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.
The Family Histories (Generations) of Genesis
Meaning of the "Generations" (toledot)
Article on the historical nature of the Genesis account by a historian
In the book of Genesis, we are presented by Moses with a number of family histories (Heb ”תוֹלְד֧וֹת, ṯôlᵉḏôṯ; Grk βίβλος γενέσεως, biblos geneseōs LXX)[1], a term found in several passages (5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10, 27; 25:12, 19; 36:1, 9; 37:2) that detail the lives of the patriarchs discussed in this initial book of the Bible, and serve to mark the different sections of the book. The KJV translates the Hebrew expression by simply the term "generations." It is likely that Moses relied on family histories written on a number of cuneiform tablets passed down through the patriarchs to construct the information he writes throughout the book of Genesis. The approach changed with the account of Joseph, beginning in chapter 38. Apparently, The Joseph story was based on oral tradition passed down in the family of Isaac and their descendants in Egypt.
[1]The Hebrew and Greek words and transliteration were copied from Accordance Bible Software.
Cuneiform Tablet (Istanbul Musuem)
Moses probably wrote this portion of Scripture about the family histories of Adam (Gen 2:4), relying on tablets similar to that depicted in this photograph, as well as the other family histories (תּוֹלְדֹ֖ת, tôlᵉḏōṯ) found in other texts in Genesis, such as Gen 5:1, et al. See the discussion of the family histories found throughout Genesis in Gen 5:1.