Methuselah

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Possibly “man of the dart/javelin” (Hebrew uncertain; significance not explained in the text)
• Period/Era: Primeval History (antediluvian genealogies)
• Main References: Genesis 5:21–27; 1 Chronicles 1:3; Luke 3:37 (genealogy)
• Key Connections: Son of Enoch; father of Lamech; grandfather of Noah; within Adam’s genealogical line through Seth

Who was Methuselah?

Methuselah is an early patriarch listed in the Genesis genealogy from Adam through Seth.
He is presented as the son of Enoch and the father of Lamech, linking Enoch’s line to Noah’s generation.
Genesis records him as living 969 years, the longest lifespan stated in Scripture.

Key Events & Achievements

• Birth and lineage placement: Born to Enoch and entered the recorded line from Adam through Seth (Genesis 5:21).
• Fatherhood in the genealogy: Fathered Lamech and is named in the continuing family record leading to Noah (Genesis 5:25–26).
• Recorded lifespan: Died at 969 years, highlighting the longevity theme of the antediluvian genealogies (Genesis 5:27).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Methuselah’s brief biblical portrait shows how genealogies preserve continuity of family lines across generations in Primeval History.

Key Verse

"Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died." — Genesis 5:27, ESV