Genesis 5:27
Genesis 5:27 in Multiple Translations
So Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.
And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
and all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
And all the years of Methuselah's life were nine hundred and sixty-nine: and he came to his end.
Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.
So al the dayes of Methushelah were nine hundreth sixtie and nine yeeres: and he died.
And all the days of Methuselah are nine hundred and sixty and nine years, and he dieth.
All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.
And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years; and he died.
And all the days of Mathusala were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he died.
Methuselah lived 969 years altogether, and then he died.
He died when he was 969 years old.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 5:27
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 5:27 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יִּהְיוּ֙
כָּל
יְמֵ֣י
מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח
תֵּ֤שַׁע
וְ/שִׁשִּׁים֙
שָׁנָ֔ה
וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע
מֵא֖וֹת
שָׁנָ֑ה
וַ/יָּמֹֽת
וַ/יִּהְיוּ֙
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
יְמֵ֣י
yôwm
H3117
day
N-mp
מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח
Mᵉthûwshelach
H4968
Methuselah
N-proper
תֵּ֤שַׁע
têshaʻ
H8672
nine
Adj
וְ/שִׁשִּׁים֙
shishshîym
H8346
sixty
Conj | Adj
שָׁנָ֔ה
shâneh
H8141
year
N-fs
וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע
têshaʻ
H8672
nine
Conj | Adj
מֵא֖וֹת
mêʼâh
H3967
hundred
Adj
שָׁנָ֑ה
shâneh
H8141
year
N-fs
וַ/יָּמֹֽת
mûwth
H4191
to die
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 5:27
וַ/יִּהְיוּ֙
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
יְמֵ֣י
yôwm
H3117
"day"
N-mp
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח
Mᵉthûwshelach
H4968
"Methuselah"
N-proper
Methuselah was a man who lived before the Flood, mentioned in Genesis 5:21 as the son of Enoch and father of Lamech. His name means man of the dart. He was part of the lineage of Seth, the third son of Adam.
Definition: A man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.5.21; son of: Enoch (H2585H); father of: Lamech (H3929H) Also named: Mathousala (Μαθουσάλα "Methuselah" G3103) § Methuselah = "man of the dart" son of Enoch, 6th in descent from Seth, and father of Lamech
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: Methuselah. See also: Genesis 5:21; Genesis 5:26; 1 Chronicles 1:3.
תֵּ֤שַׁע
têshaʻ
H8672
"nine"
Adj
This Hebrew word means the number nine, used for counting or describing quantities. It can also mean ninth when describing order or sequence.
Definition: 1) nine, nonad 1a) nine (as cardinal number) 1b) ninth (as ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers
Usage: Occurs in 57 OT verses. KJV: nine ([phrase] -teen, [phrase] -teenth, -th). See also: Genesis 5:5; Judges 4:13; Jeremiah 39:2.
וְ/שִׁשִּׁים֙
shishshîym
H8346
"sixty"
Conj | Adj
This Hebrew word represents the number sixty, often used to describe large quantities, like the sixty warriors who guarded King Solomon. It is also translated as three score, as seen in Psalm 90:10.
Definition: sixty, three score Aramaic equivalent: shit.tin (שִׁתִּין "sixty" H8361)
Usage: Occurs in 56 OT verses. KJV: sixty, three score. See also: Genesis 5:15; 1 Chronicles 2:21; Isaiah 7:8.
שָׁנָ֔ה
shâneh
H8141
"year"
N-fs
This word also means a year, like when Abraham was 100 years old in Genesis 21. It is used to describe a period of time, age, or a lifetime.
Definition: 1) year 1a) as division of time 1b) as measure of time 1c) as indication of age 1d) a lifetime (of years of life) Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)
Usage: Occurs in 647 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). See also: Genesis 1:14; Genesis 47:28; Numbers 7:35.
וּ/תְשַׁ֥ע
têshaʻ
H8672
"nine"
Conj | Adj
This Hebrew word means the number nine, used for counting or describing quantities. It can also mean ninth when describing order or sequence.
Definition: 1) nine, nonad 1a) nine (as cardinal number) 1b) ninth (as ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers
Usage: Occurs in 57 OT verses. KJV: nine ([phrase] -teen, [phrase] -teenth, -th). See also: Genesis 5:5; Judges 4:13; Jeremiah 39:2.
מֵא֖וֹת
mêʼâh
H3967
"hundred"
Adj
Means a hundred, used as a simple number or part of a larger number in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including fractions like one one-hundredth. Found in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: 1) hundred 1a) as simple number 1b) as part of larger number 1c) as a fraction-one one-hundredth (1/100) Aramaic equivalent: me.ah (מְאָה "hundred" H3969)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. See also: Genesis 5:3; Numbers 2:6; Judges 18:17.
שָׁנָ֑ה
shâneh
H8141
"year"
N-fs
This word also means a year, like when Abraham was 100 years old in Genesis 21. It is used to describe a period of time, age, or a lifetime.
Definition: 1) year 1a) as division of time 1b) as measure of time 1c) as indication of age 1d) a lifetime (of years of life) Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)
Usage: Occurs in 647 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). See also: Genesis 1:14; Genesis 47:28; Numbers 7:35.
וַ/יָּמֹֽת
mûwth
H4191
"to die"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to die, either literally or as a punishment, and is used in books like Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean to perish or be killed. This concept is seen in the story of Adam and Eve, where death enters the world as a result of sin.
Definition: 1) to die, kill, have one executed 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to die 1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death 1a3) to die, perish (of a nation) 1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct) 1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch 1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be killed, be put to death 1d1a) to die prematurely
Usage: Occurs in 695 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. See also: Genesis 2:17; Exodus 21:18; Numbers 35:21.
Study Notes — Genesis 5:27
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Genesis 5:27 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 5:27
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 5:27
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 5:27
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 5:27
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 5:27
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 5:27
Context — From Methuselah to Noah
25When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech.
26And after he had become the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters.
27So Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.
28When Lamech was 182 years old, he had a son. 29And he named him Noah, saying, “May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed.”Genesis 5:27 Summary
This verse tells us that Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah, lived to be 969 years old and then died. This reminds us that, no matter how long we live, our time on earth is limited, as it says in Psalm 90:10. Methuselah's life and death also point us to the bigger story of God's plan to save humanity through His people, like Noah, who trusted and obeyed Him (Genesis 6:9, Hebrews 11:7). By looking at Methuselah's life, we can learn to appreciate the gift of life and to use our time wisely, serving God and others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is significant about Methuselah's age of 969 years?
Methuselah's age of 969 years is significant because it is the longest human lifespan recorded in the Bible, emphasizing God's sovereignty over human life, as seen in Psalm 90:10, where it says our days have a limit.
Does Methuselah's death have any symbolic meaning?
Methuselah's death can be seen as a reminder of the consequences of sin, as stated in Genesis 2:17 and Romans 5:12, where death entered the world through Adam's disobedience.
How does Methuselah's life relate to the overall narrative of Genesis?
Methuselah's life serves as a bridge between the early descendants of Adam and the story of Noah, highlighting God's plan of salvation and the importance of faithfulness, as seen in Genesis 6:9 and Hebrews 11:7
What can we learn from Methuselah's life and death?
We can learn about the importance of living a life that honors God, as Methuselah did, and being mindful of our own mortality, as stated in Psalm 39:4, where we are encouraged to number our days and live wisely.
Reflection Questions
- What does Methuselah's long life teach me about God's patience and mercy?
- How can I, like Methuselah, live a life that is pleasing to God, despite the challenges and uncertainties of this world?
- What does the fact that Methuselah died, despite his remarkable longevity, say to me about the reality of death and the importance of being prepared to meet God?
- In what ways can I use the time God has given me to serve Him and bring glory to His name, just as Methuselah did?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 5:27
And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty nine years, and he died,.... This was the oldest man that ever lived, no man ever lived to a thousand years: the Jews give this as a reason
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 5:27
And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 5:27
This was the longest time that any man lived. But it is observable that neither his nor any of the patriarch’ s lives reached to a thousand years, which number hath some shadow of perfection. He died but a little before the flood came, being taken away from the evil to come.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 5:27
Genesis 5:27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.Ver. 27. And all the days of Methuselah.] He lived longest of any, yet wanted thirty-one years of a thousand. Oecolampadius thinks there was a mystery in this, that they all died short of a thousand, which is a type of perfection; to teach us, says he, that live we never so long here, and grow we never so fast in grace, we cannot possibly be perfect, till we get to heaven. Enoch lived long in a little time; and foreseeing the flood, named his son Methuselah; that is to say, he dies, and the dart (or flood) comes. And so it happened; for no sooner was his head laid, but in came the flood. “ The righteous are taken away from the evil to come.” And their death is a sad presage of an imminent calamity. Hippo could not be taken while Augustine lived, nor Heidelberg while Paraeus. Semen sanctum statumen terrae The holy seed upholdeth the state. Absque stationibus non staret mundus “ The innocent shall deliver the island, and it is delivered by the pureness of thy hands,” whereas, “ one sinner destroyeth much good.” Ambrose is said to have been “ the walls of Italy.” Stilico the earl said, that his death did threaten destruction to that country. “ Hic patria est, murique urbis stant pectore in uno .” Nemo patriarcharum mille annos complevit, quia numerus iste typum habeat perfectionis. Hic nulla perfectio pietatu . - Oecolampad. Junius.
Tertul. Paulin. Nolan., in Vita Ambros . De Fablo Cunctatore , Sil.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 5:27
Verse 27. The days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years] This is the longest life mentioned in Scripture, and probably the longest ever lived; but we have not authority to say positively that it was the longest. Before the flood, and before artificial refinements were much known and cultivated, the life of man was greatly protracted, and yet of him who lived within thirty-one years of a thousand it is said he died; and the longest life is but as a moment when it is past. Though life is uncertain, precarious, and full of natural evils, yet it is a blessing in all its periods if devoted to the glory of God and the interest of the soul; for while it lasts we may more and more acquaint ourselves with God and be at peace, and thereby good shall come unto us; Job 22:21.
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 5:27
27. Methuselah — The etymology of this word is uncertain. Gesenius gives it man of the dart; it may also mean, he dieth, and sendeth forth, (that is, the deluge,) a prophetic name, given by his