The Generations of “Adam” to Noah – Genesis Chapter 5 part 1 – Lesson 35 2025
Genesis is the book of beginnings. The word genesis means “origins” or “beginnings” and it sets the stage for the rest of the Bible. Genesis records that a personal, all-knowing, all-powerful God created everything.
Chapter 5 of Genesis links creation and the earliest humans with the time of Noah and the worldwide flood. It is accomplished with a simple genealogy of Adam’s descendants through his son Seth.
1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. Genesis 5:1-2 KJV
The chapter begins by restating that God made man and woman in His own likeness and used the name ā’dām, which is literally the Hebrew word for “human.” Adam, a plural name denotes both Adam and Eve.
This likeness is not a physical resemblance to God. It is about God giving His image to humans as His representatives on earth. God is sharing with humans the responsibility to rule and subdue the rest of creation. Being made in God’s likeness also means that each human life has great value in God’s eyes.
The likeness to God is passed down from one generation to the next in the same way that a father’s likeness is passed down to his son. So, as Adam fathers Seth and Seth fathers Enos, the likeness of God and the likeness of man together are handed down through each generation.
3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: 4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: 5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. Genesis 5:3-5 KJV
6 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: 7 And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters: 8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died. Genesis 5:6-8 KJV
Enos (Enosh) was not the first born of Seth. No doubt he had other children before this time; but he is the only child mentioned because Seth carried the lineage and descent directly from Adam to Noah, the father of the new world, and from whom the Messiah was to come.
9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan: 10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters: 11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died. Genesis 5:9-11 KJV
Chapter 5 does reveal some key details about the lives of people after the garden. Now living spiritually and physically separated from God and under His curse. The lifespans (and reproductive years) were extraordinarily long. Such lengthy lifespans were made possible on an earth free from pollution and genetic decay. The earth became populated very quickly.
12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel: 13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters: 14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died. Genesis 5:12-14 KJV
15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared: 16 And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters: 17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died. Genesis 5:15-17 KJV
18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: 19 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. Genesis 5:18-20 KJV
21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. Genesis 5:21-24 KJV
Death an Ultimate Consequence
No matter how long these first generations of humans lived, one theme is constant in their lives: They die. Death was and is an ultimate consequence of sin.
One exception is Enoch, who was commended for walking with God. Enoch did not die. Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Next week we will finish Chapter 5 by discussing the translation of Enoch, and with discussion about Methuselah, Lamech and introducing Noah.