Genesis 5 Summary in 5 Minutes

Genesis 5 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• The historical figures mentioned in chapter 5 lived between the creation of the world and the global flood (see Genesis 6-9). This period of history is sometimes called the antediluvian age. The flood occurred approximately 1650 years after the earth was created.

CHARACTERS:

• Adam and Eve – The first man and woman.

• Methuselah – The longest recorded human life, he died at 969 years old.

• Noah – The main character of Genesis 6-10. At God’s instructions, his family built an ark to survive a worldwide flood.

WHERE:

• Genesis 5 is a genealogy that records the names of Adam and Eve’s descendants through their son, Seth.  The author doesn’t give us specifics about where these men and their families lived.

OUTLINE:

• PURPOSE OF GENESIS 5:

  • Chapter 5 is a genealogy.

  • A genealogy is “an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor” (Webster).

  • This particular genealogy tracks the descendants of Adam and Eve, not through Cain (their oldest son) but through Seth.

• THE GENEOLOGY OF ADAM AND EVE THROUGH SETH (5:1-32):

  • Adam fathered Seth when he was 130 years old and died at the age of 930.

  • Seth fathered Enosh when he was 105 years old and died at the age of 912.

  • Enosh fathered Kenan when he was 90 years old and died at the age of 905.

  • Kenan fathered Mahalalel when he was 70 years old and died at the age of 910.

  • Mahalalel fathered Jared when he was 65 years old and died at the age of 895.

  • Jared fathered Enoch when he was 162 years old and died at the age of 962.

  • Enoch fathered Methuselah when he was 65 years old. Enoch didn’t die a natural death. We are told the Lord “took him” at the age of 365.

  • Methuselah fathered Lamech at 187 years old and died at the age of 969.

  • Lamech fathered Noah at 182 years old and died at the age of 777.

  • Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth at 500 years old. 

APPLICATION:

• You may read this list of names and think it holds no value for modern readers, but there is a reason the Bible records information like this.

• Throughout the Bible God made several important promises pertaining to specific families and their future children (their descendants).  

• Having a record of the ancient family lines allows us to see how God kept His promises across the generations.

• These genealogies are records of fathers and sons, but more than that they are a record of God’s faithfulness.

• They are evidence to us that God is trustworthy and never breaks His promises.