ࠅࠉࠇࠉ ࠋࠌࠊ ࠔࠋࠔ ࠅࠇࠌࠔࠉࠌ ࠔࠍࠄ ࠅࠉࠅࠋࠃ ࠁࠍ
Gen 5:28 [Samaritan Pentateuch]
ויחי למך שלש וחמשים שנה ויולד בן׃
And Lemeḵ lived fifty-three years and fathered a son.
Gen 5:28 [Masoretic Text]
וַֽיְחִי־לֶ֕מֶךְ שְׁתַּ֧יִם וּשְׁמֹנִ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה וּמְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיֹּ֖ולֶד בֵּֽן׃
And Lemeḵ lived one hundred eighty-two years and fathered a son.
| Number | Hebrew | Samaritan | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ויחי | ࠅࠉࠇࠉ | And he lived |
| 2 | למך | ࠋࠌࠊ | Lamech |
| 3 | שלש | ࠔࠋࠔ | Three |
| 4 | וחמשים | ࠅࠇࠌࠔࠉࠌ | And fifty |
| 5 | שנה | ࠔࠍࠄ | Years |
| 6 | ויולד | ࠅࠉࠅࠋࠃ | And he fathered |
| 7 | בן | ࠁࠍ | A son |
Morphology
- וַֽיְחִי־לֶ֕מֶךְ (wayeḥi-Lemeḵ) – Root: חיה (ḥ-y-h); Form: Qal imperfect, third masculine singular with vav-consecutive + proper noun; Translation: “And Lemeḵ lived”; Notes: Refers to Lemeḵ’s lifespan up to the birth of his son.
- שְׁתַּ֧יִם (šetayim) – Root: שתים (š-t-y-m); Form: Number, dual feminine; Translation: “two”; Notes: Represents the units in the count.
- וּשְׁמֹנִ֛ים (ušmōnim) – Root: שמונים (š-m-n); Form: Number, plural masculine; Translation: “and eighty”; Notes: Part of the total count of Lemeḵ’s age.
- שָׁנָ֖ה (šānāh) – Root: שנה (š-n-h); Form: Noun, singular feminine; Translation: “years”; Notes: Indicates the unit of time.
- וּמְאַ֣ת (ûməʾaṯ) – Root: מאה (m-ʾ-h); Form: Number, singular feminine construct; Translation: “and one hundred”; Notes: Adds to the total age of Lemeḵ.
- שָׁנָ֑ה (šānāh) – Root: שנה (š-n-h); Form: Noun, singular feminine; Translation: “years”; Notes: Repeats to emphasize the measurement of time.
- וַיֹּ֖ולֶד (wayyōleḏ) – Root: ילד (y-l-d); Form: Hiphil imperfect, third masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and he fathered”; Notes: Indicates the act of Lemeḵ becoming a father.
- בֵּֽן (bēn) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun, singular masculine; Translation: “a son”; Notes: Refers to the child born to Lemeḵ.
Textual Commentary on Genesis 5:28
Key Differences:
Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):
“When Lamech had lived 53 years, he fathered a son.”
Masoretic Text (MT):
“When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son.”
- Age of Lamech at Noah’s birth:
- MT: 182 years
- SP: 53 years
Possible Explanations:
- Chronological Interpretation: The difference reflects two distinct traditions regarding the timeline of early biblical history. The SP significantly shortens the pre-Flood timeline.
- Scribal Transmission: Variations in numbers are common in ancient texts due to copying errors or intentional harmonization. The Septuagint (LXX) supports the MT’s higher age.
- Theological or Literary Adjustments: Each tradition may have sought to create a coherent framework for genealogical records.
- Comparison to Other Texts: The Septuagint (LXX) gives Lamech’s age as 188 years, showing further variation across traditions.
Conclusion:
The difference between the SP and MT in Genesis 5:28 reflects broader textual diversity in the transmission of the Pentateuch. Whether the variation arose from a scribal error, theological preference, or an alternative ancient tradition remains a subject of scholarly discussion. The LXX supports the MT with a slight variant of “188 years.”