What was Adam's age at death?

Definition and Context

Adam’s age at death is recorded in the Book of Genesis as part of the genealogical records that trace the earliest generations of humanity. These records appear in Genesis 5, a chapter that systematically lists the ages of several key individuals, highlighting each patriarch’s life span and any notable descendants. While the passage serves to establish a direct lineage from Adam to later figures such as Noah, it also underscores the reality of physical death entering the world as a result of disobedience and the subsequent curse (cf. Genesis 3).

Scriptural Basis

Genesis 5:5 provides the direct statement:

“Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.”

This verse is the final entry in a brief account of Adam’s life after the fall. It shows that, despite living for centuries, Adam’s mortality ultimately prevailed, confirming the earlier pronouncement in Genesis 2:17 and Genesis 3:19 that death would come as a consequence of sin.

Genealogical Details

In Genesis 5:1–3, Scripture affirms Adam’s creation and then notes the birth of his son Seth. The text recounts that Adam lived 130 years before producing Seth (Genesis 5:3). Following the birth of Seth, Adam continued to have other sons and daughters (Genesis 5:4). The cumulative total of Adam’s days given in verse 5 shows he lived for 930 years.

This genealogy forms part of a larger pattern in Genesis 5, where a name, the length of life before a key descendant was born, the total life span, and the phrase “and then he died” consistently appear. Adam’s great age is not unique in this chapter; other patriarchs—such as Seth (912 years) or Methuselah (969 years)—also span multiple centuries, reflecting the distinct lifespans often associated with this early period.

Historical and Literary Significance

Throughout the biblical text, genealogical records serve several purposes:

• They preserve lineage from key figures (Adam, Noah, Abraham).

• They highlight the passing of blessings and covenants through successive generations.

• They confirm that each individual, including Adam, faced mortality.

Although lifespans spanning centuries may appear extraordinary from a modern perspective, analyzing ancient manuscripts, including the Masoretic Text, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and other historical Hebrew sources, shows that the figure of 930 years for Adam remains consistent across major textual traditions.

Consistency with Other References

Scripture references Adam in other books, reinforcing his historicity and importance:

• 1 Chronicles 1:1 begins the genealogical lists of Israel with Adam.

• Luke 3:38 traces the genealogy of Jesus back to “the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”

These verses underline the integral place Adam holds within the broader biblical narrative and affirm the details presented in Genesis 5. Their consistency points to a unified message across different scriptural writings.

Implications for a Biblical Timeline

Adam’s long lifespan and the subsequent genealogical record have been used to construct a chronology from creation to various pivotal events, including the Flood described in Genesis 6–9. Based on the historical approach that tallies the ages from Adam onward, interpreters who hold to a literal reading of genealogies often align these records with a relatively young earth perspective.

The genealogical data point consistently to Adam dying at the age of 930. This age is integral to calculations that estimate creation, the Flood’s occurrence, and later landmark epochs in biblical history.

Conclusion

According to Genesis 5:5, Adam died at the age of 930. This figure, firmly rooted in genealogical and historical references throughout Scripture, stands as an important testament to the earliest generations documented in the Bible. It underscores both Adam’s role as the progenitor of humanity and the truth that, despite extraordinary longevity, death became an inescapable part of human existence.