Kyriacos,

Thanks for your sincere approach to understanding the Bible.

I have also checked the standard Hebrew-Chaldee lexicons and have found the same information as you have. Yet, when I consulted with some well-accepted Bible commentaries, many of them continue to mention the meaning, “when he dies it shall fall”, and use this as a reference to the flood (often quoting from sources they respected). For example: (Comments on Genesis 5:21-26)

Arthur W. Pink, Gleanings from Genesis, page 78:
The name of his son strongly implies that Enoch had received a revelation from God. Methusaleh signifies, “When he is dead it shall be sent,” that is the deluge (Newberry). In all probability then, a Divine revelation is memorialized in this name.

John Phillips, Exploring Genesis, page 78 (Phillips is an incredible author of commentaries on most of the New Testament and a number of books of the OT. He is evangelical, conservative, and grace-oriented, though not Pentecostal):

Methusaleh witnessed to the patience of God. He lived 960 years, almost a full millennium and longer than any other human being. His father, Enoch, imbedded one of his prophecies in Methusaleh’s name: “When he dies, it shall come.”

John Gill, Exposition on the Entire Bible (taken from e-Sword, the Electronic Bible, available at www.e-sword.net):

Genesis 5:21:And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah.
Here the Septuagint version adds again an hundred years; and that Enoch had a son, whose name was Methuselah, is affirmed by Eupolemus (r), an Heathen writer; and Enoch being a prophet gave him this name under a spirit of prophecy, foretelling by it when the flood should be; for his name, according to Bochart (s), signifies, "when he dies there shall be an emission," or sending forth of waters upon the earth, to destroy it.  

There are a number of other Commentaries that support this same interpretation – although the lexical definition does not. So, when I came to the following reference I began to see how this can be applied. It is an interpretation, not a definition. JFB offers this:

Jameison, Faussett, and Brown, A Commentary Critical, Experimental, and Practical on the Old and New Testaments, (This is from Pastor Yandian’s 5-Volume edition, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1945;  pages 80-82) [Excerpts from his comments on Gen 5:22-25]:
It can hardly fail to strike the attentive reader of this concise account of Enoch, that the eminence in religion for which he was distinguished is not ascribed to the early part of his life. The same language is applied to him at that period as is used in the accounts of the other patriarchs; but after the birth of Methusaleh different language employed in describing his character. “Enoch lived 65 years and begat Methusaleh. And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methusaleh 300 years and begat sons and daughters.”  The change in mode of expression is striking, and has not been made without obvious design.

JFB and other writers make this a point of great distinction. A great change took place here, and they present that at the birth of Methusaleh there was some great revelation given (mentioned in Jude 14, 15?). In this revelation came insight about a coming judgment. The naming of the son was a significant reference to this event, just as the names of Isaiah’s children were a sign to accompany his prophecy (Isa. 7:3 and 8:3).

JFB continues…Methusaleh – man of the dart (Gesenius) – literally man of sending, particularly with reference to water, and hence the name Siloam (sent, John 9:7), given to a pool at Jerusalem. Hales  interprets the name as signifying “He shall send his death” and referring to the time when this patriarch was to die. His inspired father, Enoch, who had announced the approaching judgment of God for the wickedness of his contemporaries (Jude 14, 15), probably bestowed upon his son the name of Methusaleh a prophetic of the threatened flood; and accordingly it is computed that Methusaleh died that very year in which the deluge commenced.  

So, here in JFB, the two elements are brought together: the literal definition, and an interpretive meaning, which the name (Methusaleh) signified to the people of the day.

This would follow a common thread in both the Old and New Testaments. The names of people, places, and God Himself are filled with more than the direct definition. They can be revelatory, prophetic, descriptive, even image inspiring. Caution in using these “interpretive meanings” should of course be taken to maintain a biblical view – one that does not violate the text, and which is in agreement with the remainder of Scripture.

I hope this helps you in your continued study of the Word of God.

Geof W. Jackson, read bio
Director of the Grace School of Ministry/Director of Pastoral Care