Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Genesis 5:19 mean when it says Yered lived 800 years after having Ḥanokh?
A: This verse is part of the genealogy in Genesis 5, which lists the extraordinarily long lifespans of early generations. According to Rashi, these long lives showed G-d's patience before the Flood, giving people time to repent. The 800 years after Ḥanokh's birth indicates Yered continued having children and contributing to the world's population.
Q: Why does the Torah mention that Yered had 'sons and daughters'?
A: The Torah mentions this to show how these early generations fulfilled G-d's command to 'be fruitful and multiply' (Genesis 1:28). Rambam explains that recording all descendants would be impossible, so the Torah summarizes by mentioning sons and daughters to indicate they built families and populated the world.
Q: How could people like Yered live so long (800+ years)?
A: The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah) explains that before the Flood, the world's physical and spiritual conditions were different, allowing for longer lifespans. After the Flood, human longevity gradually decreased, as seen in later generations. These long lives gave righteous individuals more time to teach and influence others.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Yered's long life in Genesis 5:19?
A: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 108a) teaches that these long lifespans demonstrate how much potential a human life contains. Even though we don't live as long today, we learn that every year - and every moment - should be used productively for Torah study, good deeds, and building families, as Yered did.
Q: Why is Yered's age recorded so precisely in the Torah?
A: Rashi explains that the precise counting of years in Genesis 5 serves multiple purposes: 1) It shows the Torah's historical accuracy, 2) It helps calculate the timeline from Creation, and 3) It emphasizes that each person's lifespan is exactly measured by G-d for their unique mission in the world.
Verse Analysis
The verse states: "וַיְחִי־יֶרֶד אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת־חֲנוֹךְ שְׁמֹנֶה מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת" ("And Yered lived after he begot Ḥanokh eight hundred years, and begot sons and daughters"). This verse appears in Bereishit 5:19 as part of the genealogy from Adam to Noach.
Rashi's Commentary
Rashi explains that the phrase "וַיְחִי... אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ" ("and he lived after he begot") emphasizes that Yered continued to live a full and productive life after the birth of Ḥanokh. The Torah highlights this pattern for each generation in the genealogy to show that these individuals were not merely ancestors but also lived long lives filled with purpose.
Longevity in the Pre-Flood Era
The unusually long lifespan of Yered (962 years total, as per Bereishit 5:20) reflects the unique spiritual and physical conditions before the Mabul (Flood). The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 23:6) suggests that people in this era were granted extended lifespans to allow for the fulfillment of their missions in establishing humanity. Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim 2:47) also notes that these extended years were a divine providence to enable the development of civilization.
Significance of "וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת"
The mention of Yered fathering "sons and daughters" beyond Ḥanokh underscores the Torah’s emphasis on the continuity of generations. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 69b) discusses how each patriarch in this genealogy had many children, though only the primary lineage is recorded. This teaches that every individual has a role in building the future, even if not all descendants are named explicitly.
Ḥanokh’s Unique Legacy
While the verse focuses on Yered, his son Ḥanokh is later described as one who "walked with G-d" (Bereishit 5:22). The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 25:1) contrasts Ḥanokh’s righteousness with the corruption of his generation, suggesting that Yered’s merit enabled his son to rise above the moral decline before the Flood.