Genesis 11:11

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

And Shem {H8035} lived {H2421} after {H310} he begat {H3205} Arphaxad {H775} five {H2568} hundred {H3967} years {H8141}, and begat {H3205} sons {H1121} and daughters {H1323}.

After Arpakhshad was born, Shem lived another 500 years and had sons and daughters.

And after he had become the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

and Shem lived after he begat Arpachshad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

Commentary

Genesis 11:11 is a concise yet significant verse within the genealogies following the Tower of Babel narrative and preceding the call of Abraham. It focuses on Shem, one of Noah's three sons, detailing his post-Arphaxad lifespan and continued progeny.

Context

This verse is part of a crucial genealogical record found in Genesis 11:10-26, which meticulously traces the descendants of Shem. After the universal judgment of the Flood and the subsequent dispersion of peoples at Babel, these genealogies serve a vital purpose: to narrow the focus to the specific lineage through whom God's redemptive plan would unfold. Shem, as one of Noah's righteous sons, is highlighted as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples, including the Hebrews, and thus the direct line to Abraham.

Key Themes

  • Divine Preservation of Lineage: Despite human rebellion and divine judgment, God faithfully preserves a specific family line. This continuity underscores His unwavering commitment to His plan for humanity's redemption.
  • Continuity and Growth: The mention of Shem living for five hundred years after Arphaxad's birth and "begat sons and daughters" emphasizes the ongoing growth and repopulation of the earth after the Flood, fulfilling God's command to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 9:7).
  • Chronological Framework: These genealogical entries provide a vital chronological backbone to early biblical history, establishing the ages of key figures and the passage of time between significant events. They are foundational for understanding the timeline leading to Abraham and the nation of Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The repeated phrase "begat" (Hebrew: yalad, Χ™ΦΈΧœΦ·Χ“) throughout these genealogies is more than just a record of birth; it signifies the act of fathering, establishing a lineage, and ensuring the continuation of a family line. It highlights the deliberate and successive nature of God's plan being carried out through generations, emphasizing the direct, unbroken chain of descent.

Significance and Application

While seemingly a dry list of names and numbers, Genesis 11:11, like other genealogical verses, carries profound significance. It reminds us that God works through specific individuals and families across generations to accomplish His purposes. Every person, even those listed briefly, plays a role in God's grand narrative. For us today, it illustrates God's patience, His long-term vision, and His meticulous attention to detail in orchestrating history. It reassures us that God's plans are steadfast, even through periods of human failure and societal upheaval, ultimately pointing towards the coming of the Savior through this very lineage, culminating in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 9:7 (3 votes)

    And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

  • Psalms 127:3 (2 votes)

    Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

  • Psalms 127:4 (2 votes)

    As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] children of the youth.

  • Psalms 128:3 (2 votes)

    Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

  • Psalms 128:4 (2 votes)

    Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

  • Genesis 1:28 (2 votes)

    And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

  • Psalms 144:12 (2 votes)

    That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their youth; [that] our daughters [may be] as corner stones, polished [after] the similitude of a palace: