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Methuselah

Methuselah

מְתוּשֶׁ֫לַח Μαθουσάλα me.tu.she.lach

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Methuselah (Hebrew: מְתוּשֶׁ֫לַח, me.tu.she.lach) is a biblical name; its Hebrew etymology is not securely established. It appears in 7 verses across 3 books of the Bible. In 2024 it was given to 5 children in the United States. Appears with Enoch in Genesis 5.

Merged person graphTIPNR + BibleData

The bearer in scripture

One person in scripture bears this name.

  1. Methuselah

    Patriarchal · 7 verses

    son of Enoch

TIPNR + BibleDataSSA · public domain

Scripture against society

The two measures, side by side

Concordance Depth Index 49.1 · rank 501
US usage today rank 12,349 · 5 births in 2024
TIPNR + BibleDataSTEPBible · CC BY

At a glance

Verses
7 across 3 books
Bearers
1 one person only
Testament
Both
Era
Patriarchal
SSA · public domainBirths in year

Using it today

Very unlikely to share a classroom with another.
Based on 2024 births across the United States.
MeasureValueReading
Given in 2024 5 Steady
All-time total5 Since records begin in 1880
Peak 5 in 2024 Its highest year on record
Merged person graph7 verse pairs

In scripture

FactDetail
First appearsGenesis 5:21
Last appearsLuke 3:37
Cross-references75 linked passages
Computed · A2/A3Rationale generated

Names connected to this one

  • Lamech co-occurrence Appears with Lamech in Genesis 5.
  • Enoch co-occurrence Appears with Enoch in Genesis 5.
  • Mahalalel co-occurrence Appears with Mahalalel in Luke 3.
  • Jared co-occurrence Appears with Jared in Luke 3.
  • Kenan co-occurrence Appears with Kenan in Luke 3.
  • Enosh co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Enosh.
  • Seth co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Seth.
  • Ham co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Ham.

Origin & meaning

Strong's number H4968
Hebrew מְתוּשֶׁ֫לַח
Greek Μαθουσάλα
Transliteration me.tu.she.lach

A man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.5.21;
son of: Enoch (H2585H);
father of: Lamech (H3929H)
Also named: Mathousala (Μαθουσάλα "Methuselah" G3103)
§ Methuselah = "man of the dart"
son of Enoch, 6th in descent from Seth, and father of Lamech

Methuselah, the son of Enoch, was the oldest person mentioned in the Bible, living 969 years.

The biblical story

Methuselah, the son of Enoch and the grandfather of Noah, is recognized as the oldest person mentioned in the Bible. He lived an astonishing 969 years (Gen.5.27). Methuselah's father, Enoch, walked with God and was taken by Him at the age of 365 (Gen.5.21-24). Methuselah's long life is seen as a symbol of God's patience and mercy in delaying the judgment of the flood until after his death. His name is mentioned in the genealogies of both Chronicles (1Ch.1.3) and Luke (Luk.3.37), emphasizing his importance in the lineage of the Messiah. Although little is known about Methuselah's personal life or character, his exceptional longevity stands as a testament to God's sovereignty and the reliability of His word.

Key verses

Methuselah appears in 7 verses. Here are some of the most notable:

  1. And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

    Genesis 5:21
  2. And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

    Genesis 5:22
  3. And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:

    Genesis 5:25
  4. And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:

    Genesis 5:26
  5. And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

    Genesis 5:27
Show all 7 references

Genesis (5)

  • Genesis 5:21
  • Genesis 5:22
  • Genesis 5:25
  • Genesis 5:26
  • Genesis 5:27

1 Chronicles (1)

  • 1 Chronicles 1:3

Luke (1)

  • Luke 3:37

Learn more