-32. It is thought as well to group these verses into one paragraph since most of the comments will be on the passage as a whole. Mention will be made of the eleven lineal descendants from Adam commonly referred to as the Patriarchs. They are Adam (mentioned In verse 2), Seth, v. 3; Enos, v. S; Cainan, v. 9; Mahalaleel, v. 12; Jared, v. 15; Enoch, v. 18; Methu¬selah, v. 21; Laniech, v, 25; Noah, v. 29; Shem, v. 32. These formed the immediate and lineal line from the first man down to the time of the flood in the time of Noah. Enoch walked with God in verse 24 refers to his life before being taken to heaven. This is evident from the language of Paul in Heb. 11:5 where he says that Enoch had the testimony of pleasing God "before his translation.” The three sons of Noah were not triplets, hence the language in last verse means that Noah was the age of 500 years In round numbers when his three sons were brought into the world. Also, the brothers are not named in the order of their birth. In Gen. 10: 21 it speaks of Japheth and calls him the "elder." This is from OADOL and Strong defines the word here as follows. “Great (in any sense); hence older; also insolent" But this Is not to be wondered at. It frequently happens in the Bible that members of a family will be named or regarded in the order of their importance and not always in the order of birth. As instances, Jacob and Esau, Ephraim and Manasseh, Abram, Nahor and Haran.