Genesis 11:11
וַֽיְחִי־שֵׁ֗ם אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הֹולִידֹ֣ו אֶת־אַרְפַּכְשָׁ֔ד חֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֹ֖ות שָׁנָ֑ה וַיֹּ֥ולֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֹֽות׃
1. Transliteration
Vayḥî-Shēm ʾaḥărê hōlîdō ʾet-ʾArpakhshād, ḥămēsh mēʾōt shānāh, vayyōled bānîm ûvānōt.
2. Literal Translation
And Shem lived after his fathering of Arpakhshad five hundred years, and he fathered sons and daughters.
3. Grammar Focus: Genealogy Hebrew Moves by Repeated Verbs
This verse uses two important Hebrew verbs to carry the genealogy forward: וַיְחִי and וַיֹּולֶד.
וַיְחִי means “and he lived.” It comes from the root ח־י־ה, connected with life and living. In genealogy, this verb marks the continuation of a person’s life after a key family event.
וַיֹּולֶד means “and he fathered.” It comes from the root י־ל־ד, connected with birth and begetting. This verb continues the family line.
For beginners, notice the rhythm: Hebrew genealogy often moves like a steady drumbeat: he lived, he fathered, years passed, the line continued.
4. A Phrase-by-Phrase Walk Through the Line
וַֽיְחִי־שֵׁם
This means “And Shem lived.” The verse begins with life continuing. The attached וַ moves the story forward.
אַחֲרֵי הֹולִידֹו אֶת־אַרְפַּכְשָׁד
This means “after his fathering Arpakhshad.” The word אַחֲרֵי means “after,” placing the time of Shem’s continued life after the birth of Arpakhshad.
חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה
This means “five hundred years.” Hebrew counts the years plainly and solemnly, making the genealogy feel measured and ancient.
וַיֹּולֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת
This means “and he fathered sons and daughters.” The line does not stop with one named descendant. Life expands beyond the main genealogical branch.
5. Vocabulary Builder: Roots of Life, Birth, and Time
| Hebrew Word | Pronunciation | Core Root & Meaning | Ancient Concrete Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְחִי | vayḥî | Root ח־י־ה, “to live” | Life continues, breath remains, and the story does not end. |
| הֹולִידֹו | hōlîdō | Root י־ל־ד, “to bear, beget, father” | A new generation comes forth from the previous one. |
| אַחֲרֵי | ʾaḥărê | Time word meaning “after” | The reader is placed behind an event and watches time continue from there. |
| שָׁנָה | shānāh | Noun meaning “year” | Time is counted as a completed cycle, one year after another. |
| בָּנִים | bānîm | From בֵּן, “son” | The family line grows outward through descendants. |
6. Syntax Insight: The Verse Is Built Like a Genealogical Ledger
The Hebrew structure is simple but powerful. It records life, time, and descendants in a fixed order:
| Movement | Hebrew Phrase | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Life continues | וַיְחִי־שֵׁם | Introduces Shem’s continued life |
| Time marker | אַחֲרֵי הֹולִידֹו | Locates the years after Arpakhshad’s birth |
| Number of years | חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה | Measures the span of life |
| Family expansion | וַיֹּולֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת | Shows the family continuing beyond the named son |
This is not dramatic narrative language. It is steady record language. Hebrew slows down and counts because genealogy is about continuity, memory, and the preservation of a line.
7. Manuscript Note: Why בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת Matters
The phrase בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת means “sons and daughters.” The main genealogy names Arpakhshad, but the verse reminds us that Shem’s household was wider than one named line.
The small conjunction וּ in וּבָנוֹת means “and.” Hebrew attaches this little word directly to the noun. Beginners should notice how Hebrew often builds meaning with small prefixes attached to the front of words.
8. Beginner Practice Activity: Spot the Two Life-Line Verbs
Find the two Hebrew verbs that move the genealogy forward.
| Hebrew Element | Your Discovery |
|---|---|
| וַיְחִי | Does this describe living? |
| חֲמֵשׁ | Is this a number? |
| וַיֹּולֶד | Does this describe fathering? |
| שָׁנָה | Is this “year”? |
Click to Reveal the Scribal Answer
Answer: The two life-line verbs are וַיְחִי, “and he lived,” and וַיֹּולֶד, “and he fathered.”
These two verbs carry the genealogy forward. One records continued life, and the other records continued family.
Tracing the Footsteps of the Family Line
This verse may look simple, but its Hebrew rhythm is deeply important. It tells the reader that Shem lived after Arpakhshad, that years passed, and that sons and daughters were born.
The beauty of genealogy Hebrew is its quiet strength. It does not rush. It counts. It preserves. It remembers. Every verb becomes a small step in the long movement of the family line.
For beginners, this verse teaches that Hebrew meaning is often carried by repeated patterns. Once you recognize וַיְחִי and וַיֹּולֶד, the genealogy begins to feel less like a list and more like a living chain.
