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.