The Mortality of Men

A Devotional Series from Genesis

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

4/25 Reading Portions: Numbers 2; Psalm 36; Ecclesiastes 12; Philemon 1

Genesis 4:26

To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.

ENOSH

Seth named one of his sons Enosh. He had many sons and daughters (Gen 5:7). The name he had given this son, אֱנוֹשׁ (en-ŌSH), means “mortal.” It comes from a Hebrew root, אָנַשׁ (a-NASH), which means “frail,” “feeble,” or “sick.” Was the infant sick, feeble, or frail at birth? Possibly, but as his name is recorded in God’s Word seven times in the Old Testament, therefore I suggest that the name presents a gospel truth for you and me. Being born after Cain’s murder of Abel, Adam raised Seth to have an understanding of God’s promised gospel through a coming Messiah, as mentioned in yesterday’s devotional thought. With the truth of the gospel in his hearing ears, and touching his heart by God’s grace, Seth named his son “mortal” as a testimony of the times he lived in. Men were frail and feeble. By this third generation, descendants of Adam did not possess faith in the promise of God’s salvation through a Messiah. This is evidenced by the next sentence in the verse,

Now, this second sentence contains a word that can be translated two ways. The word translated “began” in both the ESV and KJV comes from the Hebrew root, חָלַל (cha-LAL). It can be translated “begin,” or “began,” the latter of which is used here. But chalal can also be translated “profane” (ESV) or “defileth” (KJV), as it is in Exodus 31:14; or it can be translated “profane” (ESV) or “prostitute” (KJV), as it is in Leviticus 19:29. These are just two of several examples of the Hebrew word’s 142 occurrences in the Old Testament. Even in some of the verses where it is translated begin or began, you will find it interesting if you interpret the verse as something vile and profane occurring (see Genesis 6:1; 9:20; 10:8; 11:6 as just a few examples).

Yes, in the days of Seth’s adulthood, at the birth of his son, Enosh, the name of God was called upon because the name of God was profaned by a growing number of the population.

Indeed, God’s Messiah was needed desperately by the time of the birth of Seth’s son, Enosh.

Yet this is occurring today. The name of Jesus is profaned around the world, so it would behoove us—you and me who are redeemed by God’s grace through faith in Christ—to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.