How old is our world? A biblical timeline.

[Davidstarr]

Is there a continuous unbroken timeline in the bible from the day God said, "Let there be light" up to a known BC date (according to our modern Gregorian calendar)?
I submit that there is. I prefer to believe what the bible says in this matter.

I would strongly suggest people open their bibles and read these things for themselves.

Gen 5:1-5 would seem to indicate that Adam's lifespan (930 years) would begin from the day he was created and NOT 930 years after he was expelled from the Garden of Eden.
Now one cannot say "Well Adam was 930 years old when he died. Seth was 912, Enos was 905" add those numbers together for a continuous timeline. That would mean each son was born the same year when his father died.
You have to go with how old each father was when his son was born.
This gives the continuous timeline.

From Gen 5:3-32

Adam - 130 years old when his son was born
Seth - 105
Enos - 90
Cainan - 70
Mahalaleel - 65
Jared - 162
Enoch - 65
Methuselah - 187
Lamech - 182
Noah - 500 years old when his triplets were born (Shem, Ham and Japheth). Assuming they were triplets, which may not be the case.
----------------------
Years 1,556

From Gen 11:10-26

Shem - 100 years old when his son was born two years after the Great Flood
Arphaxad - 35
Salah - 30
Eber - 34
Peleg (Division) - 30 (approximate time of the Tower of Babel - Gen 10:25)
Reu - 32
Serug - 30
Nahor - 29
Terah - 130 Birth of Abraham (Note Acts 7:4; Gen 12:4 and 11:32 - Abram left Haran at the age of 75 when his father died at the age of 205)
-----------------------
Years 450

Various scattered verses:

Abraham - 100 years old when Isaac was born Gen 21:5
Isaac - 60 years old when Jacob was born Gen 25:26
Jacob - 130 years old when he moved to Egypt Gen 47:8-9
Israelites in Egypt - 430 years (30 years as freemen, 400 years of bondage) Ex 12:40
To Solomon's 4th year as king - 480 years I Kings 6:1
------------------------------------
Years 1,200

Add those 3 totals up:
1,556
450
1,200
-----
3,206 years from creation to Solomon's 4th year as king

Then I went with the lengths of the reigns of the Kings of Judah from I & II Kings and II Chronicles.

Solomon reigned 37 more years AFTER his 3rd year as king for a total of 40 years (I Kings 11:42, II Chron. 9:30) - 37 years
Rehoboam (I Kings 14:21, II Chron. 12:13) - 17
Abijam (I Kings 15:2, II Chron. 13:2) - 3
Asa (I Kings 15:9-10, II Chron. 16:13) - 41
Jehoshaphat (I Kings 22:42, II Chron. 20:31) - 25
Jehoram (II Kings 8:16-17, II Chron. 21:5&20) - 8
Ahaziah (II Kings 8:25-26, II Chron. 22:2) - 1
Athaliah mother of Ahaziah (II Kings 11:3, II Chron. 22:12) - 6
Joash (II Kings 12:1, II Chron. 24:1) - 40
Amaziah (II Kings 14:1-2, II Chron. 25:1) - 29
Azariah (Uzziah) (II Kings 15:1-2, II Chron. 26:3) - 52
Jotham (II Kings 15:32-33. II Chron. 27:1) - 16
Ahaz (II Kings 16:1-2, II Chron. 28:1) - 16
Hezekiah (II Kings 18:1-2, II Chron. 29:1)(Israel taken captive by the Assyrians during his reign - 721 BC) - 29
Manasseh (II Kings 21:1, II Chron. 33:1) - 55
Amon (II Kings 21:19, II Chron. 33:21) - 2
Josiah (II Kings 22:1, II Chron. 34:1) - 31
Jehoahaz (II Kings 23:31, II Chron. 36:2) - 3 months
Eliakim (Jehoiakim) (II Kings 23:34-36, II Chron. 36:5) - 11 years
Jehoiachin (II Kings 24:8, II Chron. 36:9) - 3 months, 10 days
Mattaniah (Zedekiah) son of Josiah (II Kings 24:17-18, II Chron. 36:11) - 11 years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reigns of the Kings of Judah - 430 years

430 added to the above total of 3,206 = 3,636 from creation to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar 586BC
586BC + 3,636 years = 4,222 years from creation to 1AD (there was no zero year between 1BC and 1AD)
1AD to 2,026AD = 2,025 years + 4,222 = 6,247 years from creation to now

Now consider the fact that the above charts are NOT accurate. It assumes the reigns of the kings of Judah all started the same month/day as the
previous king. And also all the patriarchs had the exact same birthdays as their fathers. Here's an example:

John was born in the year 1900. His son Jim was born when John was 20 years old. Sam (Jim's son) was born when Jim was 20.
One would assume Jim was born in the year 1920 and Sam in 1940 right?
But what if John (dear ole grandpa) was born in December, Jim was born in November and Sam in October? The bible does not tell us the month/day
of the births (or reigns of kings), only the age (or year of reign).
How old would John be in November 1920? Only 19. His 20th birthday is another month away. So Jim had to be born in November 1921 and Sam in 1942.

Another example from the bible shows this discrepancy: Gen 5:32, 7:6 and 11:10

So already my lists above could be up to 20 years shy of the actual count. To correct this I split the 20 possible years I could be off by 10.
Added the 10 years to 6,247 for a date range of 6,257 +/- 10 years.

 

[Aaron56]

Just a few notes:

1. "The beginning" was not the beginning of the earth. We should notice that before creation "the earth was...".
2. The accepted mechanism for time was not created until the 4th day. "And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years."
3. "Evening and morning" have no contemporary context until day 4 as well. So the words "day, evening, morning", when used to reference God building out creation, are not references to a 24-hour clock.

 

[Davidstarr]

Just a few notes:

1. "The beginning" was not the beginning of the earth. We should notice that before creation "the earth was...".
2. The accepted mechanism for time was not created until the 4th day. "And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years."
3. "Evening and morning" have no contemporary context until day 4 as well. So the words "day, evening, morning", when used to reference God building out creation, are not references to a 24-hour clock.

Adam was created on day 6.
It his age (and of his son, his son's son, etc.) that I'm going by.

And BTW; there WAS a first day, second day, third day, before the sun and moon were made.

 

[Aaron56]

Adam was created on day 6.
It his age (and of his son, his son's son, etc.) that I'm going by.

And BTW; there WAS a first day, second day, third day, before the sun and moon were made.

Your title is "How old is our world".

Yes, "day" is used to define the specific portion of creation but it is not a 24-hour day like was measure it. Furthermore, there could be no cosmological "morning and evening" until the end of the 4th day. This requires wisdom.

 

[Charlesiii]

Yes, "day" is used to define the specific portion of creation but it is not a 24-hour day like was measure it. Furthermore, there could be no cosmological "morning and evening" until the end of the 4th day. This requires wisdom.

Whenever the Hebrew word yom is used with “evening,” “morning,” a number, or “night,” it always means an ordinary day. Genesis uses not one of these, but *all* of them for each literal, 24-hour day of creation. There is not more that could have been said to convey that day meant day.

 

[Davidstarr]

Your title is "How old is our world".

Yes, "day" is used to define the specific portion of creation but it is not a 24-hour day like was measure it. Furthermore, there could be no cosmological "morning and evening" until the end of the 4th day. This requires wisdom.

So how long do you believe day 3 lasted?
How long could trees, bushes, plants, grass, etc. exist without the sun (which wasn't created until day 4)?

 

[Aaron56]

Whenever the Hebrew word yom is used with “evening,” “morning,” a number, or “night,” it always means an ordinary day. Genesis uses not one of these, but *all* of them for each literal, 24-hour day of creation. There is not more that could have been said to convey that day meant day.

Yeah, I show you that it takes wisdom to understand the creation account and you come back with "yom".

You don't have to go far for further understanding. Consider this verse in Genesis 8:

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
Here is the word "yom" again. It is translated as "day". Same word. Right?
But if it means "a 24-hour period" then why mention "night" (layil)? Do you see the nuance? Do you see how "yom" may have a connection to "light"?

I mean, you should not envision the sun on the first day of creation, correct? The sun was not made until day 4. Yet God says "Let there be light!" and furthermore, "God divided the light from the darkness". This is cannot be daytime and night time on the earth. This is something else.

 

[Aaron56]

So how long do you believe day 3 lasted?
How long could trees, bushes, plants, grass, etc. exist without the sun (which wasn't created until day 4)?

So God is calling something out of nothing and you're worried about horticulture? I probably can't help you.

 

[Davidstarr]

Whenever the Hebrew word yom is used with “evening,” “morning,” a number, or “night,” it always means an ordinary day. Genesis uses not one of these, but *all* of them for each literal, 24-hour day of creation. There is not more that could have been said to convey that day meant day.

I agree.
Keep in mind also that the word "day" can mean either a 24 hour period (from sunset to sunset) or just the 12hr period of daylight.
Which varies slightly from day to day throughout the year.

Currently (in the northern hemisphere) the days are getting shorter while the nights grow longer.
Which started about late June. Dec 25 is the winter solstice when the days begin to grow longer, the nights grow shorter.

But that is just the difference between night and day.
The 24hr cycle is not affected.
Or at least with how accurate our modern clocks can be.

Still, if anyone can improve on the biblical timeline I have presented above I would welcome accurate biblical information to keep the list updated.

 

[Charlesiii]

Yeah, I show you that it takes wisdom to understand the creation account and you come back with "yom".

Well, that's the original word scripture used. It makes sense to see what the context is, unless you just want to make up your own explanations, which won't carry the same authority as scripture does.

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
Here is the word "yom" again. It is translated as "day". Same word. Right?
But if it means "a 24-hour period" then why mention "night" (layil)? Do you see the nuance? Do you see how "yom" may have a connection to "light"?

Day and night. It's talking about the day/night cycle. A literal day. As stated. Yes, "yom" can refer to the light part of the day, just as it can in English. But context is important. If I say, "Back in the day of my grandfather", I'm not talking about the light part of the day. Just as if I say "Set your tent up during the day so you can see what you're doing", I'm not talking about a period of time.

I mean, you should not envision the sun on the first day of creation, correct? The sun was not made until day 4. Yet God says "Let there be light!" and furthermore, "God divided the light from the darkness". This is cannot be daytime and night time on the earth. This is something else.

Day and night happened without the sun. The sun (greater light) was created to rule the day. But day happened without it for the first 3. Same as Adam and Eve were created to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air (all the animals), but these animals existed independently of Adam and Eve since their creation.

 

[Davidstarr]

Yeah, I show you that it takes wisdom to understand the creation account and you come back with "yom".

You don't have to go far for further understanding. Consider this verse in Genesis 8:

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
Here is the word "yom" again. It is translated as "day". Same word. Right?
But if it means "a 24-hour period" then why mention "night" (layil)? Do you see the nuance? Do you see how "yom" may have a connection to "light"?

I mean, you should not envision the sun on the first day of creation, correct? The sun was not made until day 4. Yet God says "Let there be light!" and furthermore, "God divided the light from the darkness". This is cannot be daytime and night time on the earth. This is something else.

Obviously in Gen 8:22 when "yom" is used in conjunction with "layil" it can only mean 12 hours of daylight with 12 hours of night.

 

[Aaron56]

Well, that's the original word scripture used. It makes sense to see what the context is, unless you just want to make up your own explanations, which won't carry the same authority as scripture does.


Day and night. It's talking about the day/night cycle. A literal day. As stated. Yes, "yom" can refer to the light part of the day, just as it can in English. But context is important. If I say, "Back in the day of my grandfather", I'm not talking about the light part of the day. Just as if I say "Set your tent up during the day so you can see what you're doing", I'm not talking about a period of time.


Day and night happened without the sun. The sun (greater light) was created to rule the day. But day happened without it for the first 3. Same as Adam and Eve were created to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air (all the animals), but these animals existed independently of Adam and Eve since their creation.

You seem content in your Sunday School level of understanding. I can't help you.

For posterity:

Just a few notes:

1. "The beginning" was not the beginning of the earth. We should notice that before creation "the earth was...".
2. The accepted mechanism for time was not created until the 4th day. "And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years."
3. "Evening and morning" have no contemporary context until day 4 as well. So the words "day, evening, morning", when used to reference God building out creation, are not references to a 24-hour clock.

 

[Charlesiii]

You seem content in your Sunday School level of understanding. I can't help you.

For posterity:

Just a few notes:

1. "The beginning" was not the beginning of the earth. We should notice that before creation "the earth was...".

This is possibly a different topic.

2. The accepted mechanism for time was not created until the 4th day. "And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years."
3. "Evening and morning" have no contemporary context until day 4 as well. So the words "day, evening, morning", when used to reference God building out creation, are not references to a 24-hour clock.

You seem to have an agenda to reinterpret the meaning of the word day used in Genesis. While your point might have some validity, the plain reading of the script is that the clear intention of the author was to convey the meaning of the word day being day. If there was difficulty with this, the author need not have used so many additional clauses (evening and morning, 1st through to 7th day) to specify his plain intent.

I'd argue you are trying to add to scripture information that isn't there, so in doing so, your position loses the authoritative backing of scripture and becomes opinion rather than truth.

 

[lrs68]

Yom
Yom (Hebrew: יום ) is a Biblical Hebrew word which occurs in the Hebrew Bible. The word is a generic term meaning "a period of time."

A period of time can mean day or just an amount of time.

 

[Dino246]

"The beginning" was not the beginning of the earth. We should notice that before creation "the earth was...".

You seem to have skipped from, “In the beginning” to “the earth was” without noting the words between: “God created the heavens and the earth”.

At that point, “the earth was” is proper grammar noting a state prior to subsequent events.

In other words, the text does not support your assertion that “the beginning” was not the beginning of the earth.

There is more to the story though.

 

[Omegatime]

Davidstarr:

From Gen 5:3-32

Adam - 130 years old when his son was born
Seth - 105
Enos - 90
Cainan - 70
Mahalaleel - 65
Jared - 162
Enoch - 65
Methuselah - 187
Lamech - 182
Noah - 500 years old when his triplets were born (Shem, Ham and Japheth). Assuming they were triplets, which may not be the case.
----------------------
Years 1,556

From Gen 11:10-26

Shem - 100 years old when his son was born two years after the Great Flood
Arphaxad - 35
Salah - 30
Eber - 34
Peleg (Division) - 30 (approximate time of the Tower of Babel - Gen 10:25)
Reu - 32
Serug - 30
Nahor - 29
Terah - 130 Birth of Abraham (Note Acts 7:4; Gen 12:4 and 11:32 - Abram left Haran at the age of 75 when his father died at the age of 205)
-----------------------
Years 450
===========================================================================
Your numbers look good except for Terah/Abraham

Terah- 29
Abraham-70

---------------

You said:

Now consider the fact that the above charts are NOT accurate. It assumes the reigns of the kings of Judah all started the same month/day as the
previous king. And also all the patriarchs had the exact same birthdays as their fathers. Here's an example:

I see you were wise to consider why no months or days concerning their births or deaths of the patriarchs or reign of the kings.

I am going to share why:

There are 76 generations to Yeshua, and Jesus being the 77th. My studies show they were all born and died on PASSOVER. I cant share my indepth studies here but consider what I said.

One other major thing I would to share is--that They were not in Egypt for 430 years but 315 years. This would be from the time Jacob stood before Pharoh to the Exodus.

 

[Aaron56]

You seem to have skipped from, “In the beginning” to “the earth was” without noting the words between: “God created the heavens and the earth”.

At that point, “the earth was” is proper grammar noting a state prior to subsequent events.

In other words, the text does not support your assertion that “the beginning” was not the beginning of the earth.

There is more to the story though.

Yeah, it should lead to the question "What is this the beginning of?" Some people envision an earth without people. Or an earth without light. Yet, the reality was an earth without form, an earth that was void. There is nothing physically measurable, here, to the human senses.

 

[Omegatime]

Every english bible uses the Masorectic text for the Old Testament. I wanted to mention that the Septuagint text and others say that Israel was in Cannan and Egypt for 430 years, not 430 years in Egypt as the Masorectic says.

Those that transcribed the Masorectic text found what I found and did not want anyone to understand that Yeshua was born and died on Passover. LXX was correct

 

[John146]

Your title is "How old is our world".

Yes, "day" is used to define the specific portion of creation but it is not a 24-hour day like was measure it. Furthermore, there could be no cosmological "morning and evening" until the end of the 4th day. This requires wisdom.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

 

[Churchgoer]

Note in day 1, it was heaven, earth, water, light. No light objects.

So I would doubt day 1 is same as today one day.