So Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years, and then he died. So all the daysThis phrase emphasizes the totality of Mahalalel's life span. In the Hebrew context, the word for "days" (יָמִים, yamim) often signifies not just the passage of time but the completeness of one's life journey. It reflects the biblical understanding that each day is a gift from God, and the sum of these days is a testament to God's providence and the fulfillment of His purposes in an individual's life. of Mahalalel
Mahalalel, whose name means "praise of God" or "the blessed God," is a descendant of Seth, the son of Adam. His name reflects a cultural and spiritual heritage that values the acknowledgment and worship of God. In the genealogical context of Genesis, Mahalalel represents a link in the chain of faithful men who preserved the knowledge and worship of the one true God amidst a world increasingly turning away from Him. were 895 years
The extraordinary lifespan of Mahalalel, as recorded in Genesis, is a characteristic of the antediluvian (pre-Flood) patriarchs. These long lifespans are often interpreted as a sign of the original vitality of humanity before the effects of sin and the Flood further diminished human longevity. The number 895, while literal, also serves to remind readers of the vastness of God's creation and the potential for life that He originally intended for humanity. and then he died
This phrase, repeated throughout Genesis 5, underscores the certainty of death as a consequence of sin, as introduced in Genesis 3. Despite the long lives of the patriarchs, death remains an inescapable reality, highlighting the need for redemption and the hope of eternal life. In a broader theological context, this phrase points to the ultimate victory over death through Jesus Christ, who offers eternal life to all who believe in Him. The inevitability of death serves as a call to live a life of faith and obedience, trusting in God's promises. Persons / Places / Events 1. MahalalelA descendant of Seth, Mahalalel is part of the genealogy from Adam to Noah. His name in Hebrew means "praise of God" or "blessed God," reflecting a lineage that acknowledges God's sovereignty. 2. GenealogyThis passage is part of the genealogical record in Genesis 5, which traces the lineage from Adam to Noah. It highlights the longevity of early humans and the continuity of God's creation through generations. 3. DeathThe mention of death in this genealogy serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin introduced in Genesis 3. Despite long lifespans, death is a certainty for all, emphasizing the need for redemption. Teaching Points The Certainty of DeathDespite the long lifespans recorded, each entry ends with "and then he died," reminding us of the certainty of death and the importance of living a life that honors God. Legacy of FaithMahalalel's name, meaning "praise of God," encourages us to consider the legacy we leave behind. Are we living lives that reflect God's glory and inspire future generations? God's Sovereignty and PlanThe genealogies show God's sovereign plan unfolding through generations. We can trust that God is at work in our lives, even when we don't see the full picture. The Need for RedemptionThe inevitability of death points to our need for a Savior. Jesus Christ offers eternal life, contrasting the temporal nature of our earthly existence. Bible Study Questions 1. What does the repeated phrase "and then he died" in Genesis 5 teach us about the human condition and the consequences of sin? 2. How does the meaning of Mahalalel's name ("praise of God") inspire us to live lives that honor God today? 3. In what ways does the genealogy in Genesis 5 demonstrate God's faithfulness and sovereignty throughout generations? 4. How can the certainty of death motivate us to focus on our spiritual legacy and the impact we have on future generations? 5. How does the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ provide hope and contrast to the genealogical record of death in Genesis 5? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 3The introduction of sin and death into the world. The genealogies in Genesis 5 reflect the reality of death as a consequence of sin. Hebrews 11The "Hall of Faith" chapter, which includes Enoch, a descendant of Mahalalel, who walked with God and was taken up without experiencing death, contrasting the typical end of life seen in Genesis 5. Romans 5Discusses the entrance of sin and death through Adam and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, providing a theological context for understanding the genealogies in Genesis. People Adam, Cainan, Enoch, Enos, Enosh, Ham, Japheth, Jared, Kenan, Lamech, Mahalaleel, Methuselah, Noah, Seth, ShemPlaces Tigris-Euphrates RegionTopics 895, Dieth, Eight, Hundred, Mahalaleel, Mahalalel, Ma-hal'alel, Mahalalel's, Ninety, Ninety-five, ThusDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 5:3-32 1655 hundreds and thousands
4016 life, human Library With, Before, After
'Enoch walked with God,'--GENESIS v. 22. 'Walk before Me.'--GENESIS xvii. 1. 'Ye shall walk after the Lord your God.'--DEUTERONOMY xiii. 4. You will have anticipated, I suppose, my purpose in doing what I very seldom do--cutting little snippets out of different verses and putting them together. You see that these three fragments, in their resemblances and in their differences, are equally significant and instructive. They concur in regarding life as a walk--a metaphor which expresses continuity, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureAfter the Scripture.
"In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God created He him."--Gen. v. 1. In the preceding pages we have shown that the translation, "in Our image," actually means, "after Our image." To make anything in an image is no language; it is unthinkable, logically untrue. We now proceed to show how it should be translated, and give our reason for it. We begin with citing some passages from the Old Testament in which occurs the preposition "B" which, in Gen. i. 27, stands before image, where …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit The Neo-Kohlbruggians.
"And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth."--Gen. v. 3. Many are the efforts made to alter the meaning of the word, "Let Us make man in Our image and after Our likeness," (Gen. i. 26) by a different translation; especially by making it to read "in" instead of "after" our likeness. This new reading is Dr. Böhl's main support. With this translation his system stands or falls. According to him, man is not the bearer …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit Walking with God. Gen 5:24
Walking with GOD. Gen 5:24 O! for a closer walk with God, A calm and heav'nly frame; A light to shine upon the road That leads me to the Lamb! Where is the blessedness I knew When first I saw the LORD? Where is the soul-refreshing view Of JESUS, and his word? What peaceful hours I once enjoyed! How sweet their memory still! But they have left an aching void, The world can never fill. Return, O holy Dove, return, Sweet messenger of rest; I hate the sins that made thee mourn, And drove thee from …
John Newton—Olney Hymns The Epistle of Saint Jude.
V. 1, 2. Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James, to those that are called to be holy in God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied. This Epistle is ascribed to the holy Apostle, St. Jude, brother of the two Apostles, James the Less and Simon, by the sister of the mother of Christ, who is called Mary (wife) of James or Cleopas, as we read in Mark vi. But this Epistle cannot be looked upon as being that of one who was truly an Apostle, …
Martin Luther—The Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude Preached and Explained Consolations against the Fear of Death.
If in the time of thy sickness thou findest thyself fearful to die, meditate-- 1. That it argueth a dastardly mind to fear that which is not; for in the church of Christ there is no death (Isa. xxv. 7, 8), and whosoever liveth and believeth in Christ, shall never die (John xi. 26). Let them fear death who live without Christ. Christians die not; but when they please God, they are like Enoch translated unto God (Gen. v. 24;) their pains are but Elijah's fiery chariot to carry them up to heaven (2 …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety "But it is Good for Me to Draw Near to God: I have Put My Trust in the Lord God, that I May Declare all Thy
Psal. lxxiii. 28.--"But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works." After man's first transgression, he was shut out from the tree of life, and cast out of the garden, by which was signified his seclusion and sequestration from the presence of God, and communion with him: and this was in a manner the extermination of all mankind in one, when Adam was driven out of paradise. Now, this had been an eternal separation for any thing that …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Promise to the Patriarchs.
A great epoch is, in Genesis, ushered in with the history of the time of the Patriarchs. Luther says: "This is the third period in which Holy Scripture begins the history of the Church with a new family." In a befitting manner, the representation is opened in Gen. xii. 1-3 by an account of the first revelation of God, given to Abraham at Haran, in which the way is opened up for all that follows, and in which the dispensations of God are brought before us in a rapid survey. Abraham is to forsake …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
ONLY those who have made study of it can have any idea how large, and sometimes bewildering, is the literature on the subject of Jewish Proselytes and their Baptism. Our present remarks will be confined to the Baptism of Proselytes. 1. Generally, as regards proselytes (Gerim) we have to distinguish between the Ger ha-Shaar (proselyte of the gate) and Ger Toshabh (sojourner,' settled among Israel), and again the Ger hatstsedeq (proselyte of righteousness) and Ger habberith (proselyte of the covenant). …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 5:17 NIVGenesis 5:17 NLTGenesis 5:17 ESVGenesis 5:17 NASBGenesis 5:17 KJV
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