The Meaning of Genesis 4:26 Explained

Genesis 4:26

KJV: And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

YLT: And to Seth, to him also a son hath been born, and he calleth his name Enos; then a beginning was made of preaching in the name of Jehovah.

Darby: And to Seth, to him also was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then people began to call on the name of Jehovah.

ASV: And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then began men to call upon the name of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And to Seth,  to him  also there was born  a son;  and he called  his name  Enos:  then began men  to call  upon the name  of the LORD. 

What does Genesis 4:26 Mean?

Study Notes

Enos i.e. mortal.
call upon the name Or, call themselves by the name of Jehovah. Contra. Genesis 12:8 ; Genesis 26:25 .

Context Summary

Genesis 4:9-26 - Cain's Career
God's first question to the soul is, "Adam, where art thou?" The next, "Where is thy brother?" We are our brother's keepers. All related to us, within our reach, or needing our help have a claim. We must not take advantage of them. Their well-being and our own are inseparable. God keeps an inventory of His saints, and will avenge them. Their blood will cry to God against those who have wronged them. There is only one cry in the world which is stronger-"the blood of Jesus." See Hebrews 12:24. It cries for mercy and pardon. A numerous family sprang from our first parents, and as these intermarried a large population began to people the early seat of human life. Cain founded a city, dedicated to all that ministered to sensuous enjoyment. This was "the way of Cain," brilliant but godless, away from the presence of the Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 4

1  The birth, occupation, and offerings of Cain and Abel
8  Cain murders his brother Abel
11  The curse of Cain
17  Has a son called Enoch, and builds a city, which he calls after his name
18  His descendants, with Lamech and his two wives
25  The birth of Seth,
26  and Enos

What do the individual words in Genesis 4:26 mean?

and as for Seth also to him was born a son and he named - him Enosh Then [men] began to call on the name of Yahweh -
וּלְשֵׁ֤ת גַּם־ הוּא֙ יֻלַּד־ בֵּ֔ן וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־ שְׁמ֖וֹ אֱנ֑וֹשׁ אָ֣ז הוּחַ֔ל לִקְרֹ֖א בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה פ

וּלְשֵׁ֤ת  and  as  for  Seth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁת  
Sense: the 3rd son of Adam by Eve.
גַּם־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
הוּא֙  to  him 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יֻלַּד־  was  born 
Parse: Verb, QalPass, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
בֵּ֔ן  a  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וַיִּקְרָ֥א  and  he  named 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֱנ֑וֹשׁ  Enosh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱנׄושׁ  
Sense: son of Seth.
הוּחַ֔ל  [men]  began 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָלַל 
Sense: to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin.
לִקְרֹ֖א  to  call 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
בְּשֵׁ֥ם  on  the  name 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יְהוָֽה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation