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Genesis 5:13

EOB (Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible):

After Kenan was born, Mahalalel lived 840 years and had more sons and daughters.

EOB Footnote:

The MT reads “Kenan” while the LXX reads “Kainan,” reflecting the standard Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name. The MT states Kenan lived 840 years after fathering Mahalalel, while the LXX states Kainan lived 700 years after fathering Maleleel. This 140-year difference is part of the systematic chronological variation between the MT and LXX in the Genesis 5 genealogy. The LXX also spells “Mahalalel” as “Maleleel,” following Greek phonetic conventions.

Other Translations:

KJV (King James Version):

And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:

WEB (World English Bible):

After Shelah became the father of Eber, Shelah lived four hundred three years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

Benton LXX (Vaticanus):

And Maleleel lived after he begot Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters.

Douai-Rheims (Vulgate):

And Cainan lived, after he begot Malaleel, eight hundred and forty years, and begot sons and daughters.

Apostoliki Diakonia (LXX):

After Kenan was born, Cainan lived eight hundred and forty years and had other sons and daughters.

YLT (Young Literal Translation )(MT):

After the birth of Enosh, Kenan lived eight hundred and fifteen years, and he had other sons and daughters.

BBE (Bible in Basic English):

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EOB COMMENTARY:

EOB Commentary:

Genesis 5:13

And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters.

This verse continues the genealogical record of the antediluvian patriarchs, documenting the life of Cainan following the birth of his son Mahalaleel. While appearing as a simple chronological notation, this passage carries significance within the broader theological framework of Orthodox Christianity.

Christological and New Testament Significance:
The genealogy in which Cainan appears finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Gospel of Luke, where the evangelist traces the lineage of Christ back through the patriarchs to Adam and ultimately to God Himself (Luke 3:37-38). Cainan is explicitly mentioned in this genealogy, demonstrating that every generation recorded in Genesis 5 participates in the sacred lineage leading to the Incarnation. The Orthodox Church understands these genealogies not merely as historical records but as testimonies to God’s providential guidance of human history toward the coming of the Messiah.

Patristic Reflection:
The Church Fathers saw in the extraordinary lifespans of the antediluvian patriarchs a reflection of humanity’s original created goodness and the gradual effects of sin upon human nature. Saint John Chrysostom notes that these long lives served God’s purposes in populating the earth and preserving sacred tradition through fewer generations. The phrase “and begat sons and daughters” reminds us that Scripture records only those names essential to the messianic lineage while acknowledging the broader multiplication of humanity.

Spiritual Themes:
The repetitive structure of Genesis 5, with its pattern of living, begetting, and dying, establishes a profound meditation on human mortality. Yet within Orthodox spirituality, this rhythm also speaks to the faithful transmission of blessing from generation to generation. Cainan received life from Enos and transmitted it to Mahalaleel, participating in the ongoing stream of humanity that would eventually produce the Theotokos and her Divine Son.

The eight hundred and forty years following Mahalaleel’s birth represent not idle existence but continued fruitfulness and participation in God’s creative purposes. Orthodox theology emphasizes that every human life, regardless of whether it is remembered by name in Scripture, possesses eternal significance before God.

Liturgical Connection:
The genealogies of Genesis are recalled during the liturgical readings of Great Lent, particularly in the book of Genesis read at Vespers, preparing the faithful to understand Christ as the culmination of all human history and the fulfillment of God’s promises to the patriarchs.

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