Name That Antediluvian Patriarch Quiz

Answer: Lamech

"And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed." Genesis 5:28-29

Earlier in Genesis, Adam told that the ground was cursed because of his sin (Genesis 3:17). Farmers would have to struggle to grow plants. After the flood, this was relaxed somewhat as the ground would no longer actively struggle against the farmer. Lamech was believed to have lived to the age of 777. The picture focuses on the number 9 on the clock. Lamech was the ninth of the antediluvian patriarchs.

Answer: Enos

"And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD." Genesis 4:26

Traditional Judaism interprets this passage as referring to the beginning of idolatry. The Book of Jubilees considers Enos to have introduced the Ge'ez alphabet used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Enos was believed to have lived to the age of 905. The picture shows a red car with a "01" on the side, representing the General Lee. The car appeared in the television series "The Dukes of Hazzard", which had a character named Enos.

Answer: Jared

"And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died." Genesis 5:20.

Jared was the son of Mahalalel, who was 65 when Jared was born. Jared's son was 162 years old when his son Enoch was born. Jared is said to have had other sons and daughter, though their names were not recorded in the Book of Genesis. Jared is said to have died at the age 962, second only to the 969 of Methuselah. The picture shows an entrance to a subway. Subway used to employ Jared Fogle as a spokesperson.

Answer: Adam

"And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man." Genesis 2:21-22.

Adam was said to have been made by God from the dust of the earth. Later, a rib was taken from Adam to create Eve since it was thought not good for Adam to be alone. Adam was said to have lived 930 years. The picture shows an apple--a reference to an Adam's Apple. According to legend, the Adam's Apple is said to symbolize a small piece of the Biblical apple/fruit from Eden that lodged in Adam's throat.

Answer: Noah

"I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth....And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." Genesis 9:13, 17

Noah is described as righteous, although it is unclear whether this means that Noah was truly a good person or only good in comparison to the wicked people of the earth in the days before the flood. Noah and his sons built the Ark (shown in the picture) and brought about some of each kind of animal. After the flood, they led the animals off of the ark. The rainbow was said to symbolize God's promise that He would never again destroy all life by means of a flood. Noah was said to live 950 years.

Answer: Cainan

"And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel: And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters." Genesis 5:12-13.

Cainan was the son of Enos and was born when Enos was 90. When Cainan was 70, his son Mahalalel was born. Kenan lived to the age of 910 and had other unnamed sons and daughters. The picture shows a box of Kellogg's Corn Flakes. C for Corn Flakes might have suggested C for Cainan.

Answer: Methuselah

And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters...And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died." Genesis 5:26, 31.

Methuselah had the longest lifespan of any person in the Bible at 969 years. He lived 782 years after the birth of his son, Lamech, who lived 777 years. Therefore, Methuselah lived five years after Lamech's death. The picture shows Methuselah, a bristle cone pine in Northern California.

Answer: Seth

"And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew." Genesis 4:25

Seth was the third son of Adam and Eve. He was born when Adam was 130 years old and Eve suggests that he was meant as a replacement for Abel. Seth would live to 912 years old and have sons and daughters of his own. The picture shows small statues of various Egyptian gods. One such god was Set, who has a name very similar to Seth.

Answer: Mahalalel

"And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel: And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters." Genesis 5:12-13.

As stated, Mahalalel was born when his father Kenan (Cainan) was 70 years old. Mahalalel himself would father Jared when he was 65. The total lifespan of Mahalalel was 895 years old, far longer than a modern lifespan, but seemingly eighth among the antediluvian patriarch. The picture shows two Crash Test Dummies. A popular song by the band the Crash Test Dummies was "Mmm mmm mmm mmm".

Answer: Enoch

"And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." Genesis 5:23-24.

Enoch became the father of Methuselah when he was sixty-five and lived on earth for 365 total years. He was traditionally believed to be the author of the Book of Enoch. Interestingly, Enoch is not described as dying but walking with God. He is therefore thought by some sources to have been taken to Heaven while still alive. The picture shows the Loch Ness Monster, and Loch visually rhymes with Enoch.