Commentaires bibliques

1. This is the book, &c.] The word rendered “book” (Heb. sêpher) is used of any written document. Our word “book” gives rather too much the meaning of a piece of literature. The word is often used in a much more general sense, e.g. Isaiah 50:1, “where is the bill (Heb. sêpher) of your mother’s divorcement?” Jeremiah 32:10, “and I subscribed the deed (Heb. sêpher), and sealed it”; 2 Samuel 11:14, “David wrote a letter (Heb. sêpher) to Joab.” Here it is equivalent to “a written list.”

the generations] See note on Genesis 2:4, “The generations of Adam,” i.e. the genealogy from Adam to Noah. LXX γενέσεως, Vulg. “generationis,” regarded the Hebrew word as singular.

Adam] The proper name, Adam, not ha-adam = “the man” or “mankind.”

God created man] The words “God” (Elohim), “created” (bara), “in the likeness,” reproduce the distinctive language of Genesis 1:26-28.

2. male and female, &c.] This clause is repeated from Genesis 1:27.

blessed them] From Genesis 1:27. The words of the command, “be fruitful and multiply,” &c., which accompanied the blessing, are not repeated; they are implied in the genealogy that follows.

called their name Adam] Better than marg. “called their name Man.” That God gave the name “man” (Heb. adam) is not recorded in ch. 1. The proper name is probably here intended; but, if so, we should read “his name,” as the LXX, τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.

3. in his own likeness, after his image] Cf. Genesis 1:26. Man was made in God’s image, after His likeness; he begets a son, in his own likeness, after his image. Many Heb. MSS., however, only read “in his image.” On the words “image” and “likeness,” see note on Genesis 1:26. The phrase here is evidently intended to shew that the elements of resemblance to the Divine image, which at the first were implanted in man’s nature, were communicated from father to son.

That the priestly document contained any tradition respecting the Fall, or the murder of Abel, seems improbable.

Seth] See note on Genesis 4:25. The father here gives the name; the mother’s name is not mentioned in this genealogy.

6. Enosh] See note on Genesis 4:26.

9. Kenan] The first syllable of this name is the same in Hebrew as the name “Cain,” and it is presumably akin in meaning as well as in form (see note on Genesis 4:1).

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.”

15. Jared] Heb. Yared = “a going down.” Cf. Jordan (Heb. Yardên) = “the going down, or descending, river” (?). The Book of jubilees, written in the latter part of the second century b.c., made use of this Hebrew etymology of the name, and connected it with the descending of angels upon the earth, when “the sons of God saw the daughters of men,” &c., Genesis 6:2. To suppose that it denotes “descent,” in the sense of “deterioration,” is very far fetched.

18. Enoch] Heb. Ḥanôkh; cf. Genesis 4:17. Enoch and Mahalalel are here transposed.