Genesis 5:5

And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

And all the days {H3117} that Adam {H121} lived {H2425} were nine {H8672} hundred {H3967}{H8141} and thirty {H7970} years {H8141}: and he died {H4191}.

In all, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.

So Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

Commentary

Context

Genesis 5:5 concludes the summary of Adam's life within the genealogical record that begins in Genesis chapter 5. This chapter meticulously traces the lineage from Adam to Noah, providing ages at fatherhood and total lifespans for each patriarch. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of the Fall of Man, as detailed in Genesis 3, where death entered the human experience.

Key Themes

  • Adam's Extraordinary Longevity: The mention of 930 years highlights the immense lifespans characteristic of the pre-Flood world. This longevity suggests a robust initial human constitution and potentially different environmental conditions. It also underscores the gradual decline of human age as documented later in Genesis, indicating the long-term degenerative effects of sin on creation.
  • The Inevitability of Death: Despite his advanced age, the verse concludes with the blunt statement, "and he died." This affirms the fulfillment of God's warning in Genesis 2:17, "in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Adam's death, though delayed, was a direct consequence of his disobedience, establishing mortality as a universal reality for humanity. This truth is further emphasized in Romans 5:12, which states that "by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin."

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "and he died" is ื•ึทื™ึผึธืžึนืช (wayyฤmลt), a simple yet powerful verb emphasizing the finality of Adam's earthly existence. The repetition of "and he died" for each patriarch in Genesis 5 reinforces the theme of universal mortality, a stark contrast to the eternal life God originally intended for humanity.

Practical Application

Genesis 5:5 carries significant implications for understanding the human condition:

  • The Reality of Mortality: Adam's death reminds us that death is an inescapable part of life in a fallen world. It serves as a sober call to consider our own mortality and the brevity of earthly existence.
  • The Gravity of Sin: This verse underscores the profound and lasting consequences of sin. Death was not part of God's original design but became the penalty for disobedience. This highlights the desperate need for redemption and deliverance from sin's power.
  • God's Word is True: The fulfillment of God's warning to Adam, even after 930 years, demonstrates the absolute truthfulness and faithfulness of God's word. What God declares will come to pass, whether in judgment or in promise, pointing us toward the ultimate hope found in Jesus Christ, who conquered death and offers eternal life.
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Cross-References

  • Genesis 5:11 (6 votes)

    And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.

  • Genesis 5:8 (6 votes)

    And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

  • 2 Samuel 14:14 (5 votes)

    For we must needs die, and [are] as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect [any] person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

  • Genesis 3:19 (5 votes)

    In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:21 (4 votes)

    For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:22 (4 votes)

    For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

  • Ezekiel 18:4 (3 votes)

    Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.