1. **Themes:**
- **Genealogy and Longevity:** Genesis 5:7 is part of a genealogical passage that traces the lineage from Adam through Seth to Noah. The verse emphasizes the long lifespans of the antediluvian patriarchs, with Seth living 807 years after the birth of Enos. This longevity is a recurring theme in the chapter, highlighting the robust health and vitality of humans in the early generations.
- **Divine Blessing:** The long lives and fertility (indicated by Seth having sons and daughters) are often seen as a reflection of the divine blessing upon humanity to be fruitful and multiply, as stated in Genesis 1:28.
- **Human History:** The verse contributes to the biblical narrative of human history, providing a timeline from creation to the flood, and establishing a historical framework for understanding the biblical narrative.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Ancient Near Eastern Background:** The genealogies in Genesis 5 reflect a common ancient Near Eastern literary form used to establish legitimate lines of descent and authority. They also serve to connect the creation account with the subsequent narratives, such as the flood.
- **Authorship and Sources:** Traditionally attributed to Moses, modern biblical scholarship often views Genesis as a compilation of various sources and oral traditions. Genesis 5 may incorporate an early genealogical record preserved by the Israelites.
- **Purpose and Audience:** The passage would have been meaningful to the ancient Israelites as it provided a sense of historical continuity and identity, reinforcing their connection to the patriarchs and the divine promises. It also set the stage for the flood narrative by showing the increase of humanity and the spread of sin, leading to God's decision to start anew with Noah.
In summary, Genesis 5:7 is a verse that fits within a larger genealogical section of the Bible, emphasizing the length of life of early humans and their fulfillment of the divine mandate to populate the earth. It serves to link the creation story with the subsequent events leading up to the flood, and it played a role in establishing the historical and theological backdrop for the Israelite audience.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H8352 There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שֵׁת Transliteration: Shêth Pronunciation: shayth Description: from שִׁית; put, i.e. substituted; Sheth, third son of Adam; Seth, Sheth.
Strong's Number: H2421 There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: חָיָה Transliteration: châyâh Pronunciation: khaw-yaw' Description: a primitive root (compare חָוָה, חָיָה); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole.
Strong's Number: H310 There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אַחַר Transliteration: ʼachar Pronunciation: akh-ar' Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
Strong's Number: H3205 There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָלַד Transliteration: yâlad Pronunciation: yaw-lad' Description: 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).
Strong's Number: H583 There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ Transliteration: ʼĔnôwsh Pronunciation: en-ohsh' Description: the same as אֱנוֹשׁ; Enosh, a son of Seth; Enos.
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.
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.
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).
Strong's Number: H7651 There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שֶׁבַע Transliteration: shebaʻ Pronunciation: sheh'-bah Description: or (masculine) (שִׁבְעָה); from שָׁבַע; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number; ([phrase] by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare שִׁבְעָנָה.
Strong's Number: H1121 There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: בֵּן Transliteration: bên Pronunciation: bane Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
Strong's Number: H1323 There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: בַּת Transliteration: bath Pronunciation: bath Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village.