Genesis 11:13

Study note

Setting — The text appears within the post-flood patriarchal genealogy, recording Arphaxad's lifespan and progeny immediately after he fathers Shelah. It functions as a chronological bridge between the flood narrative and the subsequent lineage leading to Abram.

The words — וְיָחִי (va/y.Chi) translates literally as "and he lived," and אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ (after fathering him) marks the temporal pivot. These terms structure the genealogical record by anchoring remaining years to the birth of the next named heir.

The thread — This chronological formula recurs throughout Genesis 5 and Genesis 11:10-26, consistently pairing age at firstborn with remaining lifespan and additional children. The pattern establishes a continuous biological line from Shem through Arphaxad, Shelah, and Eber.

Why it lands — The text documents continued human reproduction and extended survival to show the preservation of a specific family line. It requires the reader to recognize how a detailed ledger of births and years prepares the ground for a later covenantal promise.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.