H4967 H4967
Methushael, a descendant of Cain in the antediluvian genealogy
Methushael appears in Genesis 4 as a descendant of Cain in the line leading to Lamech. The name appears twice in the same verse, typical of genealogical formulas. Some scholars note the name's similarity to the Babylonian form meaning 'man of God,' while ancient Greek versions confused it with Methuselah from Seth's line. This rare name preserves the memory of Cain's descendants before the flood, a parallel lineage to the Seth genealogy of Genesis 5.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Found twice in Genesis 4:18 within Cain's genealogy. All major translations transliterate the name (Methushael, Metusael, Methuschael), recognizing it as a proper noun designating an individual in the pre-flood period. The name's possible meaning 'man of God' creates an interesting irony given the context of Cain's rebellious line. 2×
AR["مَتُوشَائِيلَ", "وَ-مَتُوشَائِيلُ"]·ben["আর-মথূশায়েল", "মথূশায়েল"]·DE["Methuschael", "und-Methuschael"]·EN["Methushael", "and-Methushael"]·FR["Methushael", "et-Methushael"]·heb["ו-מתושאל", "מתושאל"]·HI["और-मतूशाएल", "मतूशाएल"]·ID["Metusael", "dan-Metusael"]·IT["Methushael", "e-Methushael"]·jav["Metusael", "lan-Metusael"]·KO["그리고-메투샤엘-이", "메투샤엘"]·PT["Metusael", "e-Metusael"]·RU["Метушаеля", "а-Метушаель"]·ES["Metusael", "y-Metusael"]·SW["Methushaeli", "na-Methushaeli"]·TR["Metuşael'i", "ve-Metuşael"]·urd["اور-متوشائیل-نے", "متوشائیل"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† מְתוּשָׁאֵל n.pr.m. descendant of Cain (Bab. form., mutu-ša-ili ‘man of God,’ LenOrig. ed. 2, i. 262f. Eng. Tr. 268);—Gn 4:18(×2) (J), 𝔊 Μαθουσαλα (i.e. מְתוּשֶׁלַח? so Di; otherwise BuUrgesch. 125 f.)