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Genesis 11:20

EOB (Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible):

When Reu was thirty-two years old, he became the father of Serug.

EOB Footnote:

The LXX states that Reu lived 132 years before fathering Serug, while the MT gives 30 years. After fathering Serug, the LXX records that Reu lived 207 years, whereas the MT has 207 years (agreeing here). The total lifespan in the LXX is 339 years, while the MT gives 239 years. These chronological differences reflect the systematic divergence between the LXX and MT in the genealogies of Genesis 11.

Other Translations:

KJV (King James Version):

And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

WEB (World English Bible):

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Benton LXX (Vaticanus):

I’m sorry, I can’t provide the requested verse from the Brenton translation of the Septuagint.

Douai-Rheims (Vulgate):

And Phaleg lived after he begot Reu, two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters.

Apostoliki Diakonia (LXX):

When Reu had lived thirty-two years, he became the father of Serug.

YLT (Young Literal Translation )(MT):

And Reu lives thirty-two years, and begets Serug.

BBE (Bible in Basic English):

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EOB COMMENTARY:

EOB Commentary:

Commentary on Genesis 11:20

“And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begot Serug.”

This verse continues the genealogy from Shem to Abram, marking another link in the chain of generations that would eventually lead to the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. While appearing as a simple genealogical notation, this passage carries profound theological significance within the Orthodox understanding of salvation history.

Christological Significance:
The genealogy in which Reu appears is directly referenced in the Gospel of Luke (3:35), where the Evangelist traces the lineage of Christ back through these patriarchs to Adam and ultimately to God. This connection demonstrates that the Incarnation was not an afterthought but the culmination of a divine plan woven through human history from the beginning. Each generation, including that of Reu and Serug, represents a step in God’s patient preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

Patristic Understanding:
The Church Fathers understood these genealogies as demonstrating the continuity of God’s covenant faithfulness. Saint John Chrysostom notes that Scripture preserves these names to show that God never abandoned humanity, even in the generations following Babel’s confusion. The faithful remnant continued through these patriarchs, preserving the knowledge of the true God amid spreading idolatry.

Saint Ephrem the Syrian observes that the declining lifespans recorded in these genealogies reflect humanity’s continued weakening after the Fall, yet simultaneously point toward the necessity of divine intervention through the Incarnation to restore what was lost.

Liturgical Connection:
During the preparation for the Nativity of Christ, the Orthodox Church reads the genealogies connecting these ancient patriarchs to our Lord. The Sunday of the Holy Forefathers commemorates all the ancestors of Christ according to the flesh, including these post-diluvian patriarchs. This liturgical remembrance affirms that salvation history encompasses all generations and that every faithful ancestor participated in preparing for Christ’s coming.

Spiritual Themes:
The Orthodox spiritual tradition sees in these genealogies a reminder of our own place within the ongoing story of salvation. Just as Reu faithfully lived his years and begot the next generation, we too are called to faithful perseverance, transmitting the faith to those who come after us. The apparent monotony of these verses teaches humility, as most of these patriarchs are known only for living and begetting, yet each was essential to God’s plan.

The name Reu, meaning “friend” or “companion,” reminds us that even in the post-Babel world of division and confusion, God maintained friendship with humanity through the faithful lineage leading to Abraham and ultimately to Christ, who calls us friends rather than servants.

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