What is the meaning of Genesis 5:3?

When Adam was 130 years old

• Scripture records literal ages for the patriarchs (Genesis 5:5, Genesis 11:10–32), underscoring God’s meticulous preservation of history.

• Adam’s 130th year falls after the birth of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1–2) and after Abel’s murder (Genesis 4:8), indicating a lengthy period of grief and repentance before Seth’s arrival.

• The long lifespans before the Flood (Genesis 5:6–32) remind us of the altered conditions of the early earth and God’s patience in delaying judgment (2 Peter 3:9).

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he had a son

• Childbearing is presented as God’s blessing (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 127:3).

• Adam and Eve’s continuing fruitfulness confirms God’s promise that life would persist even after the Fall (Genesis 3:15–16).

• The birth of this son sets the stage for the promised “offspring” through whom redemption would come (Luke 3:38; Galatians 3:16).

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in his own likeness, after his own image

• Adam, originally made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:26–27), now passes that image to Seth. Though marred by sin (Romans 5:12), the divine imprint remains (James 3:9).

• This phrase shows both continuity and contrast:

– Continuity—humanity still bears God’s stamp (Genesis 9:6).

– Contrast—sin’s corruption now marks every descendant (Romans 5:19).

• The wording confirms literal descent; genealogies in Scripture (1 Chronicles 1:1; Luke 3:23–38) trace a real, unbroken line pointing to Christ.

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and he named him Seth

• “Seth” sounds like the Hebrew for “granted” or “appointed,” echoing Eve’s faith-filled declaration: “God has granted me another offspring in place of Abel” (Genesis 4:25).

• Naming reflects authority and hope (Genesis 2:19; Isaiah 43:1). By naming Seth, Adam acknowledges God’s ongoing plan despite human failure.

• Seth’s line will produce Enoch, Noah, and ultimately the Messiah (Genesis 5:21–29; Luke 3:23–38), demonstrating God’s sovereign preservation of a righteous remnant (Hebrews 11:4–7).

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summary

Genesis 5:3 records a literal event that anchors humanity’s history: at 130, Adam fathers Seth, passing on the divinely given image despite sin’s tarnish. The verse affirms God’s faithfulness to sustain life, preserve genealogy, and move His redemptive plan forward through a specific lineage that will culminate in Jesus Christ.