Bible Commentary

Genesis 5:31

Genesis 5:31

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years, and he died. According to the Greek version, he lived but seven hundred and fifty three; and according to the Samaritan version, only six hundred and fifty three: but it is best and safest in these, and all the above numbers, to follow the original Hebrew, and the numbers in that, with which the Targum of Onkelos exactly agrees, written about the time of Christ; and these numbers were just the same when the two Talmuds were composed.

Some of the Jewish writers, and so some Christians, confound this Lamech with the other Lamech, who was of the race of Cain, spoken of in the preceding chapter, and say he was a bigamist and a murderer; and that in his days sins were committed openly, and witchcraft was throughout the whole world : he died, according to Bishop Usher, A.

M. 1651. Eight times in this chapter the phrase is used, "and he died", to put us in mind of death; to observe that it is the way of all flesh; that those that live longest die at last, and it must be expected by everyone.

Shalshalet Hakabal, fol. 1. 2. & 74.

The Daily Devotional

One devotional. Every morning.

The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.

We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.

Continue tomorrow

Turn Bible study into a daily habit

Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.

Recommended reading

More for Genesis 5:31

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Genesis 5 — OverviewGenesis 5 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis chapter is the only authentic history extant of the first age of the world from the creation to the flood, containing (according to the verity of the Hebrew text) 1656 years, as may easily be computed by the…Genesis 5 — OverviewGenesis 5 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeGenesis 5:1, Recapitulation of the creation of man; Genesis 5:3, The genealogy, age, and death of the patriarchs from Adam to Noah; Genesis 5:22, The godliness and translation of Enoch; Genesis 5:25, The birth of Noah,…Genesis 5 — OverviewGenesis 5 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter contains a list or catalogue of the posterity of Adam in the line of Seth, down to Noah; it begins with a short account of the creation of Adam, and of his life and death, Ge 5:1 next of five of the…Genesis 5:1-32Genesis 5:1-32 · The Pulpit Commentary§ 3. THE GENERATIONS OF ADAM (CH. 5:1-6:8) EXPOSITION The present section carries forward the inspired narrative another stage, in which the onward progress or development of the human race is traced, in the holy line…Genesis 5:1-32Genesis 5:1-32 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe antediluvian saints. I. DESCENDANTS OF ADAM. AS such they were— 1. A sinful race. Adam's son Seth was begotten in his father's image. Though still retaining the Divine image (1 Corinthians 11:7) as to nature, in…Genesis 5:25-32Genesis 5:25-32 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe shortest life was followed by the longest, Methuselah begetting, at the advanced age of 187, Lamech,—strong or young man (Gesenius); overthrower, wild man (Furst); man of, prayer (Murphy),—continuing after his son's…