Genesis 5:3 Commentary and Bible Study

Moses does not repeat the account of the fall, but what is said in this chapter makes no sense but for the explanation of the corruption of human nature given in Genesis 3. In contrast to Adam who was made in the image of God, Seth is begotten in the image of Adam, the likeness of Adam; he therefore inherits his father’s sinful, fallen nature, and this will be the pattern for all the descendants of Adam. They will have sin imputed to them on account of the first sin of their federal head, and they will inherit Adam’s fallen human nature. Nevertheless, the descendants of Adam through Seth will, in contrast to the descendants of Cain, be men of faith and those who preserved the true worship of God on earth. These are the seed of Adam that are going to continue the human race beyond the flood and to populate the earth as we have it today. Cain’s family was completely destroyed by the flood.