And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
32. And Noah was, &c.] Noah is thus represented as much older, when he begets his children, than were the other patriarchs, when children were born to them. A hundred years is the interval of time between the birth of Noah’s sons and the Deluge (Gen 7:6).
Compare the mention of three sons born to Lamech, the last name in the Cainite genealogy (Gen 4:20-24).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 32. Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.] From Gen 10:21; 1Ch 1:5, c., we learn that Japheth was the eldest son of Noah, but Shem is mentioned first, because it was from him, in a direct line, that the Messiah came. Ham was certainly the youngest of Noah’s sons, and from what we read, Ge 9:22, the worst of them and how he comes to be mentioned out of his natural order is not easy to be accounted for. When the Scriptures design to mark precedency, though the subject be a younger son or brother, he is always mentioned first; so Jacob is named before Esau, his elder brother, and Ephraim before Manasses. See Ge 28:5; Ge 48:20.
AMONG many important things presented to our view in this chapter, several of which have been already noticed, we may observe that, of all the antediluvian patriarchs, Enoch, who was probably the best man, was the shortest time upon earth; his years were exactly as the days in a solar revolution, viz., three hundred and sixty-five; and like the sun he fulfilled a glorious course, shining more and more unto the perfect day, and was taken, when in his meridian splendour, to shine like the sun in the kingdom of his Father for ever.
From computation it appears, 1. That Adam lived to see Lamech, the ninth generation, in the fifty-sixth year of whose life he died; and as he was the first who lived, and the first that sinned, so he was the first who tasted death in a natural way. Abel’s was not a natural but a violent death. 2. That Enoch was taken away next after Adam, seven patriarchs remaining witness of his translation. 3. That all the nine first patriarchs were taken away before the flood came, which happened in the six hundredth year of Noah’s life. 4. That Methuselah lived till the very year in which the flood came, of which his name is supposed to have been prophetical methu, “he dieth,” and shalach, “he sendeth out;” as if God had designed to teach men that as soon as Methuselah died the flood should be sent forth to drown an ungodly world. If this were then so understood, even the name of this patriarch contained in it a gracious warning. See the genealogical plate after “Ge 11:32“.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. He began to beget; God in mercy denying him children till that time, that he might not beget them to the destroyer, that he might have no more than should be saved in the ark; or, having before that time begotten others who were now dead, and having the approaching flood in his view, he began again to beget a seminary for the world.
Of these three sons here following, the eldest seems to be
Japheth, Gen 10:21. The second was
Shem, as appears because he was but an hundred years old two years after the flood, Gen 11:11. The youngest
Ham, Gen 9:24. But Shem is first named in order of dignity, as being the progenitor of the church, and of Jesus Christ; and because he and his progeny is the principal subject of this whole history.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
32. Noah was five hundred years old:and . . . begatThat he and the other patriarchs were advancedin life before children were born to them is a difficulty accountedfor probably from the circumstance that Moses does not here recordtheir first-born sons, but only the succession from Adam through Sethto Abraham.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Noah was five hundred years old,…. Or “the son of five hundred years” f; he was in his five hundredth year: it can hardly be thought that he should live to this time a single life, and have no children born to him, which he might have had, but were dead; though some think it was so ordered by Providence, that he should not begin to procreate children until of this age, because it being the will of God to save him and his family from the flood, had he began at the usual age he might have had more than could conveniently be provided for in the ark; or some of them might have proved wicked, and so would deserve to perish with others:
and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth; not together, but one after another; and since Ham was the younger son, see Ge 9:24 and Shem was an hundred years old two years after the flood, Ge 11:10 he must be born in the five hundred and second year of his father’s age; so that it seems most probable that Japheth was the eldest son, and born in the five hundred and first year of his age; though Shem is usually mentioned first, because of his superior dignity and excellency, God being in an eminent manner the God of Shem, Ge 9:26 and from whom the Messiah was to spring, and in whose line the church of God was to be continued in future ages. The name of Japheth is retained in Greek and Latin authors, as Hesiod g Horace h, and others i, by whom he is called Japetos and Japetus.
f “filius quingentorum annorum”, Pagninus, Montanus, &c. g “Theogonia prope principium et passim”. h Carmin. l. 1. Ode 3. i Apollodorus de Deorum Orig. l. 1. p. 2, 4. Ovid. Metamorph. l. 1. Fab. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
32. And Noah was five hundred years old. Concerning the fathers whom Moses has hitherto enumerated, it is not easy to conjecture whether each of them was the first born of his family or not; for he only wished to follow the continued succession of the Church. But God, to prevent men from being elated by a vain confidence in the flesh, frequently chooses for himself those who are posterior in the order of nature. I am, therefore, uncertain whether Moses has recorded the catalogue of those whom God preferred to others; or of those who, by right of primogeniture, held the chief rank among their brethren; I am also uncertain how many sons each had. With respect to Noah, it plainly appears that he had no more than three sons; and this Moses purposely declares the more frequently, that we may know that the whole of his family was preserved. But they, in my opinion, err, who think that in this place the chastity of Noah is proclaimed, because he led a single life through nearly five centuries. For it is not said that he was unmarried till that time; nor even in what year of his life he had begun to be a father. But, in simply mentioning the time in which he was warned of the future deluge, Moses also adds, that at the same time, or thereabouts, he was the father of three sons; not that he already had them, but because they were born not long afterwards. That he had, indeed, survived his five hundredth year before Shem was born, will be evident from the eleventh chapter (Gen 11:1); concerning the other two nothing is known with certainty, except that Japheth was the younger. (258) It is wonderful that from the time when he had received the dreadful message respecting the destruction of the human race, he was not prevented, by the greatness of his grief, from intercourse with his wife; but it was necessary that some remains should survive, because this family was destined for the restoration of the second world. Although we do not read at what time his sons took wives, I yet think it was done long before the deluge; but they were unfruitful by the providence of God, who had determined to preserve only eight souls.
(258) This inference, that Japheth was the younger son, Calvin seems to have drawn from a translation of Gen 10:21, different from our own. In our version Shem is there called “the brother of Japheth the elder.” But commentators are generally agreed that the English version is right. It not only gives the more natural sense of the original, but is confirmed by collateral testimony. For it is clear that Noah began to have children in his five hundredth year. Shem was one hundred years old two years after the flood, and therefore was born when his father was five hundred and two years old. Some one, then, of Noah’s sons must have been born before this. Now we are told that Ham was the younger son, (Gen 9:24). Therefore Japheth must have been his first-born. — See Patrick’s and Bush’s Commentaries, and Wells’ Geography of the Old Testament. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(32) Noah was five hundred years old.No reason is given why Noah had no son until he had attained to so ripe an age, nor, in fact, does it follow that he might not have had other sons, though unworthy of sharing his deliverance. It is remarkable also that neither of the three sons who were with him in the ark had offspring until after the flood. (See Gen. 11:19.) From them have sprung the three great lines into which the human family is divided. Shem means name: that is, fame, glory; and he, as the owner of the birthright, was the progenitor of our Lord. Ham, the dark-coloured, was the ancestor of the Egyptians, Cushites, and other black races of Arabia and Africa. Japheth, the widener, but according to others the fair, though the youngest son, was the ancestor of most of the races of Europe, as well as of some of the chief nations of Asia.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
32. Noah was five hundred years old It is not meant that Noah had no children born to him for five centuries . Only those sons are mentioned with whom the narrative is specially concerned. Each patriarch had sons and daughters whose descendants multiplied through these centuries, but their names are lost to history. The order of age in Noah’s family is a matter of discussion. Shem is mentioned first, but it may be because he was the heir in the line of promise. Japheth, in Gen 10:21, seems to be called the elder, but the meaning may be, “Shem, the elder brother of Japheth,” that is, older than Ham, though not older than Japheth . Ham is called the youngest in Gen 9:24, yet the Hebrew may also be rendered younger . See Gesen . Hebrews Gram . , 119 . From Gen 11:10, it seems that Shem was a hundred years old two years after the flood, that is, in Noah’s six hundred and third year. He must, then, have been born in Noah’s five hundred and third year, and, as Ham was younger than he, it follows that Japheth only could have been born in Noah’s five hundredth year. Yet some understand that in Gen 10:21, Shem is declared to be “elder” than Japheth, but this view cannot be harmonized with Gen 11:10. Japheth is not called the eldest of the three in Gen 10:21, but is conclusively shown to be so by the above comparison of passages. The Arabic writers represent Japheth as the eldest. Shem means name, fame; Ham means burnt, and Japheth means enlargement. Shem, the heir of Messianic hopes, the man of name, is placed first because Christ and salvation are ever first in revelation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 5:32. Shem, Ham, and Japheth Japheth was the elder born, Ham the second, and Shem the youngest, as appears from chap. 10: and from 1 Chronicles 1 : &c. But it is easy to see the reason why Shem is placed first, to whom probably the right of primogeniture was transferred, and from whom came the Messiah. But it is not so easy to see the reason why Ham is mentioned before Japheth: probably it may be, because the posterity of Ham are more distinctly treated of in the following history, and came more immediately upon the stage of action, prior to the posterity of Japheth. Whatever other children Noah had, these three only were preferred with him.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 5:32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Ver. 32. And Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. ] Twenty years had he heard from God, that the world should be destroyed, before he had any child. Here was “the faith and patience of this saint.” Rev 13:10 At length he hath Japheth first; though Shem be first named, because he was in dignity preferred before his brother, to be grandfather to the Messiah. Now any relation to Christ ennobleth either place or person. If it were an honour to Mark to have been Barnabas’s sister’s son, what is it then to be related to the Son of God? Bethlehem, where he was born, though it were least, says Micah; yet it was not the least, says Matthew, among all the cities of Judah, because out of it should come Christ the Governor. Mic 5:2 Mat 2:6
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 5:32
32Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Gen 5:32 Shem This term may mean renown or name (BDB 1028).
Ham This term may mean to be hot or to be dark (BDB 325).
Japheth This term may mean beauty or spreading (BDB 834).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. What is the theological relationship between Genesis 4, 5?
2. Why is the genealogy of Cain developed and then totally dropped from Scripture?
3. Why are the names of the Cainites and the Sethites so similar?
4. What happened to Enoch?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
five. See chronology of Patriarchs. App-22.
begat. See Gen 6:10 below.
Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Named in inverted order. Japheth was the elder (Gen 10:21), Shem the youngest, and, as in other cases, the youngest chosen for the blessing. Compare the inversion of the order in Gen 10:1, and Gen 2:6, and Gen 2:21, and See Gen 11:10 and note on Gen 9:24; Gen 10:1.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
am 1556, bc 2448
Shem: Gen 6:10, Gen 7:13, Gen 9:18, Gen 9:19, Gen 9:22-27, Gen 10:1, Gen 10:21, Gen 10:32, 1Ch 1:4-28, Luk 3:36
Reciprocal: Gen 7:6 – General Gen 9:29 – nine
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 5:32. And Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth It should seem that Japheth was the eldest, (Gen 10:21,) but Shem is put first, because on him the covenant was entailed, as appears by Gen 9:26, where God is called the Lord God of Shem. To him, it is probable, the birthright was given, and from him it is certain both Christ the head, and the church the body, were to descend; therefore he is called Shem, which signifies a name, because in his posterity the name of God should always remain, till He should come out of his loins, whose name is above every name; so that in putting Shem first, Christ was in effect put first, who in all things must have the pre-eminence.