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Pentateuch · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Genesis 5

Beginnings, creation, human rebellion, covenant, and the family of Abraham.

Old Testament

Genesis 5

1This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God’s likeness.

2He created them male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, he named them Adam.

3Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

4The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of other sons and daughters.

5All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.

6Seth lived one hundred five years, then became the father of Enosh.

7Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

8All of the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.

9Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan.

10Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

11All of the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

12Kenan lived seventy years, then became the father of Mahalalel.

13Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of other sons and daughters

14and all of the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.

15Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, then became the father of Jared.

16Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

17All of the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.

18Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, then became the father of Enoch.

19Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

20All of the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.

21Enoch lived sixty-five years, then became the father of Methuselah.

22After Methuselah’s birth, Enoch walked with God for three hundred years, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

23All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years.

24Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took him.

25Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, then became the father of Lamech.

26Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

27All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.

28Lamech lived one hundred eighty-two years, then became the father of a son.

29He named him Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground which the LORD has cursed.”

30Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

31All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.

32Noah was five hundred years old, then Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Beginnings, creation, human rebellion, covenant, and the family of Abraham. Read Genesis 5 within the complete Genesis overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Genesis 5

Genesis 5 contains 32 verses and about 529 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God’s likeness.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 32 closes: “Noah was five hundred years old, then Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include years, became, father, hundred, lived, days. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Genesis 5

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Genesis 5:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer