Names
Do the names of the patriarchs in Genesis have a meaning?
In Old Testament times, people were given names that had a meaning. You can read in the Old Testament how children were named according to events occurring during or before their birth, and even places were named according to events. There was much importance and meanings in names. Below is a list of the names of the patriarchs in Genesis 5:1-32, and to the left is the English meaning of their name.
- Adam = Man
- Seth = Appointed
- Enosh = Mortal
- Kenana = Sorrow
- Mahalalel = The Blessed God
- Jared = Shall come down
- Enoch = Teaching
- Methuselah = His death shall bring
- Lamech = The despairing
- Noah = Rest
When you put the names into a sentence, you get the following: Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow; (but) the Blessed God shall come down teaching (that) His death shall bring (the) despairing rest.
Could it be that Jesus, the Blessed God who would bring us rest, was foretold in Genesis some 4,000 years before his earthly ministry began? For more information about this and other interesting Bible facts, visit www.khouse.org.