זֶ֣ה סֵ֔פֶר תּוֹלְדֹ֖ת אָדָ֑ם בְּי֗וֹם בְּרֹ֤א אֱלֹהִים֙ אָדָ֔ם בִּדְמ֥וּת אֱלֹהִ֖ים עָשָׂ֥ה אֹתֽוֹ׃

This is the book of the legacy of Adam. Although the Torah already discussed the events of Adam’s life, that was not a historical record with any chronological context. Until here, the Torah has presented fundamental paradigms: the Garden of Eden, the sin and its punishment, choosing evil, the first children, sibling rivalry, the first murder, and regret. This chapter provides a short survey of many generations, beginning with the dawn of human history. This process began on the day that God created man, in the likeness of God He made him. The uniqueness of man is that he was created in the likeness of God, and his history therefore merits special attention.

זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה בְּרָאָ֑ם וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָ֗ם וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֶת־שְׁמָם֙ אָדָ֔ם בְּי֖וֹם הִבָּֽרְאָֽם׃ (ס)

Male and female He created them. Earlier, the Torah detailed the complex process of creating man. Here it simply states that the male and the female were initially created together. Though this might seem to contradict the previous account, wherein the woman was built from the man while he was in a deep sleep (2:21–22), that was merely a procedure in which the theretofore unified male and female forms were separated from one another. He blessed them, and He called their name Man [Adam], on the day they were created. Of the various terms for human beings, including Adam, ish , Enosh, and gever , Adam is the primary name for the human race and most representative of its essence, both because man was created from the adama , ground (2:7), and because he was formed in the demut , likeness, of God (see verse 1; 1:26). Indeed, this is how the Sages explain the verse: “I will be like [ edammeh ] the Most High.”

וַֽיְחִ֣י אָדָ֗ם שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וּמְאַת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בִּדְמוּת֖וֹ כְּצַלְמ֑וֹ וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שֵֽׁת׃

Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his likeness, after his image. Some commentaries maintain that before this time, he begot defective offspring who were not in his likeness or after his image. However, the plain meaning of the text is that the child born after 130 years resembled Adam, and this has no bearing on any kind of defect in other offspring. And he called his name Seth [Shet]. This name resembles the word tashtit , foundation, as humanity was founded upon him.

וַיִּֽהְי֣וּ יְמֵי־אָדָ֗ם אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־שֵׁ֔ת שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵאֹ֖ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃

The Torah now provides an extremely brief list of the generations until the time of the flood: The days of Adam after he begot Seth were eight hundred years; and during this time he begot sons and daughters. The Torah does not provide the names of these children or any details of their lives, as they have no importance for the reader.

וַיִּֽהְי֞וּ כָּל־יְמֵ֤י אָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁר־חַ֔י תְּשַׁ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (ס)

All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.

וַֽיְחִי־שֵׁ֕ת חָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים וּמְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־אֱנֽוֹשׁ׃

Seth lived one hundred and five years, and he begot Enosh.

וַֽיְחִי־שֵׁ֗ת אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־אֱנ֔וֹשׁ שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֔ים וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃

Seth lived after he begot Enosh eight hundred and seven years; and he begot sons and daughters.

וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ כָּל־יְמֵי־שֵׁ֔ת שְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּתְשַׁ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (ס)

All the days that Seth lived were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died. It is unknown if all the sons listed by name in this genealogical record were specifically firstborn offspring. It is possible that the Torah mentions only the first son by name, as his birth divides the father’s life into two periods, before becoming a father and after. There may be other reasons why each son is mentioned by name. In any case, the family line continues through each of these sons until the birth of Noah.

וַֽיְחִ֥י אֱנ֖וֹשׁ תִּשְׁעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־קֵינָֽן׃

Enosh lived ninety years, and he begot Kenan. This name, like Cain’s, relates to ownership and acquisition [ kinyan ].

וַֽיְחִ֣י אֱנ֗וֹשׁ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־קֵינָ֔ן חֲמֵ֤שׁ עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃

Enosh lived after he begot Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years; and he begot sons and daughters.

וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ כָּל־יְמֵ֣י אֱנ֔וֹשׁ חָמֵ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים וּתְשַׁ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (ס)

All the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died.

וַֽיְחִ֥י קֵינָ֖ן שִׁבְעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־מַֽהֲלַלְאֵֽל׃

Kenan lived seventy years, and he begot Mahalalel.

וַיְחִ֣י קֵינָ֗ן אַחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־מַֽהֲלַלְאֵ֔ל אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃

Kenan lived after he begot Mahalalel eight hundred and forty years; and he begot sons and daughters.

וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ כָּל־יְמֵ֣י קֵינָ֔ן עֶ֣שֶׂר שָׁנִ֔ים וּתְשַׁ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (ס)

All the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died.

וַֽיְחִ֣י מַֽהֲלַלְאֵ֔ל חָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים וְשִׁשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־יָֽרֶד׃

Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and he begot Yered.

וַֽיְחִ֣י מַֽהֲלַלְאֵ֗ל אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־יֶ֔רֶד שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃

Mahalalel lived after he begot Yered eight hundred and thirty years; and he begot sons and daughters.

וַיִּהְיוּ֙ כָּל־יְמֵ֣י מַהֲלַלְאֵ֔ל חָמֵ֤שׁ וְתִשְׁעִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (ס)

All the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died.

וַֽיְחִי־יֶ֕רֶד שְׁתַּ֧יִם וְשִׁשִּׁ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה וּמְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־חֲנֽוֹךְ׃

Yered lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and he begot Hanokh.

וַֽיְחִי־יֶ֗רֶד אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־חֲנ֔וֹךְ שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃

Yered lived after he begot Hanokh eight hundred years; and he begot sons and daughters.

וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ כָּל־יְמֵי־יֶ֔רֶד שְׁתַּ֤יִם וְשִׁשִּׁים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּתְשַׁ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (פ)

All the days of Yered were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died.

וַֽיְחִ֣י חֲנ֔וֹךְ חָמֵ֥שׁ וְשִׁשִּׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־מְתוּשָֽׁלַח׃

Hanokh lived sixty-five years, and he begot Methuselah.

וַיִּתְהַלֵּ֨ךְ חֲנ֜וֹךְ אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃

Hanokh walked with God after he begot Methuselah three hundred years; and he begot sons and daughters. The concept of walking with God appears throughout the Bible, and denotes a close relationship with God. Hanokh was close to God and was occupied with His worship. Hanokh was possibly a prophet or an exceedingly righteous man.

וַיְהִ֖י כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חֲנ֑וֹךְ חָמֵ֤שׁ וְשִׁשִּׁים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָֽה׃

All the days of Hanokh were three hundred and sixty-five years, far fewer than those of his father or his son.

וַיִּתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ חֲנ֖וֹךְ אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְאֵינֶ֕נּוּ כִּֽי־לָקַ֥ח אֹת֖וֹ אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (פ)

Hanokh walked with God and he was not, for God took him. Hanokh was an exceptional and mysterious figure. It is possible that God took him up to Heaven alive just as He took the prophet Elijah. Indeed, various sources state that to this day, Hanokh remains in Heaven, as a kind of angel, similar to Elijah. Perhaps God brought him into His court because he did not belong in this world.

וַיְחִ֣י מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח שֶׁ֧בַע וּשְׁמֹנִ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה וּמְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־לָֽמֶךְ׃

Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and he begot Lemekh.

וַֽיְחִ֣י מְתוּשֶׁ֗לַח אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־לֶ֔מֶךְ שְׁתַּ֤יִם וּשְׁמוֹנִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃

Methuselah lived after he begot Lemekh seven hundred and eighty-two years; and he begot sons and daughters.

וַיִּהְיוּ֙ כָּל־יְמֵ֣י מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח תֵּ֤שַׁע וְשִׁשִּׁים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּתְשַׁ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (פ)

All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died. Methuselah is the oldest person recorded in the Bible.

וַֽיְחִי־לֶ֕מֶךְ שְׁתַּ֧יִם וּשְׁמֹנִ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה וּמְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד בֵּֽן׃

Lemekh lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and he begot a son.

וַיִּקְרָ֧א אֶת־שְׁמ֛וֹ נֹ֖חַ לֵאמֹ֑ר זֶ֠ה יְנַחֲמֵ֤נוּ מִֽמַּעֲשֵׂ֙נוּ֙ וּמֵעִצְּב֣וֹן יָדֵ֔ינוּ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵֽרְרָ֖הּ יְהוָֽה׃

He called his name Noah, saying: This shall relieve us from the suffering of our work and from the misery of our hands, from the ground, which the Lord has cursed. Noah received this name because already from birth he was recognized as special. The commentaries and midrashim discuss what might have made Noah so unique. Noah was named after a prophecy, or after the hope, or as a prayer, that there would be relief from the toil and suffering. Indeed, the events of his life proved that Noah was the hope of humanity. Nevertheless, he did not provide relief for all of humanity, as only Noah and his family were spared during the flood. He did not bring salvation to the rest of mankind.

וַֽיְחִי־לֶ֗מֶךְ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־נֹ֔חַ חָמֵ֤שׁ וְתִשְׁעִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֹ֖ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃

Lemekh lived after he begot Noah five hundred and ninety-five years; and he begot sons and daughters.

וַֽיְהִי֙ כָּל־יְמֵי־לֶ֔מֶךְ שֶׁ֤בַע וְשִׁבְעִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (ס)

All the days of Lemekh were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died.

וַֽיְהִי־נֹ֕חַ בֶּן־חֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֣וֹלֶד נֹ֔חַ אֶת־שֵׁ֖ם אֶת־חָ֥ם וְאֶת־יָֽפֶת׃

Noah was five hundred years old; and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Yefet. The Sages debate whether this listing reflects the order of their births. The verse marks the conclusion of the book of the descendants of Adam, which contains the names of representatives of the ten generations from Adam to Noah, but it provides almost no information about them. This “book of the legacy of Adam” concludes in a generation that underwent a great transformation. For this reason, the Torah goes into detail with regard to Noah and notes that already at his birth he was made a locus for humanity’s hope, by a prophecy that through him the world would be rectified. A new world would indeed begin with him, albeit in an unexpected manner.