Who is…
Methuselah
Hebrew: מְתוּשֶׁלַח —transliteration: Methushelach
also known as: Mathusala, Mathusale
Noah’s grandfather, Methuselah, was the most elderly man of whom we have any record. He is a son of Enoch, and a godly patriarch. His father Enoch was a very righteous man and was apparently taken directly to Heaven, without dying.
The exact meaning of this very ancient name is somewhat uncertain. Dr. Henry Morris said it may mean, “When he dies, judgment.” Others say: “When he is dead, it shall be sent” (“it” refers to the Deluge) (Cornwall and Smith, Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names). Others say the name means: “Man of the dart” or “…javelin” (Holzinger / Also: Larry Richards, Every Man in the Bible ).
This ancient righteous man lived before the Flood, and died at the age of 969 years, in the year of the Flood and before it began (Genesis 5:21-27; 1 Chronicles 1:3). This fact, plus the former possible meaning of his name, suggests that Methuselah’s very godly father, Enoch, received a prophecy from God when his son was born, thus the name. Methuselah’s great age may be further evidence of God’ “long-suffering… in the days of Noah” (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9).
Methuselah’s name is mentioned 7 times in the Bible: Genesis 5:21-22, 25-27; 1 Chronicles 1:3; Luke 3:37.
Relatives
- Father: Enoch, son of Jared
- Mother: Unknown
- Wife: Unknown
- Son: Lamech—the others sons are not named or numbered
- Daughters: Existed, but are not named or numbered
- Grandson: Noah (there were likely other grandsons and granddaughters)
- Great-grandsons: Shem, Ham, Japheth (any other great grandsons—either pre-Flood or post—remain unnamed and unnumbered)
- Great great-grandsons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, Tiras, Cush, Mizraim, Put (Phut), Canaan, Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram (Genesis 10:1-22)
In Christ’s lineage
Methuselah is in the genealogy of Mary, mother of Jesus (below) and of Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus.
Jesus ← Mary ← Heli ← Matthat ← Levi ← Melchi ← Janna ← Joseph ← Mattathiah (Mattathias) ← Amos ← Nahum ← Esli ← Naggai ← Maath ← Mattathiah (Mattathias) ← Semei ← Joseph ← Judah ← Joannas (Joanna) ← Rhesa ← Zerubbabel ← Shealtiel ← Neri ← Melchi ← Addi ← Cosam ← Elmodam ← Er ← Jose (Joshua, Jesus) ← Eliezer ← Jorim ← Matthat ← Levi ← Simeon ← Judah ← Joseph ← Jonan ← Eliakim ← Melea ← Menan (Menna) ← Mattathah ← Nathan ← KING DAVID ← Jesse ← Obed ← Boaz ← Salmon ← Nahshon ← Amminadab ← Ram ← Hezron ← Perez ← Judah ← Jacob ← Isaac ← ABRAHAM ← Terah ← Nahor ← Serug ← Reu ← Peleg ← Eber ← Shelah ← Cainan ← Arphaxad ← Shem ← NOAH ← Lamech ← METHUSELAH ← Enoch ← Jared ← Mahalalel (Mahalaleel, Maleleel) ← Cainan ← Enosh (Enos) ← Seth ← ADAM (created by God).