Methuselah
/məˈθjuːzələ/noun
A biblical patriarch said in Genesis to have lived 969 years; by extension, an extremely old person or thing.
Did you know?Methuselah’s name is traditionally linked to a Hebrew form meaning either “man of the dart/spear” or “his death shall bring” — and that second reading helped turn him into a symbol of looming judgment.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
מְתוּשֶׁלַח
“The name of a primordial patriarch in Genesis, associated with extraordinary longevity.”
Ancient Hebrew interpretation
Hebrew
מְתוּשָׁלַח / מֵת שֶׁלַח
“Later traditional interpretations varied, including readings like “man of the dart/spear” or “his death shall bring.””
Septuagint
Greek
Μαθουσαλά
“Greek rendering of the biblical name in Jewish scripture translation.”
Late Latin
Latin
Mathusala
“Biblical name carried into Latin Christian tradition.”
Middle English
English
Methuselah
“The biblical patriarch’s name, later used for a very old person or something extremely aged.”
Modern English
English
Methuselah
“A very old person, or something unusually long-lived, especially in literary or humorous usage.”