Methuselah's
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Methuselah is a significant figure in the genealogical records of the Bible, known primarily for his extraordinary lifespan. He is a descendant of Adam through the line of Seth and is most famously recognized as the grandfather of Noah. His life and legacy are primarily documented in the Book of Genesis.

Genealogy and Lifespan

Methuselah is introduced in Genesis 5, which details the genealogy from Adam to Noah. According to Genesis 5:21-27 , Methuselah was the son of Enoch and became the father of Lamech at the age of 187. He lived a total of 969 years, making him the longest-lived human recorded in the Bible. The passage states:

"When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech. And after he had become the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. So Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died." (Genesis 5:25-27)

Methuselah's long life has been a subject of interest and speculation, often seen as a symbol of God's patience and the longevity of the antediluvian patriarchs.

Family and Legacy

Methuselah's father, Enoch, is noted for his close relationship with God. Genesis 5:24 states, "Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God took him away." This unique departure from life sets Enoch apart as a man of faith, and Methuselah, as his son, is part of this godly lineage.

Methuselah's son, Lamech, became the father of Noah, who is a central figure in the narrative of the Great Flood. Methuselah's life spanned the period leading up to the flood, and according to the biblical timeline, he died in the same year the floodwaters came upon the earth. This timing has led some to view Methuselah's death as a marker of the impending judgment.

Cultural and Theological Significance

Methuselah's name has been interpreted to mean "man of the dart" or "his death shall bring," though the exact meaning is debated among scholars. His lifespan is often cited in discussions about the pre-flood world and the conditions that allowed for such longevity. Methuselah's life serves as a testament to the early generations of humanity and their connection to the divine narrative.

In theological discourse, Methuselah is sometimes seen as a representation of God's mercy and patience, as his long life delayed the coming of the flood, giving humanity ample time to repent. His place in the genealogy of Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 3:37), underscores his role in the unfolding plan of redemption.

Methuselah remains a figure of intrigue and reverence, embodying the mysteries of the ancient world and the enduring legacy of the patriarchs. His account invites reflection on the themes of life, death, and divine providence as revealed in the Scriptures.
Library

Of Methuselah's Age, which Seems to Extend Fourteen Years Beyond ...
... Book XV. Chapter 11."Of Methuselah's Age, Which Seems to Extend Fourteen
Years Beyond the Deluge. From this discrepancy between ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 11 of methuselahs age which.htm

Whether, in Computing Years, we Ought to Follow the Hebrew or the ...
... This is a sufficiently plausible account of the difficulty regarding Methuselah's
life, and of that other case in which there is a difference in the total of ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 13 whether in computing years.htm

Of the Different Computation of the Ages of the Antediluvians ...
... For Methuselah, whom Enoch begat, lived, before he begat his successor, not 100
years less, but 100 years more, according to the Hebrew reading; and in our mss ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 10 of the different computation.htm

To-Morrow
... considering what he has done for us, we shall find that we shall have more than
our handsfull, let our life be spared as long as Methuselah's" enough for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/to-morrow.htm

To-Morrow
... him, considering what he has done for us, we shall find that we shall have more
than our handsfull, let our life be spared as long as Methuselah's"enough for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/to-morrow.htm

The Treasure of Grace
... Though you should live till your hair is bleached thrice over, till Methuselah's
thousand years should pass over your furrowed brow, not a single sin shall ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/the treasure of grace.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... After the birth of Methuselah he was for six years with the angels, who instructed
him in heavenly and earthly lore, which he transcribed at their dictation. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

City of God
... Manuscripts and by Our Own. Chapter 11.--Of Methuselah's Age, Which Seems to
Extend Fourteen Years Beyond the Deluge. Chapter 12.--Of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/

Thesaurus
Methuselah's (1 Occurrence)
...Methuselah's (1 Occurrence). Genesis 5:27 And all the years of Methuselah's life
were nine hundred and sixty-nine: and he came to his end. (BBE). ...
/m/methuselah's.htm - 6k

Patriarchs (6 Occurrences)
... See CHRONOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 2. Divergences between the Three Texts: Divergence
exists in the case of Jared, Methuselah and Lamech only. ...
/p/patriarchs.htm - 37k

Antediluvian
... See CHRONOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 2. Divergences between the Three Texts: Divergence
exists in the case of Jared, Methuselah and Lamech only. ...
/a/antediluvian.htm - 35k

Methu'selah (6 Occurrences)
Methu'selah. Methuselah, Methu'selah. Methuselah's . ... Methu'selah (6 Occurrences).
Genesis 5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begot Methuselah. ...
/m/methu'selah.htm - 7k

Methushael (1 Occurrence)

/m/methushael.htm - 7k

Resources
Who was the oldest man in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Methuselah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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Methuselah: Son of Enoch and Grandfather of Noah
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