The Descendants of Adam

51 This is the family tree of the human race: When God created the human race, he made it godlike, with a nature akin to God. 2 He created both male and female and blessed them, the whole human race. 3 When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son who was just like him, his very spirit and image, and named him Seth. 4 After the birth of Seth, Adam lived another 800 years, having more sons and daughters. 5 Adam lived a total of 930 years. And he died.

6 When Seth was 105 years old, he had Enosh. 7 After Seth had Enosh, he lived another 807 years, having more sons and daughters. 8 Seth lived a total of 912 years. And he died. 9 When Enosh was ninety years old, he had Kenan. 10 After he had Kenan, he lived another 815 years, having more sons and daughters. 11 Enosh lived a total of 905 years. And he died. 12 When Kenan was seventy years old, he had Mahalalel. 13 After he had Mahalalel, he lived another 840 years, having more sons and daughters. 14 Kenan lived a total of 910 years. And he died. 15 When Mahalalel was sixty-five years old, he had Jared. 16 After he had Jared, he lived another 830 years, having more sons and daughters. 17 Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years. And he died. 18 When Jared was 162 years old, he had Enoch. 19 After he had Enoch, he lived another 800 years, having more sons and daughters. 20 Jared lived a total of 962 years. And he died.

21 When Enoch was sixty-five years old, he had Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked steadily with God. After he had Methuselah, he lived another 300 years, having more sons and daughters. 23 Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 5:1-24

Commentary on Genesis 5:1-5

(Read Genesis 5:1-5)

Adam was made in the image of God; but when fallen he begat a son in his own image, sinful and defiled, frail, wretched, and mortal, like himself. Not only a man like himself, consisting of body and soul, but a sinner like himself. This was the reverse of that Divine likeness in which Adam was made; having lost it, he could not convey it to his seed. Adam lived, in all, 930 years; and then died, according to the sentence passed upon him, "To dust thou shalt return." Though he did not die in the day he ate forbidden fruit, yet in that very day he became mortal. Then he began to die; his whole life after was but a reprieve, a forfeited, condemned life; it was a wasting, dying life. Man's life is but dying by degrees.

Commentary on Genesis 5:6-20

(Read Genesis 5:6-20)

Concerning each of these, except Enoch, it is said, "and he died." It is well to observe the deaths of others. They all lived very long; not one of them died till he had seen almost eight hundred years, and some of them lived much longer; a great while for an immortal soul to be prisoned in a house of clay. The present life surely was not to them such a burden as it commonly is now, else they would have been weary of it. Nor was the future life so clearly revealed then, as it now under the gospel, else they would have been urgent to remove to it. All the patriarchs that lived before the flood, except Noah, were born before Adam died. From him they might receive a full account of the creation, the fall, the promise, and the Divine precepts about religious worship and a religious life. Thus God kept up in his church the knowledge of his will.

Commentary on Genesis 5:21-24

(Read Genesis 5:21-24)

Enoch was the seventh from Adam. Godliness is walking with God: which shows reconciliation to God, for two cannot walk together except they be agreed, Hebrews 11:5. He had lived but 365 years, which, as men's ages were then, was but the midst of a man's days. God often takes those soonest whom he loves best; the time they lose on earth, is gained in heaven, to their unspeakable advantage. See how Enoch's removal is expressed: he was not, for God took him. He was not any longer in this world; he was changed, as the saints shall be, who are alive at Christ's second coming. Those who begin to walk with God when young, may expect to walk with him long, comfortably, and usefully. The true christian's steady walk in holiness, through many a year, till God takes him, will best recommend that religion which many oppose and many abuse. And walking with God well agrees with the cares, comforts, and duties of life.