Genesis 5:17

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

Complete Jewish Bible:

In all, Mahalal’el lived 895 years; then he died.

Berean Standard Bible:

So Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years, and then he died.

American Standard Version:

and all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And all the days{H3117} of Mahalaleel{H4111} were eight{H8083} hundred{H3967}{H8141} ninety{H8673} and five{H2568} years{H8141}: and he died{H4191}.

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Commentary for Genesis 5:17

Genesis 5:17 is part of a genealogy in the biblical book of Genesis, which traces the lineage from Adam through Noah. This verse specifically mentions Mahalaleel, who is the fifth generation from Adam, and records the length of his life and his death. The themes of this verse include the patriarchal lifespan, the continuity of generations, and the inevitability of death, reflecting the human condition as understood in the biblical narrative.

The historical context of this verse is rooted in the early chapters of Genesis, which lay the foundation for the biblical story. These genealogies serve to connect the creation of humanity with the narrative of Noah and the Flood, emphasizing the antediluvian (pre-Flood) world. The long lifespans recorded in these chapters (Mahalaleel lived to be 895 years old) are characteristic of the individuals listed in this genealogy, and they reflect a world very different from our own, often interpreted symbolically or theologically rather than literally.

This period is also significant for its portrayal of human longevity and a closer relationship between humans and the divine, as suggested by the relatively short genealogical steps between Adam, created by God, and Noah, who is integral to the continuation of humanity after the Flood. The verse underscores the biblical interest in family lines and the passing of time according to generations, which is a central structuring principle throughout the book of Genesis and the Pentateuch.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H3117
    There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹם
    Transliteration: yôwm
    Pronunciation: yome
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); 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.
  2. Strong's Number: H4111
    There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַהֲלַלְאֵל
    Transliteration: Mahălalʼêl
    Pronunciation: mah-hal-al-ale'
    Description: from מַהֲלָל and אֵל; praise of God; Mahalalel, the name of an antediluvian patriarch and of an Israelite; Mahalaleel.
  3. Strong's Number: H8083
    There are 105 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁמֹנֶה
    Transliteration: shᵉmôneh
    Pronunciation: shem-o-neh'
    Description: or שְׁמוֹנֶה; feminine שְׁמֹנָה; or שְׁמוֹנָה; apparently from שָׁמֵן through the idea of plumpness; a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth; eight(-een, -eenth), eighth.
  4. Strong's Number: H3967
    There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֵאָה
    Transliteration: mêʼâh
    Pronunciation: may-aw'
    Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore.
  5. Strong's Number: H8141
    There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁנֶה
    Transliteration: shâneh
    Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
    Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).
  6. Strong's Number: H8673
    There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תִּשְׁעִים
    Transliteration: tishʻîym
    Pronunciation: tish-eem'
    Description: multiple from תֵּשַׁע; ninety; ninety.
  7. Strong's Number: H2568
    There are 273 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָמֵשׁ
    Transliteration: châmêsh
    Pronunciation: khaw-maysh'
    Description: masculine חֲמִשָּׁה; a primitive numeral; five; fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece).
  8. Strong's Number: H4191
    There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מוּת
    Transliteration: mûwth
    Pronunciation: mooth
    Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [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.