Verse 18 lists the next four generations in the direct line of Adam and thus brings to seven the number of generations from Adam to Lamech. Was the father of translates the Hebrew for “bore, gave birth to.” Many languages do not say that a man “gives birth to” his child but prefer the form of Revised Standard Version. Nothing more is known of the persons from Irad to Methushael.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .