Enosh

by Brad Scott

In B^ere’shiyt (Genesis) chapter five we continue the revelation of the first generations of Adam. We have an account of the generations of the physical seed of Adam which are expressed through the male children. We can safely assume that females were born to Adam and his children, as well. Propagation is fairly difficult otherwise. The fourth from Adam, four being the number of the earth and creation, is Enosh. Enosh is generally translated as man in the text of the Tanakh, but etymologically means man in his weak, desperate and mortal state. It speaks of man's attempt at life in his own strength. The word comes from the Hebrew root ’anas (אנש). Here are a few examples of this word in its verbal root.

Sh^emu’el Bet (2 Samuel) 12:15And Nathan departed unto his house. And YHVH struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

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Y^esha’yahu (Isaiah) 17:11In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

Next word is Kenan.

Shalom Alecheim! ◊