Methuselah is a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Genesis. He is known for being the longest-lived human recorded in the Bible, living for 969 years. The spelling of Methuselah can be confusing as it is not a commonly used word in everyday language. To spell Methuselah correctly, it is important to remember the correct sequence of letters and their order. The correct spelling is M-E-T-H-U-S-E-L-A-H. Each of the letters should be pronounced distinctly, emphasizing the "th" sound in the middle.

Methuselah

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Learn Religion - Meet Methuselah: The Oldest Man Who Ever Lived

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Learn Religion - Meet Methuselah: The Oldest Man Who Ever Lived

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Methuselah, stained-glass window by the Methuselah Master; in Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, Kent, England. (more)

Methuselah, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), patriarch whose life span as recorded in Genesis (5:27) was 969 years. Methuselah has survived in legend and tradition as the longest-lived human. His prodigious age has been taken as literally 969 solar years, as a possible mistranslation of 969 lunar months or tenths of years (with his age then ranging from about 78 years to almost 97 years), and as a myth intended to create an impression of a distant past between Adam and Noah, as well as any number of other interpretations.

Genesis tells nothing about Methuselah beyond sparse genealogical details: according to Genesis 5, he was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Seth, the child of Adam and Eve begotten more than a century after Cain. He was the father of Lamech and the grandfather of Noah. According to the biblical account, he came of hardy stock: all his forebears lived to an age between 895 and 962 years except his father, Enoch, who lived to be 365. (In the genealogy of Cain in Genesis 4, there is a Methushael who also fathers a Lamech. Given this and certain other similarities, some scholars have proposed that the genealogies of Seth and Cain were possibly one list that became two at some point.)

The enumeration of Methuselah in Genesis is his only appearance in the Hebrew Bible save for a mention in 1 Chronicles 1:3, where he is cited in the lineage of Saul. In the New Testament he is mentioned once in the Gospel of Luke. There, at 3:23–38, the lineage of Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus, is traced back 75 generations, through David and Saul, and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to Methuselah and thence to Seth and Adam.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Mindy Johnston.

Methuselah: Story and Meaning Of The Oldest Man In The Bible

The expression ‘as old as Methuselah’ describes someone who’s very, very old.

And it makes sense when you learn about this interesting figure, Methuselah, from the Bible. According to Genesis, he lived to be an astonishing 969 years of age!

With a genealogy that connects all the way back to Adam and Eve and eventually leads to Noah, Methuselah is an important figure in the biblical family tree.

Methuselah's name is now culturally connected to the very idea of growing old, but what explains his incredible age? What does the Bible say about Methuselah and his relatives, and what can we learn from his story?

Let’s take a look back at Genesis to discover the answers to these questions.

Each of the letters should be pronounced distinctly, emphasizing the "th" sound in the middle. To further ensure the correct spelling, it can be helpful to break down the word into syllables: Me-thu-se-lah. This can help individuals remember the correct sequence of letters and their pronunciation.

Who was Methuselah?

Methuselah, meaning ‘man of the javelin’ in Hebrew, was a biblical patriarch and figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

He’s most notable for being the oldest person in the Bible (and the person with the longest human lifespan ever recorded under the literal interpretation), at a reported 969 years. And as the grandfather of Noah, his influence on the family tree cannot be understated.

Methuselah is a figure of the earlier Biblical Sagas, featured in multiple places within the Old Testament — most notably in the Book of Genesis, the Book of Chronicles, and the Gospel of Luke.

He also appears in extra-biblical texts such as the Book of Moses, the Book of Enoch, and the Slavonic Enoch.

Methuselah’s genealogy is described in Genesis. Enoch was the father of Methuselah, and Lamech was Methuselah’s son. Methuselah’s grandson Noah was, accordingly, the son of Lamech.

Methuselah is seven generations removed from Adam and Eve, and he is of the Seth lineage (a brother of Cain and Abel).

According to scripture, Methuselah died at the same time as the great flood. It’s not understood whether he died as a result of the flood or just before it.

The Catholic encyclopedia summarizes his legacy outside of the Methuselah tree of genealogy, highlighting that the name itself has become synonymous with the very idea of living a long life.

Other examples of this cultural legacy include the record-setting 4,853-year-old bristlecone pine tree in California, aptly named ‘Methuselah.’

Like the many fascinating figures and stories from the Bible, like Samuel or Jonah, we can learn a lot from them about the context surrounding the Bible’s setting, as well as valuable moral and theological lessons.

Who is…
Methuselah

N oah’s grandfather, Methuselah, was the most elderly man of whom we have any record. He is a son of Enoch, and a godly patriarch. His father Enoch was a very righteous man and was apparently taken directly to Heaven, without dying.

The exact meaning of this very ancient name is somewhat uncertain. Dr. Henry Morris said it may mean, “When he dies, judgment.” Others say: “When he is dead, it shall be sent” (“it” refers to the Deluge) (Cornwall and Smith, Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names ) . Others say the name means: “Man of the dart” or “…javelin” (Holzinger / Also: Larry Richards, Every Man in the Bible ) .

This ancient righteous man lived before the Flood, and died at the age of 969 years, in the year of the Flood and before it began (Genesis 5:21-27; 1 Chronicles 1:3). This fact, plus the former possible meaning of his name, suggests that Methuselah’s very godly father, Enoch, received a prophecy from God when his son was born, thus the name. Methuselah’s great age may be further evidence of God’ “long-suffering… in the days of Noah” (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9).

Methuselah’s name is mentioned 7 times in the Bible: Genesis 5:21-22, 25-27; 1 Chronicles 1:3; Luke 3:37.

Although Methuselah is not a term frequently used in contemporary discussions, it remains an important biblical reference for those studying or engaged in religious discourse..

Reviews for "The Methuselah Spelling Challenge: Tips and Strategies"

1. Karen - 2/5 - I didn't enjoy "How do you spell Methuselah" as much as I expected. The plot was meandering and confusing, and the characters lacked depth. The author seemed to rely heavily on quirky humor, which didn't always land for me. Overall, I found the book to be dull and unengaging.

2. Robert - 1/5 - "How do you spell Methuselah" was a complete disappointment. The writing style was convoluted and pretentious, making it hard to connect with the story or characters. The narrative was disjointed, jumping from one random event to another without any clear purpose. I struggled to finish this book and regretted wasting my time on it.

3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "How do you spell Methuselah," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The plot was confusing and lacked coherence, making it difficult to follow the story. The characters felt underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fates. Additionally, the humor often felt forced and didn't elicit any genuine laughter from me. Overall, I found this book underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it.

4. Jason - 2/5 - "How do you spell Methuselah" was a disappointing read. The writing style was overly verbose and flowery, which made it hard to stay engaged with the story. The lack of a clear direction or purpose made the narrative feel aimless and unsatisfying. Additionally, the attempts at humor often fell flat, and the quirky characters didn't resonate with me. I was left feeling unsatisfied and couldn't connect with this novel on any level.

Conquering Methuselah's Spell: A Step-by-Step Guide