What's in a Name

1427 Church

Genesis 5:1–32

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Message: What's in a Name (Genesis 5)

The genealogy from Adam to Noah reveals profound meaning in the names themselves, pointing to God's overarching story of redemption, restoration, and reconciliation—culminating in the example of Enoch, who walked with God.

Noah lived 950 years… but we are not told that until the end of Genesis 9:29:

Genesis 9:29: "So Noah's life lasted 950 years; then he died."

Here we have a table of each generation in Genesis chapter five from Adam to Noah. It also lists the meaning of their name. Some names are given directly in scripture. Other names we have gleaned their meaning from the usage of their name, or parts of their name elsewhere in scripture.

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The Names and Their Meanings

1. Adam (אָדָם, 'Adam)

Directly defined in the Bible? Yes, Genesis 2:7 connects "Adam" with "adamah" (ground/earth): "Then the LORD God formed the man (adam) from the dust of the ground (adamah)..."

Meaning: "Man," or "mankind"; often associated with "red" or "earth."

2. Seth (שֵׁת, Shet)

Directly defined in the Bible? Yes, Genesis 4:25 gives an etymology: "God has appointed (shath) me another offspring..."

Meaning: "Appointed," or "granted."

3. Enosh (אֱנוֹשׁ, Enosh)

Defined in the Bible? No direct explanation.

Meaning: Traditionally "man" or "mortal man." Comes from Hebrew root meaning "mortal" or "frail." This comes from Hebrew lexicons and traditional word roots.

4. Kenan (קֵינָן, Qeynan)

Defined in the Bible? No direct explanation.

Meaning: Often given as "possession," "sorrow," or "smith," but exact origin is uncertain. Derived from Hebrew lexicons.

5. Mahalalel (מַהֲלַלְאֵל, Mahalal'el)

Defined in the Bible? No direct explanation.

Meaning: Traditionally broken down as "praise/boast" (mahalal) + "God" (El) — "the praise of God" or "the blessed God." Lexical, not in the biblical text.

6. Jared (יֶרֶד, Yered)

Defined in the Bible? No direct explanation.

Meaning: Usually "descent" or "shall come down." Derived from the Hebrew root "yarad" (to descend).

7. Enoch (חֲנוֹךְ, Chanokh)

Defined in the Bible? No direct explanation, but the word itself means...

Meaning: "Dedicated" or "initiated." The root "chanak" means "to train up" or "to dedicate."

8. Methuselah (מְתוּשֶׁלַח, Metushelach)

Defined in the Bible? No direct explanation.

Meaning: Meth (מֵת) could mean "man" or "death" (though "man" is more commonly ish or enosh). Shelach (שֶׁלַח) means "dart," "javelin," or "spear." So, "man of the dart" or "man of the spear" (or sometimes "when he dies it [judgment] shall be sent" from a more imaginative interpretation) is derived from dividing the name into two roots.

Is this a strong or certain translation? No, "man of the dart" is speculative. Hebrew names often have uncertain origins, and this is a best guess based on the roots. Some scholars suggest it could mean "his death shall send" (alluding to the timing of the Flood), but this is more traditional storytelling than clear linguistics.

9. Lamech (לֶמֶךְ, Lamek)

Defined in the Bible? No direct explanation.

Meaning: Often uncertain; sometimes suggested to mean "despairing" or "powerful." Hebrew lexicons mainly call it "uncertain."

10. Noah (נֹחַ, Noach)

Directly defined in the Bible? Yes, Genesis 5:29: "[Lamech] named him Noah, saying, 'He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands...'"

Meaning: "Rest" or "comfort." The word plays off the Hebrew (to comfort). nacham

Noah's name is literally the opposite of the TOIL / agonizing labor listed in the verse.

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The Hidden Message in the Names

Now, all of these names start to form a sentence:

"Man is appointed to mortal sorrow, but the blessed God will come down, teaching that his death will bring the despairing, comfort and rest."

This is a symbolic interpretation of God's word. A symbolic interpretation of the text should be used with great care and caution.

The symbolism we are "noticing" here in this genealogy doesn't change our theology. It doesn't change our view of the church.

Redemption, Restoration & Reconciliation

Rather it enriches our appreciation for the overarching story of Redemption, Restoration, and Reconciliation.

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Last Insight into the Genealogy

Compare Cain's line and Seth's line. Compare it with Genesis 4:17–24.

Similar Names:

• Enoch, Lamech
• Mehujael / MAHALALEL
• Methushael / METHUSELAH
• Irad/Jared

Cain's line never straightens out. Look at the 7th generation:

• Lamech on Cain's side is the HEIGHT of evil
• Enoch on Seth's side is the HEIGHT of walking with God

Genesis 4:23–24 CSB: "Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, pay attention to my words. For I killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain is to be avenged seven times over, then for Lamech it will be seventy-seven times!"

Matthew 18:21–22 CSB: "Then Peter approached him and asked, 'Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?' 'I tell you, not as many as seven,' Jesus replied, 'but seventy times seven.'"

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Great Truth: Buried in the Genealogy

Genesis 5:23–24 CSB: "So Enoch's life lasted 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him."

I looked up the word "with". It is a very ordinary word. So, I looked up the definition in our English dictionary. No difference. I looked it up in the Hebrew dictionary. No difference. It is such an ordinary word, we forget how good it is.

with (et) אֵת

• with
• together with
• with the help of
• by the side of, besides

One thing we can notice about "with" is everything it is NOT. With is not out front by yourself. With is not behind, not really doing anything.

No - with is with. God is with. We with God.

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Understanding "Walk"

Genesis 24:40 CSB: "He said to me, 'The Lord before whom I have walked will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, and you will take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father's family.'"

• Isaac telling his servant, how much he believes God
• Have you ever done something "before" / in front of someone else?
  • Didn't that make that thing you did just a little different?
  • What would our life look like if we lived it "before" the LORD?
  • Go to work - before the LORD
  • cut off in traffic - before the LORD
  • the checkout person is really being a pain in the neck - before the LORD
  • Scripture essentially dares us to walk out our lives before the LORD.

Leviticus 26:12 CSB: "I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people."

WALK = Way of LIFE

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge References

The following chart is a list of verses that help us understand the word WALK in the bible. All of these verses point to a "way of life." Pay close attention as some verses won't even translate the word in the Hebrew or Greek as "walk" but rather some other word that gives us a clue to the strong meaning of "walk" related to a "way of life."

Genesis 48:15–16 CSB: "Then he blessed Joseph and said: The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all harm— may he bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow to be numerous within the land."

Jacob is old now. He and his entire family has been saved from famine by his son, Joseph, whom he thought was long dead. They are together now, a family reunion has been had. Now Jacob who has wrestled with the Angel of the LORD blesses his grandchildren, Joseph's boys, reminding them to call on the same God that his father Isaac and Grandfather Abraham walked with. That through that they will be blessed.

Would he be your God?

Would you allow him to walk with you?

Would you walk with him?

Would you walk before him?

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Discussion & Application

1. What significance do you find in the meanings of the names in Genesis 5? How does the symbolic message formed by these names enrich your understanding of God's plan?
2. How does the contrast between Cain's line and Seth's line, particularly at the 7th generation (Lamech vs. Enoch), speak to the importance of choosing the right path?
3. What does it mean to you that Enoch "walked with God"? How is this different from other ways we might relate to God?
4. The word "with" (et) is described as ordinary but profound. How does understanding "with" as "together with," "with the help of," and "by the side of" change how you think about your relationship with God?
5. What does it mean to "walk before the LORD" in your daily life? How would living "before the LORD" change your actions and attitudes?
6. How does the concept of "walk" as a "way of life" challenge you to examine your current patterns and habits?
7. In what ways can you follow Enoch's example of walking with God in your own life?

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Prayer

Lord, thank You for the profound truths hidden in the genealogy of Genesis 5. Thank You for the way these names point to Your overarching story of redemption, restoration, and reconciliation. Help us to see the importance of walking with You, not just before You or behind You, but truly with You—together with You, with Your help, by Your side. Like Enoch, may we walk with You in such a way that our lives reflect a deep, abiding relationship with You. Forgive us when we choose the path of Cain's line rather than Seth's line, when we turn toward evil rather than toward You. Help us to live our lives "before the LORD," aware of Your presence in every moment, every decision, every interaction. May our walk be a way of life that honors You and points others to Your grace. Amen.

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For Further Study

• Read Genesis 5:1–32 slowly, noting the ages, the pattern of "and he died," and the exception of Enoch
• Compare Genesis 4:17–24 (Cain's line) with Genesis 5:1–32 (Seth's line), noting the similarities in names and the contrast in outcomes
• Meditate on Genesis 5:23–24—what does it mean that Enoch "walked with God" and was taken by God?
• Study the Hebrew word "halak" (to walk) and its usage throughout Scripture as a metaphor for one's way of life
• Reflect on Genesis 24:40 and Genesis 48:15–16—how does "walking before the LORD" differ from other ways of relating to God?
• Consider Leviticus 26:12—how does God's promise to "walk among you" relate to our call to walk with Him?
• Examine your own life: Are you walking with God, before God, or trying to walk without God? What needs to change?