Reu lived 207 years
The long lifespans recorded in Genesis are characteristic of the antediluvian and early postdiluvian periods. These extended ages may symbolize the blessing of God on these early generations, allowing them to populate the earth and establish human civilization. The gradual decrease in lifespan after the flood reflects the increasing effects of sin on creation. Reu's lifespan, while shorter than his predecessors, still indicates a time when humanity was closer to its original creation.

and had other sons and daughters
This phrase underscores the fulfillment of God's command to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28). The mention of other sons and daughters, though unnamed, indicates the growth of human families and the spread of humanity across the earth. It also suggests that the biblical narrative focuses on specific individuals for theological reasons, rather than providing a comprehensive family history. The emphasis on lineage in Genesis points to the importance of ancestry in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, ultimately leading to the birth of Jesus Christ, who is traced through these genealogies in the Gospels.

“And after he had become the father of Serug” (Genesis 11:21a)

• This phrase links Reu to the continuing lineage that God preserves from Noah through Shem and ultimately to Abram (Genesis 11:10–26; 1 Chronicles 1:24).

• Each generation is named to show that history is not random; God is purposefully steering the family line that will carry His covenant.

• The focus on Serug reminds us that God often highlights one child through whom His redemptive plan advances, much as He later does with Isaac instead of Ishmael (Genesis 17:19) and Jacob instead of Esau (Romans 9:10–13).

• Luke traces this same line to Christ (Luke 3:35–36), underscoring the continuity of God’s promise from Genesis to the Gospel accounts.

“Reu lived 207 years” (Genesis 11:21b)

• Post-Flood life spans are still lengthy, yet noticeably shorter than the pre-Flood patriarchs (compare Genesis 5:5, 27). This observable decline fulfills God’s earlier statement limiting human days (Genesis 6:3) and anticipates the average “seventy years, or eighty” mentioned in Psalm 90:10.

• These numbers are presented straightforwardly. Scripture treats them as real years, inviting us to see God’s sovereignty over human longevity.

• Reu’s long life allowed him to influence several generations, passing down knowledge of God’s works—something Deuteronomy 6:6–7 later commands every household to do.

“…and had other sons and daughters” (Genesis 11:21c)

• As in Genesis 5:4, the text reminds us that the named line is only a sample of a much larger family tree. God’s blessing to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 9:1) is still active.

• These unnamed children populate the nations listed in Genesis 10 and contribute to the scattering after Babel (Genesis 11:8–9), showing how God oversees both the covenant line and the wider human family.

• Acts 17:26 echoes this truth: “From one man He made every nation of men,” affirming the shared origin and dignity of all people—even those not spotlighted in the biblical narrative.

Genesis 11:21 testifies to God’s meticulous care over history. Reu fathers Serug, keeping the messianic line intact; he lives 207 years under God’s ordained span for post-Flood humanity; and he raises many other children, filling the earth in obedience to God’s command. Each detail, though brief, threads into the larger tapestry of Scripture, pointing forward to the fulfillment of God’s promise through Abraham and ultimately through Christ.

Parallel Commentaries ...