Genesis 11:12 — Word Study
WLCוְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֣ד חַ֔י חָמֵ֥שׁ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־ שָֽׁלַח׃
BSA◂When ArphaxadʼArpakshad [a son of Shem, ancestor of a region] waschâyâh■ 35châmêsh years oldshâneh [thirty-five, five and thirty] he became the father ofyâlad▸ [lived to beget, had as a son] ShelahShelach [a man who lived after the flood]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֣ד | and Arphaxad | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| חַ֔י | he lived | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| חָמֵ֥שׁ | five | Adj |
| וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים | and thirty | Conjunction |
| שָׁנָ֑ה | year[s] | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וַיּ֖וֹלֶד | and he fathered | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| שָֽׁלַח׃ | Shelah | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | When Arphaxad was 35 years old, he became the father of Shelah. |
| KJV | And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: |
| ASV | And Arpachshad lived five and thirty years, and begat Shelah: |
| YLT | And Arphaxad hath lived five and thirty years, and begetteth Salah. |
| WEB | Arpachshad lived thirty-five years and became the father of Shelah. |
| BBE | And Arpachshad was thirty-five years old when he became the father of Shelah: |
Where they part company is in the rendering of the genealogical details — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence presents a main clause followed by a temporal clause, establishing the context of Arphaxad's age at the time of fathering Shelah.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאַרְפַּכְשַׁד
verbחָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 11:12
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Genealogy of Shemgenerated
Genesis 11:12 is part of a genealogical narrative that traces the lineage from Shem, one of Noah's sons, to the descendants who repopulated the earth after the flood. This verse specifically notes the age of Arphaxad when he became the father of Shelah, illustrating the continuity of the family line.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 3:36 | the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אַרְפַּכְשַׁד, ve.'ar.pakh.Shadgenerated
The name אַרְפַּכְשַׁד (Arpakhshad) refers to a biblical figure, specifically the third son of Shem. He is mentioned in Genesis 10:22 and in the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:36. The name may have foreign origins and is associated with a region settled by him.
As a proper noun, it indicates a specific individual in the biblical narrative, linking to the broader theme of lineage and inheritance in the context of God's covenant with humanity.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
One finite verb governs the whole verse — יּ֖וֹלֶד, he fathered — with a noun phrase indicating the subject, a numeral phrase specifying age, and an object phrase describing the child. The structure is straightforward, typical of genealogical records.
The main clause is clear and direct, emphasizing the action of fathering, while the age of Arphaxad is presented as an adverbial detail, adding context to the event.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, אַרְפַּכְשַׁד is rendered as αρφαχαδ, maintaining the name's form but not providing additional interpretation. This choice suggests a direct transliteration rather than an interpretative translation.
The Greek translation emphasizes the continuity of the lineage, similar to the Hebrew, without altering the fundamental meaning of the text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 11:12 tells us that Arphaxad became the father of Shelah when he was thirty-five years old. This verse is part of a genealogy that connects the descendants of Shem after the flood, showing how the family line continued.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Arphaxad was a son of Shem and an ancestor of a region, mentioned in the genealogies in Genesis and Luke.
This indicates the age at which Arphaxad fathered Shelah, a detail that is common in genealogical records to establish timelines.
Genealogy establishes lineage, inheritance, and the fulfillment of God's promises through specific family lines, particularly in relation to the covenant.
The ages often reflect the longevity of life before the flood and serve to highlight the continuity of God's plan through generations.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What significance do you see in the ages of the patriarchs mentioned in Genesis?
- How does understanding genealogies enhance your reading of the Bible?
- In what ways do you see God's promises fulfilled through generations?
- How can you apply the concept of legacy from these genealogies in your own life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators, such as Bede, reference this genealogy to discuss the significance of lineage in biblical history.
Moreover, Arfaxat lived thirty-five years and begot Sale. In this place, the Septuagint interpreters added one generation more than the Hebrew truth, stating that Arfaxat was one hundred and thirty-five years old when he begot Cainan, who,Early Church Fathers on Genesis 11 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 11:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Arphaxad lived thirty five years, and begat Salah. Arphaxad is the first on record that had a son born to him so early; of Salah, [See comments on Genesis 10:24].
Read John Gill on Genesis 11 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 11 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 11:12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:Ver. 12. And begat Salah.] Cainan, say the seventy interpreters, but not according to the Hebrew verity. See for this the note on
Read John Trapp on Genesis 11 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersTHE TÔLDÔTH SHEM.(10-26) These are the generations of Shem.—Here also, as in Genesis 5, there is a very considerable divergence between the statements of the Hebrew, the Samaritan, and the Septuagint texts. According to the Hebrew, the total number of years from Shem to the birth of Abram was 390, according to the Samaritan, 1,040, and according to the LXX., 1,270. These larger totals are obtained by adding, as a rule, one hundred years to the age of each patriarch before the birth of his eldest son, and the LXX. also insert Cainan between Arphaxad and Salah. The virtual agreement of two authorities, coming from such different quarters as the Samaritan transcript and the LXX. version is…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 11 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 12. And Arphaxad lived] The Septuagint bring in here a second Cainan, with an addition of one hundred and thirty years. St. Luke follows the Septuagint, and brings in the same person in the same way. But the Hebrew text, both here and in 1 Chronicles 1:1-28, is perfectly silent on this subject, and the best chronologists have agreed in rejecting this as a spurious generation.
Read AdamClarke on Genesis 11 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12. Shelah] LXX inserts “Cainan” before “Shelah”; and states that “Cainan lived 130 years, and begat Shelah, and lived after he begat Shelah 330 years.” The additional name of Cainan equalizes the list of names with that in chap. 5. But it is also omitted in the parallel list of 1 Chronicles 1:24. And it is suspicious that the figures are the same as those of Shelah (in the LXX).
Read Cambridge on Genesis 11 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleThe Generations of Shem, Genesis 11:10-26. The narrative here again doubles back upon itself, returning over a century to take a new departure from the birth of Shem’s eldest son, two years after the flood.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 11 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
When Arphaxad was 35 years old, he became the father of Shelah.
Arpachshad lived thirty-five years and became the father of Shelah.
When Arphaxad was 35 years old, he became the father of Shelah.
When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah.
Tyndale line
And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:
And Arpachshad lived five and thirty years, and begat Shelah:
And Arpachshad lived five and thirty years, and begat Shelah:
And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah.
Also Arpachshad liued fiue and thirtie yeeres, and begate Shelah.
Strictly literal
And Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Shelah.
And Arphaxad hath lived five and thirty years, and begetteth Salah.
And Arphaxad has lived thirty-five years [[or one hundred and thirty-five years]], and begets Salah.
And Arpachshad lived five and thirty years, and begat Shelach.
When Arphaxad had lived thirty-five years, he became the father of Shelah.
From the Latin
And Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Sale.
Simplified
When Arphaxad was 35, he had Shelah.
And Arpachshad was thirty-five years old when he became the father of Shelah:
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states that Arphaxad was 35 years old when he became the father of Shelah. The Septuagint largely agrees with this account, matching 7 of the 8 words, but its word order and articles differ due to its translation style. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs from the Masoretic Text in two words: it uses 'מאת' (hundred) and 'יוליד' (bear), which suggests that Arphaxad was 135 years old at the time of Shelah's birth, rather than 35 as in the Masoretic Text. This significant difference highlights a variation in the age attributed to Arphaxad in different textual traditions.
וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֣ד חַ֔י חָמֵ֥שׁ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־ שָֽׁלַח׃
7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
וארפכשׁד חי חמשׁ ושׁלשׁים ומאת שׁנה ויוליד את שׁלח
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: מאת (hundred), יוליד (bear)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 11:12
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אַרְפַּכְשַׁד (Arpakshad) is the name of a biblical figure, specifically the third son of Shem, mentioned in Genesis 10:22. He is also referred to as Arphaxad in some contexts, including the New Testament. The name may have foreign origins and is associated with a region settled by him.
אַרְפַּכְשַׁד n.pr.m. 3rd son of Shem
base
H775 אַרְפַּכְשַׁד 3rd son of Shem
775 'Arpakshad ar-pak-shad'
probably of foreign origin; Arpakshad, a son of Noah; also
the region settled by him:--Arphaxad.
אַרְפַּכְשַׁד (ar.pakh.shad) — Arpachshad.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.22;
son of: Shem (H8035);
brother of: Asshur (H0804H), Elam (H5867C), Lud (H3865) and Aram (H0758);
father of: Cainan (G2536); also called Arphaxad at Luk.3.36;
Also named: Arphaxad (Ἀρφαξάδ "Arphaxad" G0742)
§ Arphaxad = "I shall fail as the breast: he cursed the breast-bottle"
third son of Shem
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
Arphaxad
Son of Shem, born the year after the Deluge. He died at the age of 438 years (Gen. 11:10-13; 1 Chr. 1:17, 18; Luke 3:36). He dwelt in Mesopotamia, and became, according to the Jewish historian Josephus, the progenitor of the Chaldeans. The tendency is to recognize in the word the name of the country nearest the ancient domain of the Chaldeans. Some regard the word as an Egypticized form of the territorial name of Ur Kasdim, or Ur of the Chaldees.
(stronghold of the Chaldees). The son of Shem and ancestor of Eber. (Genesis 10:22,24; 11:10) Arphaxad, a king "who reigned over the Medes in Ecbatana," Judith 1:1-4; perhaps the same as Phraortes, who fell in a battle with the Assyrians, 633 B.C.
A son of Shem, two years after the flood, Ge 10:22; 11:10. Seven generations followed him before Abraham, while he lived till after the settlement of Abraham in the land of promise and the rescue of Lot from the four kings. He died A. M. 2096, aged four hundred and thirty-eight.
חָיָה (chayah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to live or have life, encompassing both literal and figurative senses. It includes various nuances such as reviving, preserving life, and restoring health. The entries detail its use in different stems, with Qal focusing on living and being quickened, while Piel and Hiphil emphasize giving life and reviving. No specific verse references are provided.
חָיָה 283 vb. live
Qal 203
live
be quickened, revive
Pi.
preserve alive, let live
give life
quicken, revive, refresh
Hiph.
preserve alive, let live
quicken, revive
base
H2421 חָיָה live .. live
. be quickened, revive
. . preserve alive, let live
. give life
. quicken, revive, refresh
. . preserve alive, let live
. quicken, revive
2421 chayah khaw-yaw'
a primitive root (compare 2331, 2421); to live, whether
literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive:--keep
(leave, make) alive, X certainly, give (promise) life, (let,
suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken,
recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, (X God) save
(alive, life, lives), X surely, be whole.
see HEBREW for 02331
see HEBREW for 02421
חָיָה (cha.yah) — to live.
1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to live
1a1a) to have life
1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive
1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon
1a1d) to live (prosperously)
1a2) to revive, be quickened
1a2a) from sickness
1a2b) from discouragement
1a2c) from faintness
1a2d) from death
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to preserve alive, let live
1b2) to give life
1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh
1b3a) to restore to life
1b3b) to cause to grow
1b3c) to restore
1b3d) to revive
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to preserve alive, let live
1c2) to quicken, revive
1c2a) to restore (to health)
1c2b) to revive
1c2c) to restore to life
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
חָמֵשׁ (chamesh) means 'five' in Hebrew. It serves as both a cardinal number and can indicate a multiple of five when combined with another number. The word also has an ordinal form, 'fifth.' The entries consistently define this numeral without any noted disagreement.
חָמֵשׁ, חֲמִשָּׁה 342 n.m. and f. five
base
H2568 חָמֵשׁ, חֲמִשָּׁה five
2568 chamesh khaw-maysh'
masculine chamishshah {kham-ish-shaw}; a primitive numeral;
five:--fif(-teen), fifth, five (X apiece).
חָמֵשׁ (cha.mesh) — five.
1) five
1a) five (cardinal number)
1b) a multiple of five (with another number)
1c) fifth (ordinal number)
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
fiv (chamesh; pente).
See NUMBER.
שְׁלֹשִׁים (*shlowshiym*) means 'thirty' and can also refer to 'thirtieth' as an ordinal number. It is an indeclinable noun and is derived from the root word for 'three.' The entries indicate that it is used in various contexts, but there are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) 174 n.indecl. thirty
bef. n. sg.
as ordin.
base
H7970 שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) n. indecl. thirty . bef. n. sg.
. as ordin.
7970 shlowshiym shel-o-sheem'
or shloshiym {shel-o-sheem'}; multiple of 7969; thirty; or
(ordinal) thirtieth:--thirty, thirtieth. Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07969
see HEBREW for 07991
שְׁלֹשִׁים (she.lo.shim) — thirty.
thirty, thirtieth
Aramaic equivalent: te.la.tin (תְּלָתִין "thirty" H8533)
HC/Acmpa — ConjunctionHC/Acmpa
שָׁנָה (shaneh) means 'year' and is derived from the root meaning to change or revolve. It encompasses various aspects of time, including divisions of time, measures of age, and even a lifetime. The Aramaic equivalent is שְׁנָה (she.nah), also meaning 'year'.
שָׁנָה 877 n.f. year (etym. v. √[v.ek.aa])
base
H8141 שָׁנָה year (etym. v. √[8138a])
8141 shaneh shaw-neh'
(in plura or (feminine) shanah {shaw-naw'}; from 8138; a year
(as a revolution of time):--+ whole age, X long, + old,
year(X -ly).
see HEBREW for 08138
שָׁנָה (sha.neh) — year.
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)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.
יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget
Qal
bear, bring forth
less often beget
of both parents
Niph. be born
Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
Pu. be born
Hiph.
beget (a father a child)
bear
Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday
Hithp. declared their pedigree
base
H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth
. less often beget
. of both parents
. be born
. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
. be born
. . beget (a father a child)
. bear
. day of one's being born = birthday
. declared their pedigree
3205 yalad yaw-lad'
a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;
medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show
lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring
forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be
delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,
labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be
the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.
1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to bear, bring forth
1a1a) of child birth
1a1b) of distress (simile)
1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)
1a2) to beget
1b) (Niphal) to be born
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to cause or help to bring forth
1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife
1c3) midwife (participle)
1d) (Pual) to be born
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to beget (a child)
1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)
1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)
1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
שֶׁ֫לַח (Shelach) refers to a postdiluvian patriarch, specifically the son of Arphachshad and father of Eber. The name is associated with the meaning "sprout" and is mentioned in Genesis 10:24. It is also noted that Shelach is equivalent to the name Salah in some translations.
שֶׁ֫לַח n.pr.m. son of Arphachshad
base
H7974 שֶׁ֫לַח son of Arphachshad
7974 Shelach sheh'-lakh
the same as 7973; Shelach, a postdiluvian patriarch:--Salah,
Shelah. Compare 7975.
see HEBREW for 07973
see HEBREW for 07975
שֶׁ֫לַח (she.lach) — Shelah.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.24;
son of: Cainan (G2536);
father of: Eber (H5677)
Also named: Sala (Σαλά "Shelah" G4527H)
§ Salah or Shelah = "sprout"
son of Arphaxad and father of Eber
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
she'-la (shelah; Sala):
(1) The youngest son of Judah and the daughter of Shua the Canaanite (Ge 38:5,11,14,26; 46:12; Nu 26:20 (16); 1Ch 2:3; 4:21). He gave his name to the family of the Shelanites (Nu 26:20 (16)). Probably "the Shelanite" should be substituted for "the Shilonite" of Ne 11:5; 1Ch 9:5.
(2) (shelach): The son or (Septuagint) grandson of Arpachshad and father of Eber (Ge 10:24; 11:13 (12),14,15; 1Ch 1:18,24;
(a petition). The youngest son of Judah. (Genesis 38:5,11,14,26; 46:10; Numbers 26:20; 1 Chronicles 2:3; 4:21) (B.C. before 1706.) The proper form of the name of Salah. (1 Chronicles 1:18,24)
that breaks; that unties; that undresses