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Enosh
Illustration created for this project.

Enosh

The son of Seth and grandson of Adam. The notable remark attached to his birth is that it was then that people began to call upon the name of the Lord. He lived nine hundred and five years, and appears in the genealogies of Genesis, Chronicles and Luke.

Role: Son of Seth
Lived: Primeval age
Belonged to: Genealogy of Jesus

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 2
Family & lineage
BibleSon of Seth.
Genesis 4:26
Seth
ScholarlyThe notice that in Enosh's day 'people began to call on the name of the LORD' has been much discussed by textual and rabbinic scholars, some of whom (following a strand in the Targumim and Genesis Rabbah) read it inversely as the beginning of idolatry rather than of true worship.
Targum Onqelos / Genesis Rabbah 23:7 interpretive tradition on Gen 4:26.
Name & titles
ScholarlyThe Hebrew name Enosh (אֱנוֹשׁ) is a common noun meaning 'man' or 'mortal,' carrying connotations of human frailty and weakness, in contrast to the more generic 'adam. The name's placement in the genealogy is often read as underscoring humanity's mortality.
Standard Hebrew lexicography (BDB, HALOT) on the root 'nsh / 'enosh; onomastic point.

Where in scripture

Genesis1 ChroniclesLuke

A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on Yahweh’s name.

Genesis 4:26 — Men began to call on the Lord

Seth lived one hundred five years, then became the father of Enosh.

Genesis 5:6

Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

Genesis 5:7

Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan.

Genesis 5:9

Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

Genesis 5:10

All of the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

Genesis 5:11

Adam, Seth, Enosh,

1 Chronicles 1:1

the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Luke 3:38

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

Genesis 4:26Genesis 5:6Genesis 5:7Genesis 5:9Genesis 5:10Genesis 5:111 Chronicles 1:1Luke 3:38

Family