Genesis 5:31

ࠅࠉࠄࠉࠅ ࠊࠋ ࠉࠌࠉ ࠋࠌࠊ ࠔࠋࠔ ࠅࠇࠌࠔࠉࠌ ࠔࠍࠄ ࠅࠔࠔ ࠌࠀࠅࠕ ࠔࠍࠄ ࠅࠉࠌࠕ

Gen 5:31 [Samaritan Pentateuch]

ויהיו כל ימי למך שלש וחמשים שנה ושש מאות שנה וימת׃

And all the days of Lemekh were three and fifty years and six hundred years, and he died.

Gen 5:31 [Masoretic Text]

וַֽיְהִי֙ כָּל־יְמֵי־לֶ֔מֶךְ שֶׁ֤בַע וְשִׁבְעִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵאֹ֖ות שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃

And all the days of Lemekh were seventy-seven years and seven hundred years, and he died.

Morphology

1. וַֽיְהִי֙ (wayĕhî) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal imperfect, third masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And it was”; Notes: Introduces the total lifespan of Lemeḵ.
2. כָּל־יְמֵי־לֶ֔מֶךְ (kol-yĕmê-Lemeḵ) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Noun, plural masculine construct with the definite article; Translation: “all the days of Lemeḵ”; Notes: Indicates the entire lifespan.
3. שֶׁ֤בַע (šeḇaʿ) – Root: שבע (š-b-ʿ); Form: Numeral, singular feminine; Translation: “seven”; Notes: Part of the first compound number.
4. וְשִׁבְעִים֙ (wĕšiḇʿîm) – Root: שבע (š-b-ʿ); Form: Numeral, plural masculine; Translation: “and seventy”; Notes: Completes the first compound number for years.
5. שָׁנָ֔ה (šānāh) – Root: שנה (š-n-h); Form: Noun, singular feminine; Translation: “years”; Notes: Refers to the lifespan.
6. וּשְׁבַ֥ע (ūšəḇaʿ) – Root: שבע (š-b-ʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + numeral, singular feminine; Translation: “and seven”; Notes: Part of the second compound number.
7. מֵאֹ֖ות (mēʾōṯ) – Root: מאה (m-ʾ-h); Form: Noun, plural feminine construct; Translation: “hundred”; Notes: Completes the second compound number.
8. שָׁנָ֑ה (šānāh) – Root: שנה (š-n-h); Form: Noun, singular feminine; Translation: “years”; Notes: Refers to the total years lived.
9. וַיָּמֹֽת (wayyāmōṯ) – Root: מות (m-w-t); Form: Qal imperfect, third masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and he died”; Notes: Marks the conclusion of Lemeḵ’s life.

Textual Commentary on Genesis 5:31

Textual Comparison

Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):
“And all the days of Lamech were 653 years, and he died.”

Masoretic Text (MT):
“And all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.”

Septuagint (LXX):
“And all the days of Lamech were 753 years, and he died.”

Key Differences in Numbers

• MT vs. SP: The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) has 653 years, which is 124 years fewer than the 777 years recorded in the Masoretic Text (MT).
• MT vs. LXX: The Septuagint (LXX) records 753 years, which is 24 years fewer than the MT but 100 years more than the SP.
• SP vs. LXX: The SP’s total lifespan of 653 years is exactly 100 years shorter than the LXX’s 753 years.

Possible Explanations for the Differences

• Scribal Variants:
  Numerical discrepancies often occur in ancient manuscripts due to transmission errors or variations in numerical notation. The numbers 777 (MT), 753 (LXX), and 653 (SP) may reflect different traditions rather than simple mistakes.
• Chronological Differences Between Traditions:
  The MT preserves the symbolic number 777, which may have theological significance. The SP consistently presents lower ages for many patriarchs, possibly due to a different chronological system.
• Harmonization and Textual Tradition:
  • The MT’s 777 years might reflect an intentional pattern, as 777 is often associated with completeness or divine order.
  • The LXX’s 753 years is closer to the MT but still differs, suggesting an independent textual tradition.
  • The SP’s 653 years aligns with its overall reduction of patriarchal ages in Genesis 5.

Conclusion

Genesis 5:31 presents three distinct numerical traditions:

• Masoretic Text (MT): 777 years.
• Samaritan Pentateuch (SP): 653 years (-124 from MT).
• Septuagint (LXX): 753 years (-24 from MT, +100 from SP).

These variations demonstrate different textual traditions in the genealogical records of Genesis 5, with the MT preserving a symbolic number, while the SP and LXX reflect alternative chronological systems.