1. Name and Meaning
• Name: Enosh (Hebrew: אֱנוֹשׁ, ’Ĕnôsh)
• Meaning: “Man” or “mortal man”; derived from the Hebrew root ’ānash, often conveying human frailty, weakness, or transience
2. Genealogical Placement and Lineage Role
• Position: Third generation from Adam; third in the Messianic line
• Father: Seth – appointed by God to continue the godly lineage
• Son: Kenan – carried on the faithful line toward Noah and Christ
• Lineage Role: Maintains the covenantal succession from Adam to Christ; associated with the early development of public worship (Genesis 4:26)
3. Life Summary and Historical Setting
• Lived during the antediluvian period, characterised by increasing population and moral divergence between the lines of Seth and Cain
• Notable for the phrase, “then people began to call upon the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26), possibly indicating a revival of true worship or formal liturgical practices
• Lifespan: 905 years (Genesis 5:11)
4. Theological and Christological Significance
• Symbol of the human condition—mortal yet capable of covenantal relationship with God
• Reflects early spiritual awakening and corporate recognition of the Lord’s name
• Participates in the unbroken transmission of the redemptive line; although not a type of Christ, his generation contributes to the context of human dependence and divine grace
5. Legacy and Interpretive Reflections
• Traditionally viewed as marking a spiritual turning point in early human history
• Celebrated in theological tradition as part of the faithful line through which the promise of redemption continued
• No major scholarly disputes or textual discrepancies associated with Enosh
• The reference to calling upon the Lord’s name is interpreted positively by most scholars as indicating worship rather than profanity
6. Summary Insight
• Enosh represents early humanity’s growing awareness of its dependence on God, contributing a vital generational link in the covenantal chain that leads to Christ.
7. Biblical References
• Genesis 4:26
• Genesis 5:6–11
• 1 Chronicles 1:1
• Luke 3:38