Methuselah

METHUSELAH (mē-thū'zĕ-la, Heb. methûshelah, man of the javelin). A descendant of Seth before the Flood. He died at 969 years of age, in the very year of the Flood (Gen.5.22-Gen.5.27). He was the son of Enoch and the father of Lamech (Gen.5.21, Gen.5.25).

---

METHUSELAH mĭ thōō’ zə lə (מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח, LXX Μαθουσάλα, meaning man of the javelin). A descendant of Seth. In the antedeluvian age of unusual longevity this man lived 969 years, longer than any other (Gen 5:27). He was the son of Enoch, the father of Lamech, and the grandfather of Noah (Gen 5:21, 25, 28, 29; 1 Chron 1:3). Some have felt his name implies that he was a violent man, suggesting the wickedness of the generations just before the Flood, but such a name would equally fit a hunter. Still others feel the element šelaḥ is a divine proper name indicating idolatry.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

me-thu’-se-la, me-thu’-se-la (methushelach, "man of the javelin"): A descendant of Seth, the son of Enoch, and father of Lamech (Ge 5:21 ff; 1Ch 1:3; Lu 3:37). Methuselah is said to have lived 969 years; he is therefore the oldest of the patriarchs and the oldest man. It is doubtful whether these long years do not include the duration of a family or clan.