In the thread “Psalms”

Stephen said In the Enochic view wickedness entered the world not because Adam picked and ate but when Cain killed Abel.

I love that Stephen has pointed this out. It’s a perspective that adds a new dimension to the genealogy of Luke 3:38 – “the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” And I’m noting Matthew goes only as far back as Abraham, in his genealogy at Matt 1:1 -“the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

Robert said “While my first impulse would be to caution against confusing חֲנוֹךְ (Gen 4,17), the son of Cain, with אֱנוֹש (Gen 4,26), the son of Seth, truth be told I’ve often wondered at some of the similarities of names in the Bible in various genealogies and where some of these names and genealogies came from. First off, what would it mean to be the son of the first murderer, and let’s see how that family line fares in the rest of the biblical narratives. Did Luke choose Enosh to avoid such a stigma for Jesus? Or to set him up as himself a victim to be murdered? Would his sacrifice be more highly favored, even than that of Abel. And while הֶבֶל (Abel) would vanish like the morning fog, only to be much later immortalized by Qoheleth (הֶבֶל), at least his nephew’s line would have a better impact on the world, being the first to call upon Yahweh and to survive the flood. So it seems Luke had no choice but to trace Jesus back through Seth. But Qoheleth had a choice.

So I set out on my own little project and

Here is a list of the generations and meanings of the names of the antediluvian fathers.

*Enoch = Henoch (with a hey) Looking up both spellings Henoch only produces the definition ‛personal name or place name’. Or,

*Chenoch (with a het) – is used 16 times in the Tanak. The spelling Chenoch is only found in Stongs at # 2585: an antidiluvian name, from #2596: a primitive root; prop. to narrow fig. to initiate or discipline dedicate, train up. Compare #2614: a primitive root; to be narrow by impl. to throttle, or (reflex.) to choke oneself to death (by a rope): – , hang self, strangle.

**Enosh is referenced at Ps. 55:14, frail mortal, Ps. 144:3, so of a mortal, Ps 10;18, a mortal from the earth, Jb. 25:6, a mortal (who is) a maggot, Ps 90:3, people, humankind.

Abel – Hebel 1893, the son of Adam, Abel same as 1892 hebel – or (rarely in the absolute)
habel – from 1891: emptiness or vanity; fig. something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adv.: – altogether, vain, vanity.
1891. hawbal: a prim. root; to be vain in act, word, or expectation; spec. to lead astry: – be (become, make) vain.

Abel begat,
Cain – name of the first child
who begat Methusael [Methusael – 4967 a man who (is) of God]
Methusael begat Enoch*
Enoch begat
Lamech [Lamech – a personal name] This Lamech proclaimed that if Cain is avenged sevenfold Lamech will be avenged seventy-sevenfold [meaning many times over the offence given to himself]

Abel begat,
Seth – 8352 from 7896; put i.e., substituted; Sheth, third son of Adam: – Seth, Sheth.
Seth begat Enosh**
Enosh begat Kenan – 7018 & 7069, nest dwelling Kn, nestling
Kenan begat Mahalal – 4110 – Praise
Malahal begat Jared – 3332 a descent from 3381 e.g. to descend
Jared begat Methuselah – 4968 man of a dart; Methushelach an antidilivian partriarch – Methuselah
Methuselah begat Enoch** – who was taken by God
Enoch begat Lamech – an antediluvian patriarch
Lamech begat Noah – Noah survived the Flood and his family.

One thing I may say is, because both of the family lines here can lay claim to the name that means ‛to train up’ there’s indication in these stories that training and influence are important. (Prov. 22:6)