Genesis 5

Genesis 05 General Notes

Structure and formatting

This chapter provides the first of many lists of descendants in the Bible. This is not a simple list, because the author makes comments about each person. Translators should format this text in the way that is clearest in the project language. Many may choose to introduce each new person in a separate paragraph, as the ULB and UDB do.

Links:

• Genesis 05:01 Notes

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Genesis 5:1

General Information:

This is the beginning of the list of Adam's descendants.

in his own likeness

This phrase means that God made mankind to be like him. This verse does not tell in what ways God made people to be like himself. God does not have a body, so it does not mean that people would look like God. See how "after our likeness" is translated in Genesis 1:26. Alternate translation: "to truly be like us" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-pronouns)

Genesis 5:2

when they were created

This can be made active. Alternate translation: "when he created them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 5:3

130

Translators may write the words "one hundred thirty." (The ULB and the UDB use numerals if the number has three or more words; they use words if a number has only one or two words.) (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

he became the father of a son

"he had a son"

in his own likeness, after his image

These two phrases mean the same thing. They are used as a reminder that God made man in his own image. See how you translated similar phrases in Genesis 1:26.

Seth

See how you translated this name in Genesis 4:25.

Genesis 5:4

eight hundred

Translators may write the numerals "800." (The ULB and the UDB use numerals if the number has three or more words; they use words if a number has only one or two words.) (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

He became the father of more sons and daughters

"He had more sons and daughters"

Genesis 5:5

then he died

This phrase will be repeated throughout the chapter. Use the ordinary word for "died."

Adam lived 930 years

"Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years." People used to live a very long time. Use your ordinary word for "years." Alternate translation: "Adam lived a total of 930 years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:6

105 years

"one hundred and five years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

he became the father of Enosh

Here "father" means his actual father, not his grandfather. Alternate translation: "he had his son Enosh"

Enosh

This is the name of a person. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)

Genesis 5:7

807 years

"eight hundred and seven years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

and became the father of more sons and daughters

"and had more sons and daughters"

Genesis 5:8

Seth lived 912 years

"Seth lived nine hundred and twelve years." Seth lived a total of 912 years. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

then he died

This phrase is repeated throughout the chapter. Use the ordinary word for "died."

Genesis 5:9

General Information:

The records in Genesis 5:6-27 have the same format. Translate them according to the notes in Genesis 5:6-8. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

ninety years

"90 years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:10

815 years

"eight hundred and fifteen years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:11

905 years

"nine hundred and give years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:12

General Information:

The records in Genesis 5:6-27 have the same format. Translate them according to the notes in Genesis 5:6-8. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

seventy years

"70 years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:13

840 years

"eight hundred and forty years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:14

910 years

"nine hundred and ten years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:15

General Information:

The records in Genesis 5:6-27 have the same format. Translate them according to the notes in Genesis 5:6-8. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:16

General Information:

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Genesis 5:17

General Information:

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Genesis 5:18

General Information:

The records in Genesis 5:6-27 have the same format. Translate them according to the notes in Genesis 5:6-8. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:19

General Information:

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Genesis 5:20

General Information:

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Genesis 5:21

he became the father of Methuselah

"he had his son Methuselah"

Methuselah

This is the name of a man. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)

Genesis 5:22

Enoch walked with God

To walk with someone is a metaphor for being in a close relationship with him. Alternate translation: "Enoch had a close relationship with God" or "Enoch lived in union with God" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-metaphor)

He became the father of more sons and daughters

"He had more sons and daughters"

Genesis 5:23

Enoch lived 365 years

"Enoch lived three hundred and sixty-five years." Enoch lived a total of 365 years. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:24

then he was gone

The word "he" refers to Enoch. He was no longer on earth.

for God took him

This means that God took Enoch to be with himself (God).

Genesis 5:25

General Information:

The records in Genesis 5:6-27 have the same format. Translate them according to the notes in Genesis 5:6-8. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Lamech

This Lamech is different from the Lamech in Genesis 4:18.

Genesis 5:26

General Information:

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Genesis 5:27

General Information:

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Genesis 5:28

182 years

"one hundred and eighty-two years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

became the father of a son

"had a son"

Genesis 5:29

Noah

Translators may want to add a footnote that says: "This name sounds like the Hebrew word that means 'rest.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)

from our work and from the painful labor of our hands

Lamech says the same thing twice to emphasize how hard the work was. Alternate translation: "from working so hard with our hands" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-doublet and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-synecdoche)

Genesis 5:30

595 years

"five hundred and ninety-five years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:31

Lamech lived 777 years

"Lamech lived seven hundred seventy-seven years." Lamech lived a total of 777 years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-numbers)

Genesis 5:32

he became the father of

"he had his sons." This does not tell us whether the sons were born on the same day or in different years.

Shem, Ham, and Japheth

These sons may not be listed in the order of their birth. There is disagreement about which one was the oldest. Avoid translating this in a way that implies that the list is in the order of their ages.