Genesis 5:12
Genesis 5:12 in Multiple Translations
When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel.
¶ And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:
And Kenan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalalel:
And Kenan was seventy years old when he became the father of Mahalalel:
When Kenan was 70, he had Mehalalel.
Likewise Kenan liued seuentie yeeres, and begate Mahalaleel.
And Cainan liveth seventy years, and begetteth Mahalaleel.
Kenan lived seventy years, then became the father of Mahalalel.
And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:
And Cainan lived seventy years, and begot Malaleel.
When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel.
Kenan lived a long time too. He was 70 years old when he had a son called Mahalalel.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 5:12
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 5:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַֽ/יְחִ֥י
קֵינָ֖ן
שִׁבְעִ֣ים
שָׁנָ֑ה
וַ/יּ֖וֹלֶד
אֶת
מַֽהֲלַלְאֵֽל
וַֽ/יְחִ֥י
châyâh
H2421
to live
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
קֵינָ֖ן
Qêynân
H7018
Kenan
N-proper
שִׁבְעִ֣ים
shibʻîym
H7657
seventy
Adj
שָׁנָ֑ה
shâneh
H8141
year
N-fs
וַ/יּ֖וֹלֶד
yâlad
H3205
to beget
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
מַֽהֲלַלְאֵֽל
Mahălalʼêl
H4111
Mahalalel
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 5:12
וַֽ/יְחִ֥י
châyâh
H2421
"to live"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
To live or have life is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to revive or be quickened. It is used in the Bible to describe God's power to sustain life and restore people to health, as seen in the stories of the prophets and Jesus' miracles.
Definition: 1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to live 1a1a) to have life 1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive 1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon 1a1d) to live (prosperously) 1a2) to revive, be quickened 1a2a) from sickness 1a2b) from discouragement 1a2c) from faintness 1a2d) from death 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to preserve alive, let live 1b2) to give life 1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh 1b3a) to restore to life 1b3b) to cause to grow 1b3c) to restore 1b3d) to revive 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to preserve alive, let live 1c2) to quicken, revive 1c2a) to restore (to health) 1c2b) to revive 1c2c) to restore to life
Usage: Occurs in 239 OT verses. KJV: keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole. See also: Genesis 5:3; 2 Samuel 16:16; Psalms 22:27.
קֵינָ֖ן
Qêynân
H7018
"Kenan"
N-proper
Kenan, an antediluvian, was the son of Enosh and father of Mahalalel, living before the Flood, and is also known as Cainan in Luke 3:37, with his name meaning possession.
Definition: A man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.5.9; son of: Enosh (H0583); father of: Mahalalel (H4111); also called Cainan at Luk.3.37; Also named: Kainan, Kainam (Καϊνάν, Καϊνάμ "Cainan" G2536H) § Kenan = "possession" 1) son of Enosh and father of Mahalaleel 1a) also 'Cainan'
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: Cainan, Kenan. See also: Genesis 5:9; Genesis 5:13; 1 Chronicles 1:2.
שִׁבְעִ֣ים
shibʻîym
H7657
"seventy"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means the number seventy, like the seventy disciples Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1. It appears in phrases like threescore and ten. The KJV Bible uses it to describe groups of seventy people.
Definition: seventy
Usage: Occurs in 90 OT verses. KJV: seventy, threescore and ten ([phrase] -teen). See also: Genesis 4:24; Judges 9:2; Psalms 90:10.
שָׁנָ֑ה
shâneh
H8141
"year"
N-fs
This word also means a year, like when Abraham was 100 years old in Genesis 21. It is used to describe a period of time, age, or a lifetime.
Definition: 1) year 1a) as division of time 1b) as measure of time 1c) as indication of age 1d) a lifetime (of years of life) Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)
Usage: Occurs in 647 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). See also: Genesis 1:14; Genesis 47:28; Numbers 7:35.
וַ/יּ֖וֹלֶד
yâlad
H3205
"to beget"
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to bear, bring forth 1a1a) of child birth 1a1b) of distress (simile) 1a1c) of wicked (behaviour) 1a2) to beget 1b) (Niphal) to be born 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cause or help to bring forth 1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife 1c3) midwife (participle) 1d) (Pual) to be born 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to beget (a child) 1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity) 1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive) 1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 30:19; 2 Samuel 21:22.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
מַֽהֲלַלְאֵֽל
Mahălalʼêl
H4111
"Mahalalel"
N-proper
Mahalalel was a man in the Bible, the grandson of Cainan and great-grandson of Seth, and his name means 'praise of God'. He is mentioned in Genesis 5:12-17.
Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.4; father of: Shephatiah (H8203N) § Mahalaleel = "praise of God" 1) son of Cainan and the 4th in descent from Adam in the line of Seth 2) a descendant of Perez, the son of Judah
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: Mahalaleel. See also: Genesis 5:12; Genesis 5:16; Nehemiah 11:4.
Study Notes — Genesis 5:12
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Descendants of Adam
10And after he had become the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters.
11So Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died.
12When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel.
13And after he had become the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14So Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and then he died.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 3:37 | the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, |
Genesis 5:12 Summary
[Genesis 5:12 tells us that when Kenan was 70 years old, he had a son named Mahalalel, which means 'praise of God.' This shows us that even in the early days of human history, people were aware of God's presence and worshiped Him. Just like Kenan, we can trust in God's plan for our lives and our families, as seen in verses like Jeremiah 29:11. As we reflect on this verse, we can remember that our lives are part of a larger story of God's love and redemption, and we can look forward to the fulfillment of His promises, as stated in Revelation 21:1-4.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Bible give us the specific age of Kenan when he became the father of Mahalalel?
The Bible provides these details to emphasize the importance of family and lineage in the early history of humanity, as seen in Genesis 5:12 and other verses like Genesis 4:17-18.
What can we learn from the long lifespans of the people mentioned in Genesis 5?
The long lifespans in Genesis 5, such as Kenan's 910 years, demonstrate God's original intention for human life to be long and fulfilling, as stated in Psalm 90:10, and serve as a reminder of the effects of sin on human life.
How does the mention of Kenan having other sons and daughters after Mahalalel relate to the overall narrative of Genesis 5?
The mention of other sons and daughters, as in Genesis 5:13, highlights the continuation of the family line and the fulfillment of God's command to be fruitful and multiply, first given in Genesis 1:28.
What significance does the name Mahalalel hold in the biblical context?
The name Mahalalel, meaning 'praise of God,' reflects the spiritual orientation of the early descendants of Adam, as seen in Genesis 5:12, and looks forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, who would bring redemption and praise to all nations, as prophesied in Revelation 7:9-10.
Reflection Questions
- As I reflect on Kenan's life and the birth of Mahalalel, what does this teach me about the importance of family and legacy in my own life?
- How can I, like the early descendants of Adam, orient my life towards praising and honoring God, as expressed in the name Mahalalel?
- What are the implications of the long lifespans in Genesis 5 for my understanding of God's plan for human life, and how can I apply this to my own life and relationships?
- In what ways can I trust in God's sovereignty over my life, just as Kenan and his descendants did, even in the face of uncertainty or hardship?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 5:12
And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel. Here the Septuagint version adds an hundred years, as before.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 5:12
And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel: Mahalaleel - praise of God.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 5:12
3609 No notes from Poole on this verse.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 5:12
Genesis 5:12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:Ver. 12. And begat Mahalaleel,] i.e., Praised be God; a good name; imminding him of a good duty. God is to be incessantly praised for his excellency, thanked for his benefits. “ Thou art good, and doest good.”
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 5:12
12. Mahalalel] As a Hebrew name this would mean “the praise of God”; but see note on the etymology of proper names in prehistoric times, Genesis 4:17. For Mahalalel the versions give a different form. LXX Μαλελεήλ; Vulg. “Malaleel.”