(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Noach was 500 years old; and Noach fathered Shem, Ham and Yefet.
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
And Noah{H5146} was five{H2568} hundred{H3967} years{H8141} old{H1121}: and Noah{H5146} begat{H3205} Shem{H8035}, Ham{H2526}, and Japheth{H3315}.
Genesis 5:32 is part of the genealogy from Adam through Noah, detailing the lineage of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. This verse specifically marks the birth of Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, when Noah was 500 years old. The verse is set within the context of the pre-flood narrative, a time when human lifespans were extraordinarily long, as indicated by the ages listed for each patriarch in this genealogy.
Themes present in this verse and the surrounding context include:
1. **Divine Blessing and Providence**: The long lifespans and the eventual deliverance of Noah and his family from the flood suggest a theme of God's blessing and providential care over the line of Seth, which is contrasted with the wickedness that prevailed in the world at that time.
2. **Genealogy and Legacy**: The detailed genealogies in Genesis emphasize the importance of familial lines and the passing down of heritage, both physical and spiritual, which is a significant theme throughout the Bible.
3. **Human Longevity**: The extraordinary ages of the pre-flood patriarchs reflect a time when human longevity was the norm, which is unique to this era in biblical history.
4. **Moral Corruption**: The verse is on the cusp of the flood narrative, which describes the moral corruption of humanity and the subsequent decision by God to reset creation through the flood, saving only Noah and his family.
5. **Covenantal Relationship**: Noah's righteousness and the salvation of his family prefigure the covenantal relationship God will establish with humanity, first through Noah, then more fully through Abraham and his descendants.
Historically, this verse is part of the Primeval History in Genesis, which covers from creation to the Tower of Babel. It reflects ancient Near Eastern literary conventions of the time, including the use of genealogies to establish historical and theological continuity. The story of Noah would have been familiar to the ancient Israelites, serving as a backdrop for understanding God's expectations of righteousness and the consequences of sin.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)