1 This [is] an account of the births of Adam : In the day of God's preparing man, in the likeness of God He hath made him ;
2 a male and a female He hath prepared them, and He blesseth them, and calleth their name Man, in the day of their being prepared.
3 And Adam liveth an hundred and thirty years, and begetteth [a son] in his likeness, according to his image, and calleth his name Seth.
4 And the days of Adam after his begetting Seth are eight hundred years, and he begetteth sons and daughters.
5 And all the days of Adam which he lived are nine hundred and thirty years, and he dieth.
Note · Genèse 5.1–5
L’image de Dieu au fil des générations
Le rappel de la création inscrit la généalogie dans une dignité reçue. La naissance d’un fils à la ressemblance d’Adam met en relation continuité familiale et condition humaine. La mort n’efface pas la bénédiction initiale, mais elle en marque désormais l’expérience terrestre.
6 And Seth liveth an hundred and five years, and begetteth Enos.
7 And Seth liveth after his begetting Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
8 And all the days of Seth are nine hundred and twelve years, and he dieth.
9 And Enos liveth ninety years, and begetteth Cainan.
10 And Enos liveth after his begetting Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
11 And all the days of Enos are nine hundred and five years, and he dieth.
12 And Cainan liveth seventy years, and begetteth Mahalaleel.
13 And Cainan liveth after his begetting Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
14 And all the days of Cainan are nine hundred and ten years, and he dieth.
15 And Mahalaleel liveth five and sixty years, and begetteth Jared.
16 And Mahalaleel liveth after his begetting Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
17 And all the days of Mahalaleel are eight hundred and ninety and five years, and he dieth.
18 And Jared liveth an hundred and sixty and two years, and begetteth Enoch.
19 And Jared liveth after his begetting Enoch eight hundred years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
20 And all the days of Jared are nine hundred and sixty and two years, and he dieth.
Note · Genèse 5.6–20
Des noms qui portent la continuité
La répétition peut sembler monotone, mais elle donne à chaque génération une place dans l’histoire. Les noms ne sont pas un simple détour avant les événements importants. Ils indiquent que l’avenir se transmet par des existences dont le narrateur ne raconte presque rien.
21 And Enoch liveth five and sixty years, and begetteth Methuselah.
22 And Enoch walketh habitually with God after his begetting Methuselah three hundred years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
23 And all the days of Enoch are three hundred and sixty and five years.
24 And Enoch walketh habitually with God, and he is not, for God hath taken him.
Note · Genèse 5.21–24
Hénoc, une interruption dans le rythme
La présentation d’Hénoc rompt la formule habituelle de la mort : sa relation à Dieu devient l’élément décisif. Le texte reste bref et ne décrit pas son expérience en détail. Hébreux 11.5 en propose une lecture chrétienne centrée sur la foi, sans autoriser à inventer une biographie manquante.
25 And Methuselah liveth an hundred and eighty and seven years, and begetteth Lamech.
26 And Methuselah liveth after his begetting Lamech seven hundred and eighty and two years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
27 And all the days of Methuselah are nine hundred and sixty and nine years, and he dieth.
28 And Lamech liveth an hundred and eighty and two years, and begetteth a son,
29 and calleth his name Noah, saying, 'This [one] doth comfort us concerning our work, and concerning the labour of our hands, because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.'
30 And Lamech liveth after his begetting Noah five hundred and ninety and five years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
31 And all the days of Lamech are seven hundred and seventy and seven years, and he dieth.
32 And Noah is a son of five hundred years, and Noah begetteth Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Note · Genèse 5.25–32
Un nom tourné vers une consolation espérée
Le père de Noé exprime l’attente d’un soulagement dans le travail d’une terre devenue difficile. Cette espérance prépare le rôle de Noé sans révéler encore la forme qu’il prendra. La généalogie s’achève ainsi sur une attente, et non sur une solution déjà pleinement acquise.
