Genesis 5:20 – Meaning, Explanation, and Related Bible Verses

Verse: Genesis 5:20
Theme: The Finality of Life and the Silent Weight of a Legacy

And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years and he died
— Genesis 5:20, King James Version (KJV)

Jared lived a total of 962 years and then he died
— Genesis 5:20, New Living Translation (NLT)

So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty two years and he died
— Genesis 5:20, New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Altogether Jared lived a total of 962 years and then he died
— Genesis 5:20, New International Version (NIV)

Jared lived a total of 962 years and then he died
— Genesis 5:20, The Message (MSG)

Meaning of Genesis 5:20

Genesis 5:20 is part of a chapter that seems repetitive to many readers. A name is mentioned, a lifespan recorded, children are born, and then it ends with the same chilling refrain: “and he died.” In the case of Jared, this verse tells us he lived 962 years and then died. It appears brief and uneventful, but there is a deeper message within the pattern of this sacred genealogy.

Jared was the sixth generation from Adam through the godly line of Seth. His life is summarized in one verse, yet he was part of one of the most critical moments in redemptive history. His son was Enoch—the man who walked with God and was taken, not seeing death. Jared’s years may not have been filled with drama or recorded deeds, but they framed the upbringing of a man who broke the pattern of death and was taken into life.

This verse may also confront the reader with the reality of mortality. No matter how long a man lives, the phrase “and he died” still comes. Even in the days before the flood, when men lived for hundreds of years, death was inevitable. Sin had entered the world, and with it, the curse of death followed all. Jared’s story reminds us of this solemn truth.

Yet within that reminder lies hope. Genesis 5 is not just a chronicle of deaths but a hidden thread of promise. It follows a line that would eventually lead to Noah, then to Abraham, and finally to Christ. The verse shows us that life matters, even when it is not loud. And death, though inevitable, does not erase legacy. Jared’s greatest achievement may not have been what he did, but who he fathered and what he passed on.

Popular Words of Wisdom from Genesis 5:20

You do not need to live loudly to live meaningfully. Sometimes, your legacy is in the ones who come after you
— Tony Evans, Pastor and Founder of The Urban Alternative

Jared’s life teaches us that what is written in heaven may never trend on earth
— Jackie Hill Perry, Author and Christian Thinker

Even a thousand years on earth still ends in death. We must live for what will never die
— Francis Chan, Pastor and Author of Crazy Love

The phrase ‘and he died’ should not make us afraid. It should make us live more intentionally
— Lisa Bevere, Author and Co-founder of Messenger International

In Scripture, even the unnamed years are holy. God does not forget the ordinary
— Priscilla Shirer, Speaker and Bible Teacher

A man’s influence is not just what he builds but who he raises
— Andy Stanley, Leadership Communicator and Pastor

Legacy is not measured in years lived but in impact passed down
— Beth Moore, Founder of Living Proof Ministries

Jared’s death reminds us that life is fleeting, but it also points us to a hope that death is not the end
— N T Wright, Theologian and New Testament Scholar

A long life is a gift but a faithful one is a crown
— Tim Keller, Pastor and Author of The Prodigal God

Sometimes the most important thing you’ll do is raise the one who changes the world
— Dr Bernice King, Minister and CEO of The King Center

Explaining the Context of Genesis 5:20

Genesis 5 is known as “The Book of the Generations of Adam.” It tracks the descendants of Adam through Seth, his son, who was given as a “replacement” for Abel. This lineage is significant because it forms the godly seed—the line from which Noah would be born and later, Jesus the Messiah.

Jared was born in the seventh generation from Adam and lived through an era when humanity was multiplying, the earth was being filled, and sin was beginning to take deeper roots. While the descendants of Cain built cities and weapons, the descendants of Seth lived lives of worship and quiet obedience.

Jared lived during a time of spiritual erosion. Yet, his son Enoch is remembered as the man who “walked with God.” This tells us a great deal about Jared’s hidden influence. He raised a son in a generation that was beginning to turn away from the Lord, yet that son chose to walk closely with God.

The context of Genesis 5:20 also echoes the tragic refrain that echoes throughout the chapter—”and he died.” This verse adds Jared to the growing list of those who could not escape the curse of death brought on by sin. Yet within this same chapter lies the one exception—Enoch—pointing us forward to the greater exception, Jesus Christ, who would conquer death forever.

Explaining the Key Parts of Genesis 5:20

And All the Days of Jared Were Nine Hundred Sixty and Two Years

This extraordinary number reminds us of a time when human life spanned centuries. While this seems strange to the modern mind, the early chapters of Genesis portray a different environment before the flood. These long lives allowed for the development of family lines, traditions, and the preservation of God’s promises through oral storytelling.

Yet even this length of time was not enough to avoid death. It shows that no matter how long we live, our time will eventually come to an end. These words speak not just of length but of endurance. Jared’s life spanned generations, and with it came both blessings and burdens. He likely witnessed the increasing corruption of the world, setting the stage for the judgment of the flood.

And He Died

This closing phrase is both sobering and universal. Every generation in Genesis 5 ends with this statement, except Enoch. This repetition emphasizes that death is the consequence of sin and a reality for all of humanity. No matter how rich, wise, or long-lived, every man faces this end.

However, “and he died” is not the end of the story for those in the lineage of faith. It is a reminder that our hope must lie beyond this world. In Scripture, death is never the final word for those who belong to God. Jared’s death was real, but so was the promise that lived on in his son and would one day be fulfilled in Jesus.

Lessons to Learn from Genesis 5:20

1. Life Is Short Even When It Is Long

Jared lived 962 years, but those years are summarized in a single verse. This teaches us that even the longest life is still a breath. We should live every day with an eternal purpose.

2. Faithfulness Matters More Than Fame

Jared is not remembered for any great acts, but his legacy is secure. He raised a son who walked with God. That alone makes his life eternally valuable.

3. Death Is a Universal Reality

The repetition of “and he died” throughout Genesis 5 reminds us that death comes to all. We must not live as if this life is all there is. Eternity is the true horizon.

4. Influence Is Often Invisible

We do not know the details of Jared’s life, but we see his influence through Enoch. Many of your most meaningful contributions will never be public but will echo through those you influence.

5. God Remembers the Obedient

The genealogies of Scripture exist because God remembers names. Jared’s name is not lost. Your faithfulness will not be forgotten either. Heaven records what Earth may overlook.

Related Bible Verses

It is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment
— Hebrews 9:27, King James Version (KJV)

For what is your life It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away
— James 4:14, King James Version (KJV)

The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come
— Isaiah 57:1, King James Version (KJV)

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints
— Psalm 116:15, King James Version (KJV)

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth Yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them
— Revelation 14:13, King James Version (KJV)

How This Verse Points to Christ

Genesis 5:20 reminds us of the repeated curse: and he died. But that repetition builds anticipation for the one who would break it. That one is Jesus Christ. While Jared died, and every man after him died, there was one who lived and died but rose again. Christ’s resurrection is the final answer to the problem revealed in Genesis 5.

Jared was the father of Enoch. Enoch did not die, which pointed ahead to the ultimate victory over death found in Christ. Jesus would later say, “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live.” Jared’s story, like every man’s story in Genesis 5, points us to our need for a Savior who conquers death.

The curse of death ends with Christ. His tomb is empty. And because of Him, the words “and he died” no longer have to be our ending. They become a passage into eternal life for those who believe.

Closing Reflection

Genesis 5:20 may seem like a quiet verse in a quiet chapter. But its message echoes through eternity. Jared lived 962 years, and then he died. That is the story of every man, unless something or someone changes the pattern.

You may not live a thousand years. You may not see your name in headlines or history books. But you have the chance to influence eternity through the way you live, the values you pass on, and the God you serve.

Let the reality of death inspire a life of deeper meaning. Let the faithfulness of men like Jared remind you that ordinary lives in the hands of God are never wasted. And let the hope of Christ point you to the day when “and he died” will no longer be the end.

Say This Prayer

Dear Lord

Thank You for the reminder that life is precious and short, even when it seems long. Teach me to number my days and to live with purpose.

Help me to walk faithfully in my generation like Jared. Let my influence last beyond my years. May the children and people I touch be drawn closer to You through my life.

Thank You for the hope I have in Jesus Christ, who defeated death and offers eternal life. I trust You with my time and my eternity.

In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.