Ἐνώς
Enosh
Definition
Ἐνώς is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Enosh, referring to the son of Seth and grandson of Adam in the biblical genealogy. He is a key figure in the early genealogy presented in Genesis 5:6-11, where he is noted as the father of Kenan (Cainan). In the New Testament, his name appears exclusively in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Luke 3:38, where he is listed as part of the lineage connecting Jesus back to Adam, and thus to God. The name itself, derived from Hebrew, means 'man' or 'mortal,' highlighting humanity's frail nature.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 3:38, within the context of Jesus's genealogy. It serves a purely genealogical function, linking the lineage from Adam through Seth to later patriarchs. There are no other contextual uses or patterns in the New Testament; its sole purpose is to establish a historical and theological connection in Luke's account.
Etymology
The Greek Ἐνώς is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew name אֱנוֹשׁ (ʾĔnôš), which means 'man,' 'mortal,' or 'human being.' It is derived from the Hebrew root אָנַשׁ (ʾānaš), relating to being frail or mortal. The name appears in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) as Ἐνώς, and this form was adopted directly into the New Testament text without semantic change.
Semantic Range
Ἐνώς is theologically significant as a link in the genealogy that connects Jesus Christ directly to Adam, and thus to all humanity (Luke 3:38). This connection underscores Jesus's identity as the 'Son of Man' who redeems the fallen human race originating from Adam. Understanding this Greek form enriches Bible reading by highlighting the intentional continuity between the Old Testament narrative in Genesis and the New Testament presentation of Jesus as the fulfillment of human history and the answer to human mortality.
In its original Hebrew context, the name Enosh (meaning 'man') poetically reflects the human condition of mortality and frailty, as noted in passages like Psalm 8:4. In the Greco-Roman world of the New Testament, the name would have been understood simply as a proper name from Jewish sacred history, with no additional cultural connotations beyond its genealogical significance.
Ἀδάμ (Adam, G76) — The first man and ancestor; Ἐνώς is his descendant. Σήθ (Seth, G4589) — The son of Adam and father of Enosh.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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