וַיִּהְיוּ֙ כָּל־יְמֵ֣י מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח תֵּ֤שַׁע וְשִׁשִּׁים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּתְשַׁ֥ע מֵאֹ֖ות שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (Genesis 5:27)
And all the days of Metushelaḥ were nine and sixty years and nine hundred years, and he died.
Opening Reflections: Rhythm of Life and Death
This verse from the genealogical record of Genesis presents not only the remarkable lifespan of Metushelaḥ (Methuselah), but also a quintessential example of two core grammatical features in Biblical Hebrew: the waw-consecutive form (also called wayyiqtol) and the poetic numerical construction common in biblical age reckoning. These features together shape the rhythm and theological framing of life and death across generations.
The Waw-Consecutive (Wayyiqtol) in Action
The verb וַיִּהְיוּ is a classic example of the waw-consecutive form, or wayyiqtol, which links narrative actions in sequence. It derives from the root הָיָה (“to be”) in the Qal stem.
Parsing Table: וַיִּהְיוּ and וַיָּמֹֽת
| Form | Root | Stem | Person / Number / Gender | Voice | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּהְיוּ | הָיָה | Qal | 3rd person plural masculine | Active | Sequential narrative: “And they were” |
| וַיָּמֹת | מוּת | Qal | 3rd person singular masculine | Active | Narrative closure: “And he died” |
The Narrative Function of Wayyiqtol
Biblical Hebrew prefers wayyiqtol to advance the narrative line, especially in prose. It serves to move the story or genealogy forward with a sense of temporal flow:
- וַיִּהְיוּ = “And they were” (summary of lifespan)
- וַיָּמֹת = “And he died” (conclusion of the account)
These two verbs bookend the genealogical statement, providing both chronology and finality.
Numerical Syntax: Hebrew Counting Style
The phrase תֵּ֤שַׁע וְשִׁשִּׁים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה (“nine and sixty years”) follows the Hebrew convention of stating units before tens:
- תֵּ֤שַׁע = nine
- וְשִׁשִּׁים = and sixty
- שָׁנָה = years (singular here in construct, often used in enumeration)
Then it continues: וּתְשַׁ֥ע מֵאֹ֖ות שָׁנָ֑ה (“and nine hundred years”), a phrase functioning in apposition to the previous number, forming a compound duration.
Poetic and Structural Balance
The verse uses a chiastic balance:
- Verb: וַיִּהְיוּ
- Noun phrase: כָּל־יְמֵי מְתוּשֶׁלַח
- Number: תֵּ֤שַׁע וְשִׁשִּׁים… וּתְשַׁ֥ע מֵאֹ֖ות
- Closing verb: וַיָּמֹת
This structure emphasizes the completeness of life and inevitability of death. Even the longest lifespan reaches the same final verb: וַיָּמֹת.
From Sequence to Silence
This single verse carries both grammatical complexity and existential weight. The wayyiqtol forms link Metushelaḥ’s life with the relentless cadence of biblical history—action, summary, death. And the numerical pattern, with its reverse ordering and layered counting, reflects the ancient worldview where age is both honor and brevity. Syntax becomes theology: even the man who lived longest must end with וַיָּמֹת.
