1This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God’s likeness. 2He created them male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, he named them Adam. 3Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of other sons and daughters. 5All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.
6Seth lived one hundred five years, then became the father of Enosh. 7Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 8All of the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.
9Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan. 10Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 11All of the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.
12Kenan lived seventy years, then became the father of Mahalalel. 13Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of other sons and daughters 14and all of the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.
15Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, then became the father of Jared. 16Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 17All of the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.
18Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, then became the father of Enoch. 19Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 20All of the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.
21Enoch lived sixty-five years, then became the father of Methuselah. 22After Methuselah’s birth, Enoch walked with God for three hundred years, and became the father of more sons and daughters. 23All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years. 24Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took him.
25Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, then became the father of Lamech. 26Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 27All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.
28Lamech lived one hundred eighty-two years, then became the father of a son. 29He named him Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground which Yahweh has cursed.” 30Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 31All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.
32Noah was five hundred years old, then Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
In Gen 1:1—2:3, “God” occurs as the divine name, but starting with Gen 2:4 “Yahweh God” (“LORD God”) becomes the dominant title. Some interpreters believe that the difference indicates two different authors or two different accounts of creation. However, “God” appropriately identifies the Creator as the supreme Deity in Gen 1. Since Scripture employs “Yahweh” in contexts speaking of covenant relationships (e.g., Gen 12:1; 15:18) as well as personal worship (e.g., Gen 4:26), “Yahweh God” reflects the personal relationship of the Creator to humanity that dominates the content of Gen 2. The author produces a general account of creation in Gen 1, then develops a more detailed examination of the most significant event, the creation of man and woman. Gen 2 cannot provide a stand-alone creation account, because it is too focused and lacks the broader scope of Gen 1. The two chapters together present a unified account. Without the detailed description of the making of the woman, readers would be unable to understand how the “female” came into existence in Gen 1:27 and why the plural “them” occurs in Gen 1:28. The phrase “These are the generations [toledoth] of” in Gen 2:4 serves as the first of eleven such introductions to key narratives in the book of Genesis (see, also, 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10, 27; 25:12, 19; 36:1, 9; and 37:2). Each occurrence of this formula develops the early history of mankind in preparation for introducing the descendants of Jacob. Gen 1:1–2:3 stands outside that structure as the introduction to that history.