"And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Methuselah Meaning in the Bible
Methuselah
boy
Methuselah means "Man of the dart; When he dies, it shall come", a boy's name of Hebrew origin. Methuselah appears in the King James Bible, and Genesis 5:27 is the passage most often tied to it. Methuselah's extraordinary lifespan embodies God's patience. Every year he lived was another year God waited for humanity to turn back. His story reveals a God who is slow to anger and rich in mercy.
Is Methuselah in the Bible?
Yes — Methuselah appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 5:27.
Pronunciation:/meh-THOO-zuh-luh/
OriginHebrew
MeaningMan of the dart; When he dies, it shall come
What does Methuselah mean?
Methuselah is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "Man of the dart; When he dies, it shall come". Methuselah means "when he dies, it shall be sent" or "man of the dart" in Hebrew. He holds the remarkable distinction of being the longest-lived person in the Bible — dying at 969 years of age.
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Editor’s reflection
The longest life recorded in Scripture — 969 years, ending the year of the flood.
Methuselah (Hebrew מְתוּשֶׁלַח) is usually broken into methu, 'man,' and shelach, which can mean 'dart,' 'weapon' or 'sending' — hence 'man of the dart' or, in a long-popular reading, 'when he dies, it shall be sent.' That second reading is attractive because he died the year the flood came, but it stretches the Hebrew and should be offered as a tradition, not a fact.
He is Enoch's son and Noah's grandfather, and the genealogy gives his age plainly: 'And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died' (Genesis 5:27). Working the numbers in Genesis 5 and 7 forward, his death falls in the year of the flood — which is why so many preachers read his long life as patience: judgment held off while a man lived.
He appears once more, in Luke's genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:37), and nowhere else. Everything else said about him comes from later Jewish writings.
As a given name it is essentially unused, but 'old as Methuselah' has been an English proverb for centuries, which is why the name is still looked up constantly.
“And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.”
What does Methuselah mean in the Bible?
Methuselah means "Man of the dart; When he dies, it shall come" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Methuselah means "when he dies, it shall be sent" or "man of the dart" in Hebrew. He holds the remarkable distinction of being the longest-lived person in the Bible — dying at 969 years of age. His death year, according to biblical chronology, coincides with the year of the great Flood.
Methuselah was the son of Enoch, who "walked with God and was not, for God took him." His grandson was Noah, whom God chose to build the ark. The genealogical placement of Methuselah between Enoch and Noah gives him a pivotal position in the antediluvian narrative.
Many scholars see prophetic significance in Methuselah's extraordinary lifespan — his long life represented God's patience, giving humanity centuries to repent before the Flood. Every year Methuselah lived was another year of divine mercy extended to a wicked generation.
Where does Methuselah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Methuselah is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with Genesis 5:27. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech."
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Which books of the Bible mention Methuselah?
Methuselah is mentioned across 3 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Methuselah?
Methuselah's extraordinary lifespan embodies God's patience. Every year he lived was another year God waited for humanity to turn back. His story reveals a God who is slow to anger and rich in mercy.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Methuselah:
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God Promises Contentment Through Him
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What names are related to Methuselah?
Names like Methuselah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Man of the dart; When he dies, it shall come" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Methuselah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Elizabeth
girl
"God is my oath"
Methuselah & Elizabeth
Magdalene
girl
"Of Magdala or tower"
Methuselah & Magdalene
Amaris
girl
"Promised by God; Given by God"
Methuselah & Amaris
Eliana
girl
"My God has answered"
Methuselah & Eliana
Rebecca
girl
"To bind or captivate"
Methuselah & Rebecca
Seraphina
girl
"Burning one; Fiery angel"
Methuselah & Seraphina
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Methuselah name meaning: frequently asked questions
Methuselah, at 969 years (Genesis 5:27). He was the son of Enoch — who never died — and the grandfather of Noah, and by the chronology of Genesis 5 and 7 he died in the year of the flood.
Yes — Methuselah appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 5:27.
Methuselah means "Man of the dart; When he dies, it shall come." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Genesis 5:27, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Methuselah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Methuselah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Methuselah?
You can read every verse where Methuselah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.