Genesis 5:15

Authorized King James Version

And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיְחִ֣י
lived
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
#2
מַֽהֲלַלְאֵ֔ל
And Mahalaleel
mahalalel, the name of an antediluvian patriarch and of an israelite
#3
חָמֵ֥שׁ
and five
five
#4
שָׁנָ֑ה
years
a year (as a revolution of time)
#5
וְשִׁשִּׁ֣ים
sixty
sixty
#6
שָׁנָ֑ה
years
a year (as a revolution of time)
#7
וַיּ֖וֹלֶד
and begat
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
#8
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#9
יָֽרֶד׃
Jared
jered, the name of an antediluvian, and of an israelite

Analysis

The creation and providence theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the tribal and clan-based society of the ancient Near East. The author writes to address the foundational narrative for Israel's identity and relationship with God, making the emphasis on creation and providence particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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