Methuselah is mentioned in Genesis 5:21–27 as the son of Enoch and the grandfather of Noah. He is notable for having the longest recorded lifespan in the Bible, 969 years: “So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died” (Genesis 5:27).
His name is often understood to mean “man of the dart” or, according to some interpretations, “when he dies, it shall come,” possibly indicating a prophetic significance. According to the chronology in Genesis, Methuselah died the same year the flood came (Genesis 7:6), suggesting that his life extended until the very moment of God’s judgment.
Although Scripture does not record specific deeds or words of Methuselah, his life is significant in the context of God’s mercy and patience. His long lifespan shows the extended opportunity given to mankind before the judgment of the flood. His life bridged the godly line from Enoch, who walked with God, to Noah, a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5).
Methuselah stands as a symbol of God’s longsuffering and the certainty of His warnings. His record affirms the truth of divine timing and judgment and the faithfulness of God in preserving a righteous remnant.
