Why did people live longer than 120 years after God set the limit in Genesis 6:3, as seen in Genesis 11:12-16?

God’s 120-Year Pronouncement in Genesis 6:3

“Then the LORD said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.’” (Genesis 6:3)

This section of Genesis has prompted questions about the meaning of the number “120 years,” especially in light of individuals recorded later in Scripture who surpassed that age limit. Below is an in-depth look at how this passage fits within the broader teaching of Genesis and the historical reality of prolonged lifespans in the immediate generations following the flood.

1. Historical and Contextual Background

Genesis 6:3 appears in the narrative describing widespread human corruption on earth before the flood. The text notes that humanity had become exceedingly wicked, prompting divine judgment (Genesis 6:5–7). God’s statement in verse 3 can be interpreted either as a declaration that He would limit the eventual human lifespan to 120 years or as a pronouncement that there were 120 years left until the coming flood.

The genealogical records in Genesis 5, 10, and 11 provide a framework for understanding human longevity before and after the flood. The verses cited (Genesis 11:12–16) show individuals like Arpachshad, Shelah, and Eber living hundreds of years, which seems at odds with a universal restriction on age to only 120 years.

2. Possible Interpretations of the 120-Year Limit

1. A Countdown to the Flood:

Many commentators understand Genesis 6:3 to be a reference to the 120-year grace period before the flood. In this view, God is stating that humankind’s evil would continue, but He would not allow it to go unchecked indefinitely. Instead, He grants a specific window—120 years—before the global judgment of the flood.

2. An Upper Limit to Lifespan Over Generations:

Another interpretation maintains that Genesis 6:3 sets a general maximum lifespan for humanity. The longer lifespans recorded immediately after the flood are seen as a gradual reduction. In other words, the transition to an average maximum of 120 did not occur instantaneously but rather took several generations before lifespans stabilized at or below that number.

Both interpretations acknowledge that the flood narrative is a pivot point and see the passage either as a direct countdown to the coming cataclysm or a statement about future human longevity.

3. Post-Flood Lifespans and Gradual Decrease

Scripture itself demonstrates a decrease in lifespan following the flood. In Genesis 11, Arpachshad’s 438 years, Shelah’s 433 years, and Eber’s 464 years show a significant decrease compared to the pre-flood patriarchs, such as Methuselah’s 969 years (Genesis 5:27). Terah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph each lived significantly shorter lives than their earlier forebears. Over time, lifespans in the biblical record converge to around 120 years or less (e.g., Moses lived to be 120, according to Deuteronomy 34:7).

While it might seem puzzling that lifespans continue above 120 immediately after the flood, the text implies a transitional period. This would support the viewpoint that God’s pronouncement was forward-looking, signifying that lifespans were in the process of being shortened rather than halted suddenly at 120.

4. Reconciling Arpachshad, Shelah, and Eber’s Ages

The genealogies from Genesis 11:12–16 record:

• Arpachshad living a total of 438 years (Genesis 11:12–13)

• Shelah living a total of 433 years (Genesis 11:14–15)

• Eber living a total of 464 years (Genesis 11:16–17)

A cohesive reading sees these ages as historically accurate in the centuries immediately after the flood. As the text continues, lifespans gradually shorten. This decrease can be understood theologically as part of the changed environment and human condition post-flood, reinforcing the broader truth of human mortality and dependence on divine providence.

5. The Consistency and Reliability of the Scriptural Record

The weight of manuscript evidence supports the integrity of the Genesis genealogical records. Ancient Hebrew manuscripts (including the Masoretic Text), as well as fragments found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, align in preserving extraordinary lifespans both before and after the flood.

Archaeological discoveries and ancient Near Eastern parallels (e.g., certain Sumerian king lists that also record lengthy reigns) provide cross-cultural data points suggesting that ancient peoples recounted extended ages in their ancestral traditions. While such parallels do not carry the same inspired authority as Scripture, they highlight a cultural context wherein extended ages were well-known and recorded.

6. Theological and Practical Considerations

1. Human Mortality and Divine Judgment:

The context of Genesis 6:3 underscores the seriousness with which God regards sin. Human corruption had reached a critical level, necessitating a response. God’s longsuffering allowed time for repentance, but it was not indefinite.

2. Progressive Purpose of Limitation:

Over several generations, the shortening of lifespans illustrated the reality of the broken human condition after sin had taken root in the world. It points to the necessity of divine intervention and redemption—a major theme throughout Scripture.

3. Consistency with Later Biblical Statements:

Passages like Psalm 90:10 note a typical human lifespan of “seventy years—or eighty if one is strong.” While some individuals in biblical history still lived longer, the general principle aligns with the God-ordained pattern that mortal life remains finite and subject to divine oversight.

7. Summary of How the Biblical Text Addresses These Concerns

• Genesis 6:3 need not be read as an immediate universal age cap; it can be a warning of coming judgment and/or a prophetic statement that lifespans would decline.

• Post-Flood genealogies in Genesis show people living beyond 120 years, but also show a clear trajectory toward shorter lifespans in subsequent generations.

• Manuscript attestation supports the authenticity of these accounts, and extrabiblical sources show a cultural backdrop in which longer lifespans were recorded.

• The spiritual message is that humankind’s sinfulness brought down judgment, yet God remains sovereign and extends grace, allowing redemption and eventual restoration through the means He has ordained.

8. Final Reflection

Though the presence of lifespans beyond 120 years after Genesis 6:3 may initially appear contradictory, close study reveals that Scripture consistently conveys both the reality of diminishing longevity and the context of God’s long-suffering and mercy. The shorter average lifespans eventually align with the revealed truth that humanity’s days are indeed numbered under divine decrees, showcasing the Bible’s cohesive interplay of judgment and grace.