Keraia
Genesis 4

Genesis 4:26

Seth and Enosh · Genesis 4:25–26
Read Genesis 4

Translations

Modern
And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.
Traditional
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.
Literal
And to Seth, to him also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time they began to call on the name of YHWH.
Latin
Sed et Seth natus est filius, quem vocavit Enos: iste cœpit invocare nomen Domini.

Original

Hebrew
English
And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.

Notes

Genesis 4:26

Enosh means "humankind." In the Old Testament, this term often appears in poems emphasizing human mortality and weakness (for example, Psalm 144:3, "what is man").

Enosh was born when people started to worship the Lord by name (literally call upon the name of the LORD). In Genesis, this meant worshiping the Lord through sacrifice and prayer (similar Hebrew terms are found in Genesis 12:8; 13:4; 21:33; 26:25).

Genesis 4:25–5:32

The story returns to Adam and follows the line of Seth. This family line later leads to Abraham and the nation of Israel.

Genesis 4:17–5:32

These records of family lines do more than just list names. They contrast how human culture developed. Some people rebelled against God (Cain, 4:17–24), while others obeyed God (Seth, 4:25–5:32). Genesis usually explains the history of the rejected line before continuing with the promised line that became Israel.

Two key contrasts are worth noting:

  1. Lamech is the main focus of the first family history. He is the seventh man from Adam through Cain's line. Like Cain, Lamech killed a human and lived in fear of death as a result (4:23–24). In contrast, Enoch lived in a way that pleased God and did not experience death (5:24). Enoch was the seventh man from Adam through Seth's line (4:25–5:32).

  2. Human culture and technology advanced through Cain’s line. They made the first city, raised livestock, built shelters, developed metal work, and created music. But sin still strongly shaped human life. Seth's line does not have any technological advances mentioned. Instead, people began "to call upon the name of the LORD" (4:26) and "found favor in the eyes of the Lord" (6:8).

Theme notes and profiles

Adam and Eve Symbolic Numbers The Creation

Events

People

Enosh: Son of Seth, during whose time people called on the Lord's name Seth: Third son of Adam and Eve, ancestor of righteous line

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) City Enosh Genealogy Genesis, Book of Kenites Land Marriage, Marriage Customs Mesopotamia Patriarchs, Period of the Woman

Topics

Antediluvians: Worship God Enos: Son of Seth Seth: The Third Son of Adam and Eve