EOB: Official Site of the Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible (Old and New Testament)

Genesis 11:17

EOB (Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible):

Eber lived 430 years after he became the father of Peleg. During that time, he also had more sons and daughters.

EOB Footnote:

The LXX states that Eber lived 370 years after fathering Shelah, while the MT gives 430 years. This reflects the systematic differences in patriarchal ages between the LXX and MT chronologies in Genesis 11. The MT also lacks “and he fathered sons and daughters” which appears in the LXX, though this phrase follows the standard formula and appears in both traditions for surrounding verses.

Other Translations:

KJV (King James Version):

And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

WEB (World English Bible):

Eber lived after he became the father of Peleg four hundred thirty years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

Benton LXX (Vaticanus):

And Saruch lived after he begot Nachor seven hundred years, and begot sons and daughters.

Douai-Rheims (Vulgate):

And Heber lived after he begot Phaleg four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters.

Apostoliki Diakonia (LXX):

And Eber lived four hundred and thirty years after he begot Peleg, and he begot sons and daughters.

YLT (Young Literal Translation )(MT):

And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and he fathered sons and daughters.

BBE (Bible in Basic English):

And Eber’s life after the birth of Peleg was four hundred and thirty years, and he had sons and daughters.

EOB COMMENTARY:

EOB Commentary:

Eber Lived After Begetting Peleg

This verse continues the genealogical record from Shem to Abraham, noting that Eber lived four hundred and thirty years after fathering Peleg and had other sons and daughters. While appearing as a simple chronological notation, this verse carries significance within the broader theological framework of Scripture and Orthodox tradition.

The Significance of Eber in Sacred History

Eber holds a unique position in the genealogy as the ancestor from whom the designation “Hebrew” (Ivri) derives. The Fathers recognized that through this lineage, God was preserving the faithful remnant through whom salvation would come. Saint Ephrem the Syrian notes that the genealogies serve to demonstrate God’s providential care in maintaining the messianic line despite the scattering at Babel and the moral decline of humanity.

The extended lifespan recorded here, while diminished from the antediluvian generations, still reflects the gradual transition from the primordial state toward the shortened lifespans that would characterize later humanity. Orthodox interpreters see in this decline a reflection of humanity’s increasing distance from the original blessing, yet simultaneously God’s mercy in allowing sufficient generations for repentance and the working out of His salvific plan.

Christological Reading

The genealogy in which this verse is embedded finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Saint Luke traces our Lord’s human ancestry through this very line, connecting Jesus to Eber and thus to the promise given to Shem. The Church Fathers understood these genealogies as demonstrating that Christ truly assumed human nature, entering fully into human history with its generations and limitations.

Liturgical and Spiritual Dimensions

The Orthodox Church reads these genealogical passages during the Lenten season, particularly in the readings from Genesis appointed for Vespers. This placement reminds the faithful that salvation history unfolds through ordinary human lives and generations. The patience required to hear these names recited mirrors the patience of God working through centuries toward the Incarnation.

The mention of “other sons and daughters” reminds us that Scripture records what is necessary for salvation while acknowledging the countless unnamed individuals who participated in God’s plan. This humility before the mystery of providence characterizes Orthodox spirituality, which honors both the named saints and the innumerable faithful known only to God.

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