25 And Methushelah lived a hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lemech. 26 And Methushelah lived after he had begotten Lemech seven hundred and eighty-two years, and begot sons and daughters. 27 And all the days of Methushelah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.
28 And Lemech lived a hundred and eighty-two years, and begot a son. 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This [one] shall comfort us concerning our work and concerning the toil of our hands, because of the ground which Jehovah has cursed. 30 And Lemech lived after he had begotten Noah five hundred and ninety-five years, and begot sons and daughters. 31 And all the days of Lemech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 5:25-31
Commentary on Genesis 5:25-32
(Read Genesis 5:25-32)
Methuselah signifies, 'he dies, there is a dart,' 'a sending forth,' namely, of the deluge, which came the year that Methuselah died. He lived 969 years, the longest that any man ever lived on earth; but the longest liver must die at last. Noah signifies rest; his parents gave him that name, with a prospect of his being a great blessing to his generation. Observe his father's complaint of the calamitous state of human life, by the entrance of sin, and the curse of sin. Our whole life is spent in labour, and our time filled up with continual toil. God having cursed the ground, it is as much as some can do, with the utmost care and pains, to get a hard livelihood out comfort us." It signifies not only that desire and expectation which parents generally have about their children, that they will be comforts to them and helpers, though they often prove otherwise; but it signifies also a prospect of something more. Is Christ ours? Is heaven ours? We need better comforters under our toil and sorrow, than the dearest relations and the most promising offspring; may we seek and find comforts in Christ.