Since the ten Hebrew
names are proper names,
they are not translated but
only transliterated
to approximate the way they
were pronounced.
The meaning of proper names
can be a difficult pursuit
since direct translations
are not readily available.
Many study aids, such as
conventional lexicons, can
prove superficial when
dealing with proper names.
Even a conventional Hebrew
lexicon can prove
disappointing. A study
of the original roots,
however, can yield some
fascinating insights.
(It should be recognized,
however, that the views
concerning the meaning and
significance of the original
roots are not free of
controversy and are subject
to variant readings.)
Adam
The first name, Adam, comes
from
adomah, and means
"man." As the first
man, that seems
straightforward enough.
Seth
Adam's son was named Seth,
which means "appointed."
When he was born Eve said,
"For God hath
appointed me another
seed instead of Abel, whom
Cain slew."
Enosh
Seth's son was called Enosh,
which means "mortal,"
"frail," or "miserable."
It is from the root anash:
to be incurable; used of a
wound, grief, woe, sickness,
or wickedness. (It was
in the days of Enosh that
men began to defile the name
of the Living God. )
Kenan
Enosh's son was named Kenan,
from which can mean
"sorrow," dirge," or
"elegy." (The precise
denotation is somewhat
elusive; some study aids
unfortunately presume an
Aramaic root synonymous with
"Cainan.") Balaam,
looking down from the
heights of Moab, employed a
pun upon the name of the
Kenites when he prophesied
their destruction.
Mahalalel
Kenan's son was Mahalalel,
from mahalal, which
means "blessed" or "praise";
and El, the name
for God. Thus,
Mahalalel means "the Blessed
God." Often Hebrew
names included
El, the name of God,
as Dani-el, "God is
my Judge," Nathani-el,
"Gift of God," etc.
Jared
Mahalalel's son was named
Jared, from the verb
yaradh, meaning "shall
come down." Some
authorities suggest that
this might have been an
allusion to the "Sons of
God" who "came down" to
corrupt the daughters of
men, resulting in the
Nephilim ("Fallen Ones") of
Genesis 6.
Enoch
Jared's son was named Enoch,
which means "teaching," or
"commencement." He was
the first of four
generations of preachers.
In fact, the earliest
recorded prophecy was by
Enoch, which amazingly
enough deals with the Second
Coming of Christ.
Methuselah
The Flood of Noah did not
come as a surprise. It
had been preached on for
four generations. But
something strange happened
when Enoch was 65, from
which time "he walked with
God." Enoch was given
a prophecy that as long as
his son was alive, the
judgment of the flood would
be withheld; but as soon as
he died, the flood would be
sent forth.
Enoch named his son to
reflect this prophecy.
The name Methuselah comes
from two roots: muth,
a root that means "death" ;
and from shalach,
which means "to bring," or
"to send forth." Thus,
the name Methuselah
signifies, "his death shall
bring."
And, indeed, in the year
that Methuselah died, the
flood came.
Methuselah was 187 when he
had Lamech, and lived 782
years more. Lamech had
Noah when he was 182.
The Flood came in Noah's
600th year. 187
+ 182 + 600 = 969,
Methuselah's age when he
died.
It is interesting that
Methuselah's life was, in
effect, a symbol of God's
mercy in forestalling the
coming judgment of the
flood. It is therefore
fitting that his lifetime is
the oldest in the Bible,
symbolizing the extreme
extensiveness of God's
mercy.
Lamech
Methuselah's son was named
Lamech, a root still evident
today in our own English
word, "lament" or
"lamentation." Lamech
suggests "despairing."
(This name is also linked to
the Lamech in Cain's line
who inadvertently killed his
son Tubal-Cain in a hunting
incident. )
Noah
Lamech, of course, is the
father of Noah, which is
derived from nacham
, "to bring relief" or
"comfort," as Lamech himself
explains.
The Composite List
Now let's put it all
together:
Hebrew
|
English
|
Adam |
Man |
Seth |
Appointed |
Enosh |
Mortal |
Kenan |
Sorrow |
Mahalalel |
The Blessed God |
Jared |
Shall come down |
Enoch |
Teaching |
Methuselah
|
His death shall
bring |
Lamech |
The despairing |
Noah |
Rest, or comfort |
Here is a summary of God's
redemption, hidden
here within a genealogy in
Genesis!