Methuselah: 969 years of life
Methuselah lived 969 years, becoming the oldest man recorded in the Bible. He appears in Genesis 5:21-27 as a descendant of Enoch and an ancestor of Noah.
Who was Methuselah?
Methuselah was the son of Enoch, who “walked with God” and was taken by Him without experiencing death. His name in Hebrew means something like “when he dies, it will come,” possibly referring to the flood that would occur after his lifetime.
Why did he live so long?
The Bible records very long lifespans in the first chapters of Genesis. Some scholars interpret this literally, while others see it as symbolism or ancient ways of counting time. In any case, Methuselah is cited as an example of longevity and closeness to God.
Extra curiosity
Methuselah died in the year of the flood, making him a symbolic figure connecting the antiquity of humanity to the story of Noah. Despite living nearly a millennium, little is known about his daily life, and his legacy is more genealogical and spiritual than narrative.
Reflection: The story of Methuselah reminds us that in the Bible, numbers can convey more than physical age—they also carry spiritual and symbolic meanings about life, faith, and our relationship with God.
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