What number verse is Genesis 11:20 in the Bible?

Genesis 11:20 is the 287th verse of the Bible. Counting straight through the King James canon — all 31,102 verses from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 — Genesis 11:20 sits at position 287.

Translation

King James Version

And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

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KJV (with Strong's)

And Reu ^H7466 lived ^H2421 two ^H8147 and thirty ^H7970 years ^H8141, and begat ^H3205 Serug ^H8286:

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Complete Jewish Bible

Re‘u lived thirty-two years and fathered S’rug.

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Berean Standard Bible

When Reu was 32 years old, he became the father of Serug.

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American Standard Version

And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

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World English Bible Messianic

Reu lived thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug.

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Geneva Bible (1599)

Also Reu liued two and thirtie yeeres, and begate Serug.

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Young's Literal Translation

And Reu liveth two and thirty years, and begetteth Serug.

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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Genesis 11:20 is a concise genealogical entry, stating, "And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug." This verse serves as a crucial link in the post-Flood lineage from Shem to Abraham, meticulously documenting the continuity of God's redemptive plan through a chosen family line, even amidst humanity's dispersion and rebellion at Babel. It underscores the historical precision of the biblical narrative and the divine preservation of the ancestral path leading to the patriarchs and ultimately to the Messiah.

CONTEXT

Literary Context: Following the pivotal account of the Tower of Babel, where humanity's unified rebellion led to linguistic confusion and global dispersion, the narrative in Genesis shifts back to a detailed genealogical record. This section, spanning Genesis 11:10-26, meticulously chronicles the descendants of Shem, Noah's son, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His divine plan despite human sin. Reu is presented as the son of Peleg, and his son Serug becomes the grandfather of Terah, who is the father of Abram (Abraham), thus bridging the significant gap between Noah's family and the pivotal call of Abraham.
Historical & Cultural Context: In the ancient Near East, genealogies were not merely dry lists but vital historical and cultural documents that established identity, legal rights, and social standing. For the biblical authors, they also served a theological purpose, demonstrating God's faithfulness in preserving a chosen lineage. The decreasing lifespans observed from the pre-Flood era (e.g., Genesis 5) to the post-Flood period (as seen in Genesis 11) reflect a gradual decline in human vitality, often interpreted as a consequence of the cumulative effects of sin and the changing environment after the Flood. Reu's age of thirty-two at Serug's birth, while still long by modern standards, is significantly shorter than the hundreds of years lived by earlier patriarchs, highlighting this historical shift.
Key Themes: This genealogical segment, including the entry for Reu and Serug, contributes to several overarching themes in Genesis. Primarily, it underscores God's sovereign faithfulness to His redemptive plan, even in the face of widespread human rebellion, such as that at Babel. It highlights the continuity of the divine promise, demonstrating how God meticulously preserves a chosen lineage through whom His purposes will be realized. Each 'begat' serves as a deliberate step in the unfolding divine drama, preparing the way for the pivotal covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12, which forms the bedrock of salvation history. The meticulous record emphasizes the historical reality of these individuals as essential links in the chain leading to the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive promises.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

Reu (Hebrew, Rᵉʻûw', H7466): Derived from a root meaning "friend" or "shepherd," the name Reu signifies a connection to communal or pastoral roles. In this genealogical context, however, its primary significance is its function as a specific individual, a direct link in the lineage from Shem to Abraham, rather than an emphasis on the meaning of his name.
lived (Hebrew, châyâh', H2421): This primitive root signifies existence, vitality, and the state of being alive, whether literally or figuratively. In genealogies, it denotes the span of life before a significant event, in this case, the birth of a son. It emphasizes the continuity of life and the passage of time within the divine plan.
begat (Hebrew, yâlad', H3205): A fundamental Hebrew verb meaning "to bear young" or "to beget," this term is central to biblical genealogies. It denotes direct paternity and the continuation of a family line, ensuring the accurate tracing of descent. Its consistent use throughout Genesis highlights the divine orchestration of human procreation to fulfill God's redemptive purposes.

Verse Breakdown

"And Reu lived two and thirty years": This clause establishes Reu's age at the time of Serug's birth, specifically thirty-two years. This detail is crucial for the chronological framework of the post-Flood narrative, contributing to the overall timeline that connects Noah's family to Abraham. The mention of his age at the birth of his heir is a standard feature of these genealogies, highlighting the orderly progression of generations.
"and begat Serug": This phrase directly states the act of procreation, identifying Serug as Reu's son. The verb "begat" (Hebrew yâlad) is a foundational term in biblical genealogies, emphasizing direct paternity and the continuity of the family line. It signifies the divine blessing of fruitfulness and the deliberate preservation of a specific lineage through which God's redemptive plan would unfold.

Literary Devices

Genesis 11:20, like other entries in this genealogical record, primarily employs Formulaic Repetition. The recurring phrase "X lived Y years, and begat Z" creates a predictable and rhythmic pattern, serving to emphasize the continuity and historical precision of the lineage. This Conciseness is a deliberate literary choice, as the author prioritizes the factual transmission of the ancestral line over extensive biographical details. The verse functions as a vital component within the broader Chronological Framework of Genesis, meticulously charting the passage of time and the progression of generations from the Flood to the advent of Abraham, underscoring the orderly unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Genesis 11:20, though a simple genealogical entry, is rich with theological significance. It stands as a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and patience in preserving a chosen lineage amidst human sin and dispersion, particularly following the rebellion at Babel. This verse underscores the historical continuity of God's redemptive plan, demonstrating that even in seemingly mundane acts of procreation, God is sovereignly orchestrating events across generations. It highlights the divine commitment to a specific ancestral path, preparing the way for the establishment of His foundational covenant with Abraham, through whom all nations would eventually be blessed. The very existence of Reu and Serug, meticulously recorded, signifies God's deliberate and purposeful work in history, ensuring the fulfillment of His promises.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

While Genesis 11:20 may appear to be a mere historical record, it offers profound insights for contemporary reflection and application. It serves as a powerful reminder that every life, no matter how briefly documented in Scripture, plays a necessary and divinely ordained role in God's grand narrative of redemption. Just as Reu's existence and procreation were crucial for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan leading to Abraham, so too are our seemingly ordinary lives woven into His larger, eternal tapestry. This verse encourages us to embrace a long-term perspective on God's work, understanding that His plans often unfold patiently over generations, with our present actions contributing to a future reality orchestrated by Him. It fosters an appreciation for our spiritual heritage, recognizing that God has consistently worked throughout history to bring about salvation through a specific lineage that culminates in Christ, inviting us to consider our own place within this ongoing story of faith and divine purpose.

Questions for Reflection

How does understanding the meticulous nature of biblical genealogies, like Genesis 11:20, deepen your appreciation for God's faithfulness across generations?
In what ways might your seemingly ordinary life be contributing to God's larger, long-term purposes, even if you don't see the full picture now?
How does acknowledging your spiritual heritage, rooted in God's historical work, impact your sense of identity and mission today?

FAQ

Why are these genealogies so brief compared to other biblical narratives?

Answer: The brevity of verses like Genesis 11:20 in these genealogies serves a specific theological and historical purpose: to establish the direct, unbroken lineage from Noah to Abraham. The focus is not on individual biographies or dramatic events but on the continuity of the divinely chosen line through which God's redemptive plan would unfold. The "begat" formula efficiently demonstrates this historical progression without unnecessary detail, emphasizing the crucial links in the chain leading to the covenant with Abraham and, ultimately, to Christ.

Does this verse have any direct relevance for believers today?

Answer: While not a command or a moral lesson in itself, Genesis 11:20 is highly relevant as it underscores God's faithfulness and patience in working through generations. It reminds us that God's plans are long-term and often involve seemingly ordinary individuals. It encourages us to see our own lives as part of a larger divine narrative, contributing to God's ongoing work in the world, and to appreciate the historical foundation upon which our faith is built. It also highlights the meticulous way God prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah, ensuring the lineage was preserved.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Genesis 11:20, by meticulously tracing the lineage through Reu and Serug, contributes directly and indispensably to the grand messianic genealogy that culminates in Jesus Christ. Serug, the son of Reu, is explicitly named in the genealogy of Jesus presented in Luke 3:35, affirming his vital place in the ancestral line that leads to the promised Seed. This seemingly minor verse thus powerfully points to Christ by demonstrating God's meticulous and sovereign preservation of a specific human lineage, ensuring that the covenant promises made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3—that through his offspring all the families of the earth would be blessed—would ultimately be fulfilled. The existence of Reu and Serug, recorded here, represents another deliberate step in God's unfolding plan to bring forth the Lamb of God, who would take away the sin of the world, making this seemingly simple genealogical entry a foundational stone in the edifice of salvation history culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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Commentary on Genesis 11 verses 10–26

10 ¶ These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:

13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:

15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

We have here a genealogy, not an endless genealogy, for here it ends in Abram, the friend of God, and leads further to Christ, the promised seed, who was the son of Abram, and from Abram the genealogy of Christ is reckoned (Mat 1:1, etc.); so that put ch. 5, ch. 11, and Mt. 1, together, and you have such an entire genealogy of Jesus Christ as cannot be produced, for aught I know, concerning any person in the world, out of his line, and at such a distance from the fountain-head. And, laying these three genealogies together, we shall find that twice ten, and thrice fourteen, generations or descents, passed between the first and second Adam, making it clear concerning Christ that he was not only the Son of Abraham, but the Son of man, and the seed of woman. Observe here, 1. Nothing is left upon record concerning those of this line but their names and ages, the Holy Ghost seeming to hasten through them to the story of Abram. How little do we know of those that have gone before us in this world, even those that lived in the same places where we live, as we likewise know little of those that are our contemporaries in distant places! we have enough to do to mind the work of our own day, and let God alone to require that which is past, Ecc 3:15. 2. There was an observable gradual decrease in the years of their lives. Shem reached to 600 years, which yet fell short of the age of the patriarchs before the flood; the next three came short of 500; the next three did not reach to 300; after them we read not of any that attained to 200, except Terah; and, not many ages after this, Moses reckoned seventy, or eighty, to be the utmost men ordinarily arrive at. When the earth began to be replenished, men's lives began to shorten; so that the decrease is to be imputed to the wise disposal of Providence, rather than to any decay of nature. For the elect's sake, men's days are shortened; and, being evil, it is well they are few, and attain not to the years of the lives of our fathers, Gen 47:9. 3. Eber, from whom the Hebrews were denominated, was the longest-lived of any that was born after the flood, which perhaps was the reward of his singular piety and strict adherence to the ways of God.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 10–26. Public domain.

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BedeAD 735

Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron)

Now Reu lived thirty-two years and begot Sarug. The seventy interpreters have it one hundred and thirty-two.

Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.

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