Genesischapter5relatesthegenealogyofAdamtoNoah.ThetenHebrewnameslistedallhaveameaning,butaresimply transliteratedratherthantranslated.However,translatingthemuncoversaremarkablemessage:Theycontainanencoded single sentence summary of the Gospel.Let’s look at the ten names in the order they are listed.
Adam
The 1st name, Adam, originates from adomah, and indicates “man.” As the very first man, that appears simple enough.ADAM = MAN
Seth
Adam’sboywascalledSeth,whichinturnimplies“appointed”.ThemomenthewasbirthedEvestated,Godhasappointedme another seed instead of Abel, because Cain killed him[Gen 4:25].SETH = APPOINTED, GRANTED, GIVEN
Enos
Seth’sboywasreferredtoasEnos,whichmeans“mortal,”“frail,”or“miserable.”Itcomesfromtherootanash:“tobenot curable”; used of an injury, sorrow, trouble, illness, or wickedness.ENOSH = MORTAL, FRAIL, FEEBLE
Kenan’schildwasMahalalel,frommahalal,whichindicates“blessed”or“praise”;andEl,thenameforGod.Therefore,Mahalalel suggests“theBlessedGod.”HebrewnamesfrequentlyincludedEl,thenameofGod,asDani-el,“GodismyJudge,”Nathani-el, “Gift of God,” and so on.MAHALALEL = THE BLESSED GOD, THE PRAISEWORTHY GOD
Jared
Mahalalel’s boy was called Jared, from the action-word yaradh, implying “shall come down.” JARED = SHALL COME DOWN
Enoch
Jared’ssonwasnamedEnoch,whichmeans“teaching,orcommencement”.Hewasthefirstoffourgenerationsofpreachers.In fact,theearliestrecordedprophecywasbyEnoch,whichamazinglyenoughdealswiththeSecondComingofChrist(althoughit is quoted in the Book of Jude in the New Testament):Enochalso,theseventhfromAdam,prophesiedofthese,saying,Behold,theLordcomethwithtenthousandsofhis saints,Toexecutejudgmentuponall,andtoconvinceallthatareungodlyamongthemofalltheirungodlydeedswhichthey have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against. [Jude 14–15]ENOCH = TEACHING
Methuselah
TheFloodofNoahdidnotappearasashock.Ithadactuallybeenpreachedforaboutfor4generations.Somethingunusual occurredwhenEnochwas65,fromwhichtimehewalkedwithGod.Enochwaspresentedapredictionthatsolongashisson lived, the judgement of the flood would be held back. However as quickly as he passed away, the flood would be sent forth.Enochnamedhissontoshowthisparticularprophecy.ThenameMethuselahoriginatesfrom2roots:muth,arootthatindicates “death”;andfromshalach,whichindicates“tobring,”or“tosendforth.”Therefore,thenameMethuselahrepresents,“hisdeath shall bring.”METHUSELAH = HIS DEATH SHALL BRING
Lamech
Methuselah’ssonwascalledLamech,arootstillobvioustodayinourownEnglishword,“lament”or“lamentation.”Lamech indicates “despairing.”LAMECH = THE DESPAIRING
Noah
Lamech, obviously, is the father of Noah, which is stemmed from nacham, “to bring relief” or “comfort.” Genesis5:29tellsusthatLamechnamedhissonNoah,saying,Thisoneshallcomfortusconcerningourworkandthetoilofour hands, because of the ground which Jehovah has cursed.NOAH = COMFORT, RESTLet’s list them side by side with some minor words added.HebrewEnglishAdamMan (is)SethAppointedEnoshMortalKenanSorrow;Mahalalel(but) the Blessed GodJaredShall come downEnochTeaching (that)MethuselahHis death shall bringLamechthe DespairingNoahRest, or comfort.Now, as a sentence ….Man is appointed mortal sorrow; but the blessed God shall come down teaching that His death shall bring the despairing rest, or comfort.Obviously,theplacementofaMessianicprophecywithinthegenealogyofGenesis5isbeyondthecapabilityofmerehumans. It’sexistencepointstoanintelligenceoutsideourspaceandtime-God-inspiringthepre-floodfatherstonametheirsonsin such a way as to create this astonishing prophecy.