Genesis 11:14

And Salah liued thirtie yeeres, and begate Eber. Genesis 11:14 (KJV)

The verse belongs to the genealogical account in Genesis often called the Table of Nations. It records the descendants of Noah after the flood and traces the line from Shem, one of Noah’s sons, to Abram (later Abraham), a central figure in the biblical narrative. In Genesis 11:14 Salah is identified as the son of Arphaxad and the father of Eber, linking the generations that move from the post‑flood world toward the story of Abraham and the formation of Israel.

Salah himself was the son of Arphaxad, a descendant of Shem. His name means “sprout” or “branch,” suggesting a new growth in the lineage of God’s people. According to the biblical record, Salah lived for 433 years (Genesis 11:15). His son Eber continues the line; Eber is the father of Peleg and his name is the source of the term “Hebrew,” a designation for the Israelites. The association of Eber’s name with the Hebrews underscores his role as an ancestor of the Hebrew people.

The significance of this brief statement lies in its function as a bridge between the genealogical lists of Genesis 10 and the narrative focus on Abraham that follows. By preserving each generation, the genealogy demonstrates the orderly unfolding of God’s redemptive plan, showing how a chosen people would emerge from the flood‑marked world. These records serve as a historical framework that connects the early post‑deluge generations to the eventual establishment of the nation of Israel and, ultimately, to the promised Messiah.

Thus, Genesis 11:14 does more than note a birth; it situates Salah and Eber within God’s larger covenantal story, reminding readers that every name in the lineage contributes to the unfolding revelation of God’s purpose for humanity.