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Methuselah

Person c. 3317 BC – 2348 BC Chronological estimate ⓘ Open in tree

son of Enoch (GEN 5:21)

Lineage: God › Adam › Seth › Enos › Cainan › Mahalaleel › Jared › Enoch › Methuselah

Names
  • en Methuselah
  • en Mathusala · Also called
  • en Methuselah · Also called · H4968 G3103 · GEN 5:21
    man of the javelin
  • he מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח mətuselah · H4968 · GEN 5:21
    man of the javelin
  • he מְתוּשֶׁ֫לַח · H4968
  • el Μαθουσαλα Mathousala · G3103 · GEN 5:21
  • el Μαθουσάλα · G3103
  • bg Матусал
Birth
Gen 5:21
Death
Gen 5:27
Mentioned in (7)
Gen 5:21 Gen 5:22 Gen 5:25 Gen 5:26 Gen 5:27 1 Chr 1:3 Luke 3:37

SDA Books (14)

Awaiting permission to publish
Linked through an explicitly cited Bible passage
  • Conflict and Courage
    Ellen Gould White · EN · 3 related paragraphs
  • EGW SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1
    Ellen Gould White · EN · 8 related paragraphs
  • EGW SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5
    Ellen Gould White · EN · 4 related paragraphs
  • From the Heart
    Ellen Gould White · EN · 1 related paragraphs
  • Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 24 (1909)
    Ellen Gould White · EN · 1 related paragraphs
  • Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)
    Ellen Gould White · EN · 1 related paragraphs
  • My Life Today
    Ellen Gould White · EN · 1 related paragraphs
  • SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1 1SDABC
    Francis Nichol-GCSDA · EN · 34 bibliographic references from the official index
  • SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3 3SDABC
    Francis Nichol-GCSDA · EN · 11 bibliographic references from the official index
  • SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4 4SDABC
    Francis Nichol-GCSDA · EN · 2 bibliographic references from the official index
  • SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5 5SDABC
    Francis Nichol-GCSDA · EN · 12 bibliographic references from the official index
  • SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7 7SDABC
    Francis Nichol-GCSDA · EN · 5 bibliographic references from the official index
  • The Story of Redemption
    Ellen Gould White · EN · 1 related paragraphs
  • To Be Like Jesus
    Ellen Gould White · EN · 1 related paragraphs

Age · 969

Explicitly stated · Age explicitly stated in the Bible text.

GEN 5:27

Source calculation and assumptions

The year of Methuselah_1's birth is the year his father, Enoch_2, was born (623) + the age of his father at Methuselah_1's birth (65) = 688

The year of Methuselah_1's death is his birth year (688) + his age at death (969) = 1657

Methuselah lived 969 years, longer than any other person born. Methuselah died just before the time of the Flood.

Dates and sources (15)

Absolute years are conditional chronological estimates. A biblical passage may state an age or event, but does not by itself establish a BCE year. Different calendar systems are preserved separately.

  • Birth BibleData Matches the current date; this is not historical verification
    AH with conditional Ussher anchor: 688 → ≈ 3317 BC
    GEN 5:21
    Source record and calculation
    Birth_Methuselah_1 · event_year_ah
    bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 10
    The year of Methuselah_1's birth is the year his father, Enoch_2, was born (623) + the age of his father at Methuselah_1's birth (65) = 688
    [Shulman date p15] [Ussher date p18]
    SHA-256: 893aa35f578d590c31be6517b20b49d011a73951e5b0e69db4070191c05da24a
  • Birth BibleData Matches the current date; this is not historical verification
    Ussher BCE year: 3317 → ≈ 3317 BC
    GEN 5:21
    Source record and calculation
    Birth_Methuselah_1 · ussher_bce_year
    bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 10
    The year of Methuselah_1's birth is the year his father, Enoch_2, was born (623) + the age of his father at Methuselah_1's birth (65) = 688
    [Shulman date p15] [Ussher date p18]
    SHA-256: 893aa35f578d590c31be6517b20b49d011a73951e5b0e69db4070191c05da24a
  • Birth BibleData Matches the current date; this is not historical verification
    AH with conditional Ussher anchor: 688 → ≈ 3317 BC
    GEN 5:21
    Source record and calculation
    Life_of_Methuselah_1 · start_year_ah
    bibledata/BibleData-Epoch.csv · record 10
    The year of Methuselah_1's birth is the year his father, Enoch_2, was born (623) + the age of his father at Methuselah_1's birth (65) = 688
    Methuselah lived 969 years, longer than any other person born. Methuselah died just before the time of the Flood.
    SHA-256: ab0ed8cbad4043e69607a3cb4be8165a8b549183b47317fead1547344ce8cf29
  • Birth BibleData Alternative estimate
    BibleData BCE year: 3274 → ≈ 3274 BC
    GEN 5:21
    Source record and calculation
    Birth_Methuselah_1 · bce_year
    bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 10
    The year of Methuselah_1's birth is the year his father, Enoch_2, was born (623) + the age of his father at Methuselah_1's birth (65) = 688
    [Shulman date p15] [Ussher date p18]
    SHA-256: 893aa35f578d590c31be6517b20b49d011a73951e5b0e69db4070191c05da24a
  • Birth BibleData Unverified estimate without an established conversion
    Shulman AM: 687 · No established conversion to a BCE/CE year.
    GEN 5:21
    Source record and calculation
    Birth_Methuselah_1 · shulman_am_year
    bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 10
    The year of Methuselah_1's birth is the year his father, Enoch_2, was born (623) + the age of his father at Methuselah_1's birth (65) = 688
    [Shulman date p15] [Ussher date p18]
    SHA-256: 893aa35f578d590c31be6517b20b49d011a73951e5b0e69db4070191c05da24a
  • Birth BibleData Unverified estimate without an established conversion
    Ussher AM: 687 · No established conversion to a BCE/CE year.
    GEN 5:21
    Source record and calculation
    Birth_Methuselah_1 · ussher_am_year
    bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 10
    The year of Methuselah_1's birth is the year his father, Enoch_2, was born (623) + the age of his father at Methuselah_1's birth (65) = 688
    [Shulman date p15] [Ussher date p18]
    SHA-256: 893aa35f578d590c31be6517b20b49d011a73951e5b0e69db4070191c05da24a
  • Birth Theographic Alternative estimate
    Theographic signed year: -3317 · Calendar interpretation is unverified; the raw value is shown.
    Person mentions; these are not evidence for this date: 7
    Gen.5.21Gen.5.22Gen.5.25Gen.5.26Gen.5.271Chr.1.3Luke.3.37
    Source record and calculation
    methuselah_2042 · birthYear
    theographic/People.csv · record 2031
    SHA-256: 96ce729ad1af075f4c7ab7fbab2743e8e1dad8c53c3b696c071dc27d2463039c
  • Death BibleData Matches the current date; this is not historical verification
    AH with conditional Ussher anchor: 1657 → ≈ 2348 BC
    GEN 5:27
    Source record and calculation
    Death_Methuselah_1 · event_year_ah
    bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 22
    The year of Methuselah_1's death is his birth year (688) + his age at death (969) = 1657
    Methuselah lived 969 years, longer than any other person ever recorded. Methuselah died just before the time of the Flood. [Shulman date p15] [Ussher date p19]
    SHA-256: 7ed83806cdd73f04215a634230749c6cfc8342fb0aabc712aa088f78d82545cb
  • Death BibleData Matches the current date; this is not historical verification
    AH with conditional Ussher anchor: 1657 → ≈ 2348 BC
    GEN 5:27
    Source record and calculation
    Life_of_Methuselah_1 · end_year_ah
    bibledata/BibleData-Epoch.csv · record 10
    The year of Methuselah_1's death is his birth year (688) + his age at death (969) = 1657
    Methuselah lived 969 years, longer than any other person born. Methuselah died just before the time of the Flood.
    SHA-256: ab0ed8cbad4043e69607a3cb4be8165a8b549183b47317fead1547344ce8cf29
  • Death BibleData Matches the current date; this is not historical verification
    Scriptural age + conditional chronological anchor: ≈ 2348 BC
    GEN 5:27
    Source record and calculation
    biblical-age:Methuselah_1 · derived_end_year
    database:person_age_evidence · record 8
    (688 AH - 4004) + 969 scripture age years = -2347 astronomical
    Age explicitly stated in the Bible text.
    SHA-256: 2fc83be492b2194376e125d92da94316ddf0201174b30b0cebf4ceb2ecda7102
  • Death BibleData Alternative estimate
    BibleData BCE year: 2305 → ≈ 2305 BC
    GEN 5:27
    Source record and calculation
    Death_Methuselah_1 · bce_year
    bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 22
    The year of Methuselah_1's death is his birth year (688) + his age at death (969) = 1657
    Methuselah lived 969 years, longer than any other person ever recorded. Methuselah died just before the time of the Flood. [Shulman date p15] [Ussher date p19]
    SHA-256: 7ed83806cdd73f04215a634230749c6cfc8342fb0aabc712aa088f78d82545cb
  • Death BibleData Unverified estimate without an established conversion
    Shulman AM: 1656 · No established conversion to a BCE/CE year.
    GEN 5:27
    Source record and calculation
    Death_Methuselah_1 · shulman_am_year
    bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 22
    The year of Methuselah_1's death is his birth year (688) + his age at death (969) = 1657
    Methuselah lived 969 years, longer than any other person ever recorded. Methuselah died just before the time of the Flood. [Shulman date p15] [Ussher date p19]
    SHA-256: 7ed83806cdd73f04215a634230749c6cfc8342fb0aabc712aa088f78d82545cb
  • Death BibleData Unverified estimate without an established conversion
    Ussher AM: 1656 · No established conversion to a BCE/CE year.
    GEN 5:27
    Source record and calculation
    Death_Methuselah_1 · ussher_am_year
    bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 22
    The year of Methuselah_1's death is his birth year (688) + his age at death (969) = 1657
    Methuselah lived 969 years, longer than any other person ever recorded. Methuselah died just before the time of the Flood. [Shulman date p15] [Ussher date p19]
    SHA-256: 7ed83806cdd73f04215a634230749c6cfc8342fb0aabc712aa088f78d82545cb
  • Death BibleData Alternative estimate
    Ussher BCE year: 2349 → ≈ 2349 BC
    GEN 5:27
    Source record and calculation
    Death_Methuselah_1 · ussher_bce_year
    bibledata/BibleData-Event.csv · record 22
    The year of Methuselah_1's death is his birth year (688) + his age at death (969) = 1657
    Methuselah lived 969 years, longer than any other person ever recorded. Methuselah died just before the time of the Flood. [Shulman date p15] [Ussher date p19]
    SHA-256: 7ed83806cdd73f04215a634230749c6cfc8342fb0aabc712aa088f78d82545cb
  • Death Theographic Alternative estimate
    Theographic signed year: -2348 · Calendar interpretation is unverified; the raw value is shown.
    Person mentions; these are not evidence for this date: 7
    Gen.5.21Gen.5.22Gen.5.25Gen.5.26Gen.5.271Chr.1.3Luke.3.37
    Source record and calculation
    methuselah_2042 · deathYear
    theographic/People.csv · record 2031
    SHA-256: 96ce729ad1af075f4c7ab7fbab2743e8e1dad8c53c3b696c071dc27d2463039c
Family of origin
One-parent family
Took part in (4)
Belonged to (1)
Methuselah Summary STEPBible TIPNR

Methuselah, the son of Enoch, was the oldest person mentioned in the Bible, living 969 years.

Methuselah Article STEPBible TIPNR

Methuselah, the son of Enoch and the grandfather of Noah, is recognized as the oldest person mentioned in the Bible. He lived an astonishing 969 years (Gen 5:27). Methuselah's father, Enoch, walked with God and was taken by Him at the age of 365 (Gen 5:21-24). Methuselah's long life is seen as a symbol of God's patience and mercy in delaying the judgment of the flood until after his death. His name is mentioned in the genealogies of both Chronicles (1Ch 1:3) and Luke (Luk 3:37), emphasizing his importance in the lineage of the Messiah. Although little is known about Methuselah's personal life or character, his exceptional longevity stands as a testament to God's sovereignty and the reliability of His word.

Methuselah Dictionary Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

Man of the dart, the son of Enoch, and grandfather of Noah. He was the oldest man of whom we have any record, dying at the age of nine hundred and sixty-nine years, in the year of the Flood (Gen. 5:21-27; 1 Chr. 1:3).

Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Methuselah_1) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Methuselah@Gen.5.21-Luk) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, methuselah_2042)

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