Genesis 4:26
in Genesis 4And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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
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.
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This verse in Genesis 4
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThen began men to call upon the name of the Lord - The marginal reading is, Then began men to call themselves by the name of the Lord; which words are supposed to signify that in the time of Enos the true followers of God began to distinguish themselves, and to be distinguished by others, by the appellation of sons of God; those of the other branch of Adam’s family, among whom the Divine worship was not observed, being distinguished by the name, children of men.
This site's exposition
named him Seth
on Genesis 4:25-26
Eve names the new son Seth, another seed in place of Abel. The promised seed of Genesis 3:15 has a line again. Genesis 5 follows Seth, and Cain's line is never traced again. In the days of Seth's son, men began to call on the name of the LORD.
This site's exposition
call upon the name
The margin of older English Bibles reads that men began to call themselves by the name of the LORD, and Adam Clarke took that as the godly line marking itself off. John Wesley read public worship beginning, in solemn assemblies as well as at home. Seth's son Enosh bears another Hebrew word for man.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
We have two lines of succession, one descending from Cain and the other from the son who was born to Adam in order to be the heir of Abel who was killed and to whom Adam gave the name of Seth. He is referred to in the words "God has given me another seed, for Abel whom Cain slew." Thus it is that the two series of generations that are kept so distinct, the one from Seth and the other from Cain, symbolize the two cities with which I am dealing in this work, the heavenly city in exile on earth and the earthly city, whose only search and satisfaction are for and in the joys of earth.
Seth means "resurrection," and the name of his son Enosh means "man." The name Adam also means "man," but in Hebrew it can be used for any human person, either male or female; as one can see from the text: "He created them male and female; and blessed them and called their name Adam." This text leaves no doubt that Eve was given her proper name, whereas the common noun "adam," or "human being," applied to both Adam and Eve. It was different with the name Enosh. This means "man," Hebrew scholars tell us, in the sense of a man as distinguished from a woman. Thus Enosh was a "son" of "resurrection."
After Seth begot Enosh, Moses wrote "at that time he began to call on the name of the Lord." Because Seth had separated himself from the house of Cain, the Sethites were called by the name of the Lord, that is, the just people of …
The Holy Spirit came upon all the righteous men and prophets, such as Enosh, Enoch, Noah and so on, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
(Verse 26) And he called his name Enos: this one hoped to invoke the name of the Lord God. Just as Adam () is interpreted as 'man': so also Enos () according to the variety of the Hebrew language is called 'man' or 'vir'. And it is beautiful because he had this word, it is written about him, 'Then was the beginning of invoking the name of the Lord God': although many Hebrews interpret it differently, that at that time idols were first made in the name of the Lord and in his likeness.
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
But to Seth also was born a son, whom he called Enos. He began to invoke the name of the Lord. Enos is interpreted as Man or Vir: whence it is proper that he who has such a name begins to invoke the name of …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
The worshippers of God began to stir up themselves to do more in religion than they had done; perhaps not more than had been done at first, but more than had been done since the defection of Cain. Now men began to worship God, not only in their closets and families, but in public and solemn assemblies.
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the L ORD . 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:96%@v1-2
The worshippers of God began to stir up themselves to do more in religion than they had done; perhaps not more than had been done at first, but more than had been done since the defection of Cain. Now men began to worship God, not only in their closets and families, but in public and solemn assemblies.
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son,....
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּלְשֵׁ֤ת | ulshet | and to Seth | H8352 → | 9 times |
| גַּם־ | gam- | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| הוּא֙ | hu' | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| יֻלַּד־ | yulad- | he was born | H3205 → | 496 times |
| בֵּ֔ן | ben | a son | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| וַיִּקְרָ֥א | vaiyikra' | and he called | H7121 → | 733 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| שְׁמ֖וֹ | shemo | name his | H8034 → | 864 times |
| אֱנ֑וֹשׁ | ʾenoosh | Enosh | H583 → | 7 times |
| אָ֣ז | ʾaz | then | H227 → | 141 times |
| הוּחַ֔ל | huchal | it was begun | H2490 → | 143 times |
| לִקְרֹ֖א | likro' | to call | H7121 → | 733 times |
| בְּשֵׁ֥ם | beshem | on [the] name of | H8034 → | 864 times |
| יְהוָֽה׃ פ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
וּלְשֵׁ֤תand to Seth
ulshetH8352 →9 times
גַּם־also
gam-H1571 →769 times
הוּא֙he
hu'H1931 →1879 times
יֻלַּד־he was born
yulad-H3205 →496 times
בֵּ֔ןa son
benH1121 →4930 times
וַיִּקְרָ֥אand he called
vaiyikra'H7121 →733 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
שְׁמ֖וֹname his
shemoH8034 →864 times
אֱנ֑וֹשׁEnosh
ʾenooshH583 →7 times
אָ֣זthen
ʾazH227 →141 times
הוּחַ֔לit was begun
huchalH2490 →143 times
לִקְרֹ֖אto call
likro'H7121 →733 times
בְּשֵׁ֥םon [the] name of
beshemH8034 →864 times
יְהוָֽה׃ פYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Joel 2:32And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by…
it leads to
- Romans 10:11–14
It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
- Acts 2:20–21
The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.
- Isaiah 46:13
I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.
- Romans 10:11–14
Through
Zephaniah 3:9For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
it leads to
- Genesis 11:1
Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech.
- Psalms 22:27
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
- Isaiah 19:18
In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. One of them will be called the City of the…
- Genesis 11:1
Through
1 Kings 18:24Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered,…
it leads to
- 1 Kings 18:38
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.
- 1 Kings 18:38
Through
Psalms 116:17I will offer to You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.
it leads to
- Psalms 50:14
Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
- Psalms 50:14
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Prayer34 verses
On this page
Studies12
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Augustine of Hippo, City of God 15.15; Augustine of Hippo, City of God 15.17; Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 16:27; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON GENESIS 5.1.2; Jerome, Hebrew Questions on Genesis; John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.