The Translation of Enoch. (Revision at the End)
The Translation of Enoch
One of the most mysterious characters in the Bible is Enoch.
Little is written about him. There are exactly three passages in reference to his
unique character: Genesis 5:21-24, Hebrews 11:5, and Jude 1:14. Many have
proposed that Enoch was raptured into Heaven, avoiding the Flood Judgment, and
most of all death itself. Something Christ himself couldn’t do. This is
problematic when comparing Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:13 (see
also Proverbs 30:4, Deuteronomy
30:12 and Romans 10:7). Christ stated that He is the ONLY one who has descended
and ascended into Heaven, not Enoch. Contrary to popular opinion, I believe
that Enoch was either transported, martyred (specifically by Lamech) or died in his sleep. Below, I will provide various proofs for support.
****************************************************************************
The Phrases “They Are No More”;“Never
See Death”; “To Be Taken”
Matthew 2:16-18 (Jeremiah 31:15) English Standard Version 16
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became
furious, and he sent and killed all the male children
in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according
to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled
what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to
be comforted, because they are no more.”
NOTE:
There is no doubt that the slaughter of Bethlehem is a tragic death event.
Genesis 42:13 English Standard Version 13 And they said, “We,
your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan,
and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.”
NOTE:
See Genesis 44:20 and 37:3 for Joseph’s presumed tragic death (killed by an
animal). Other translations have “And One is Not.”
Lamentations 5:7 English Standard Version 7 Our fathers
sinned, and are no more; and we bear their
iniquities
NOTE:
The sin of the fathers as well as the children’s own sin has resulted in death
and captivity. The fathers are no longer alive.
John
8:51-53 English Standard Version 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps
my word, HE WILL NEVER SEE DEATH (Hebrews 9:27).” 52 The Jews said to
him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham
died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’
53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died!
Who do you make yourself out to be?”
John
11:26 English Standard Version 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you
believe this?
NOTE: Enoch escaped the Second
Death/Spiritual Death/Flood Judgment. A similar expression can be found in 2 Kings 22:20 and Revelation 20:6. It is very probable that Enoch may or may not have been killed
by Lamech. Enoch died younger in comparison to the other Sethites of his time.
Genesis 5:21-24 New International Version 21 When Enoch had
lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the
father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other
sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked
faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
NOTE: If
Enoch did die, he should have been changed into an immortal spirit and continued
to walk with God. In this case, his days would have been more than 365 years.
There would have been no limit or that phrase of his years would have been omitted by the writer.
Hebrews 11:5 English Standard Version-By faith Enoch was taken up (transported/carried
over) so that HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH
(the Second Death-Flood Judgment) and he was not found,
because God had taken him. Now before he was taken
he was commended as having pleased God.
NOTE: Enoch was taken (not all translations have “taken up”-that’s a translator’s bias), so he wouldn’t experience the Flood Judgment. Enoch could have died in his sleep/vision like state. For example Adam, Noah (who walked with God also), Abraham, and Saul all had sleep-like visions. Another possibility God could have teleported him to another location like Enoch and Phillip in Acts.
According to some scholars, Enoch’s name was translated as “Teacher” while his son, Methusaleh was translated as “His Death Shall Bring Forth.” Notice Methusaleh’s long age of 969 year, it was an invitation to mankind to repent of their sin. John 8:51-52 is describing the Second Death. It is safe to say that those who were not on the ark were sentenced to the Second Death Judgment in Sheol. By comparing Genesis 5 and Hebrews 11 with the Psalms, Isaiah, and Matthew, we can see similarities in the phraseology.
Psalm 37:10 English Standard Version 10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there
Psalm 37:36 English Standard Version 36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.
Psalm 39:13 English Standard Version 13 Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!
NOTE:
Although the context has to do with the wicked, notice the similarity on how
this phrasing echoes Enoch’s departure in Genesis and Hebrews.
Psalm 89:48 English Standard Version 48 What man can live and
never see death? Who can deliver his soul
from the power of Sheol? Selah
NOTE: The
Psalmist raises this question against all mankind. Enoch is included with mankind.
Isaiah 57:1 English Standard Version 57 The righteous man
perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one
understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
NOTE:
“To be taken” is synonymous to perishing.
Matthew 24:40-44 English Standard Version 40 Then two men
will be in the field; one will be taken
and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be
taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not
know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of
the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would
have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore
you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not
expect.
NOTE: To
understand the context, compare this with Luke 17:35-37. “To be taken” is to be
taken to judgment. This is an example of a tragic death.
****************************************************************************
The Cross
John
14:6 English Standard Version 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the
truth, and the life. NO ONE COMES TO
the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME.
NOTE: Jesus is THE WAY, NOT A WAY. If sinful mankind can enter into Heaven before Christ, the Cross would be pointless. Enoch would be above Christ. Even Christ went to Hades. When Enoch died, he had to go to Hades, not Heaven. Only Christ can redeem from Hades, no one else.
John 1:18 English Standard Version 18 NO ONE has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
John 6:46 English Standard Version 46 NOT THAT ANYONE has seen the Father EXCEPT HE who is from God; he has seen the Father.
NOTE: Did SOME people see the Father? No! Only Christ.
****************************************************************************
The Phrase “All the Days of”
Genesis
5:8 English Standard Version 8 Thus all the days of Seth
were 912 years, and he died.
Genesis
5:11 English Standard Version 11 Thus all the days of Enosh
were 905 years, and he died.
Genesis
5:14 English Standard Version 14 Thus all the days of Kenan
were 910 years, and he died.
Genesis
5:17 English Standard Version 17 Thus all the days of
Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.
Genesis
5:20 English Standard Version 20 Thus all the days of Jared
were 962 years, and he died
Genesis
5:23-24 English Standard Version 23 Thus all the days of Enoch
were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for
God took him.
Genesis
5:31 English Standard Version 31 Thus all the days of
Lamech were 777 years, and he died
Genesis
9:29 English Standard Version 29 All the days of Noah
were 950 years, and he died.
Ecclesiastes
2:3 King James Version 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet
acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see
what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
Psalm
90:9 English Standard Version 9 For all our days pass
away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh
NOTE: Here, the critic
would use this passage to justify that Enoch did not die. Nevertheless, it only
further supports that everyone died while Enoch died in a unique manner. The phrase “All the days of” means limited life. This is
in harmony with passages such as Ecclesiastes 2:3 and Psalm 90:9. Therefore,
Enoch did in fact died, and was not raptured to Heaven. See also Ecclesiastes
7:20, Ezekiel 18:4, Hebrews 2:9, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Ecclesiastes 3:20, 1
Corinthians 15:22, Romans 5:12, and 1 Timothy 6:15-16 for additional reasons
why Enoch was NOT raptured to Heaven in Genesis 5.
****************************************************************************
The Genesis 5 Genealogy Prior
to the Flood
Adam (930 years)
Seth (912 years)
Enosh (905 years)
Kenan (910 years)
Mahalalel (895 years)
Jared (962 years)
Enoch (365 years)
Methuselah (969 years)
Lamech (777 years)----> Not the same one from
the Line of Cain.
Noah (950 years)
NOTE: Enoch died at a
“young age” compared to the other patriarchs in Genesis 5. It isn’t farfetched
to believe that Lamech murdered Enoch, or he died in his sleep, or he was transported away from harm/the coming flood then shortly died after. In Genesis 4:23, Lamech boasted about
killing an unknown man who has rubbed him the wrong way. This could have been true or a lie to make Lamech look good.
****************************************************************************
The Promises of the Coming Kingdom
Hebrews 11:13 English
Standard Version 13 These ALL died
(including Enoch from 1-12) in
faith, not having received the things
promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having
acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth……39 And all
these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided
something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
NOTE: The ALL includes all the people
mentioned from verses 1-1; including Enoch. Depending on your eschatology, if
you are a futurist, it doesn’t make sense that Enoch would be raptured into
Heaven and still waiting for the fulfillment of the promises. If you are a
partial preterist, the Old Testament saints (Enoch included- See Daniel 12:13.)
already received the promises of the kingdom at Christ’s return during the 70
AD judgment.
**************************************************************************
What Happened to Enoch?
By accumulating all the evidence above, it appears that Enoch was either transported, murdered by Lamech, and/or died in his sleep. Perhaps this was linked to Enoch functioning as a teacher (the meaning of his name) similar to John the Baptist. In Jude 1:14, we see Enoch preaching a message of judgment to a wicked generation. Similarly, perhaps like John the Baptist, Enoch preached against Lamech’s illicit marital union with two different women in Genesis 4. This message led to Enoch’s death. He was martyred or God took Enoch away (Ichabod/Azazel) to remove Truth from the wicked generation, leaving them ripe for judgment.
In parallel to the Gospels, we can see how John the Baptist’s preaching was perceived as an attack on Herod Antipas’ illicit marriage. Herod unlawfully took his brother’s wife. Ultimately, this resulted in John’s death. Just like Moses, Enoch’s body was buried. It was translated from life to death in Sheol. The removal of the body could have been a proactive measure to prevent the body from being desecrated by the Cainites. The same word for translated is also used for Moses’ burial, Jacob’s burial, and the spiritual state of New Covenant believers (Deuteronomy 34:5, Acts 7:16, and Colossians 1:13).
When Enoch died,
we can speculate that Enoch’s son, Methuselah (name meaning-“His Death Shall
Bring Forth)” continued on his father’s ministry similar to how Jesus continued
John the Baptist’s ministry. When Methuselah died, the Flood Judgment came
shortly after. When Jesus died, the 70AD Judgment came shortly after. About 40
years after the crucifixion. In conclusion, the death of a/the Son brought
judgment in both situations.
*****************************************************
Revision:
Due to the light of new evidence that has been brought to my attention, I have changed my view on Enoch. I will keep the above information as a reference and alternative perspective for my readers.
I have come to the conclusion (speculatively of course) that when the Lord took Enoch, He took Enoch to the Garden of Eden in order to escape death possibly by Lamech (the Cainite). It is possible that Enoch preached judgment upon Lamech per Jude 1:14. When Lamech couldn't find him, he simply just boasted to his wives to maintain his reputation.
Jude 1:14 English Standard Version 14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,
Genesis 2:15 English Standard Version 15 The Lord God TOOK the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Genesis 5:23-24 English Standard Version 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God TOOK him.
Genesis 5:24 Brenton Septuagint Translation 24 And Enoch was well-pleasing to God, and was not found, because God translated him.
Hebrews 11:5 New King James Version 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
2 Kings 2:17 King James Version 17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
Ezekiel 22:30 English Standard Version 30 And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
Song of Solomon 3:1 English Standard Version 3 On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not.
Song of Solomon 5:6 English Standard Version 6 I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer
With this in mind, we still have to acknowledge that Hebrews 11:5 states that Enoch DID NOT SEE DEATH while still dying in 11:13. A similar case is Melchizedek, the Gentile Priest-King from Salem, mentioned in Genesis 14:17-24 and Hebrew 7.
Hebrews 7:3 English Standard Version 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but RESEMBLING the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
NOTE: Melchizedek resembles Christ, but he is not Christ. Therefore, saying he has no beginning or end doesn't make him supernatural or divine. It is hyperbole for his unknown origin and life. No one recorded his whereabouts. Likewise, since Enoch was in the Garden of Eden, no one was able to record his death (everyone else lived outside of the Garden). His whereabouts were unknown.
Lastly, the Book of Jubilees, not inspired, but helpful supports my view that Enoch was taken to the Garden of Eden and died there before the Flood.
Book of Jubilees 4:22-24: And he testified to the Watchers, who had sinned with the daughters of men; for these had begun to unite themselves, so as to be defiled, with the daughters of men, and Enoch testified against (them) all. And he (Enoch) was taken from amongst the children of men, and we conducted him into the Garden of Eden in majesty and honour, and behold there he writes down the condemnation and judgment of the world, and all the wickedness of the children of men. And on account of it (God) brought the waters of the flood upon all the land of Eden; for there he was set as a sign and that he should testify against all the children of men, that he should recount all the deeds of the generations until the day of condemnation.
Book of Jubilees 7:39: And I also will give you commandment, my sons, as Enoch commanded his son in the first jubilees: whilst still living, the seventh in his generation, he commanded and testified to his son and to his son's sons until the day of his death.'
Comments
Post a Comment