Kenan

by Brad Scott

Most of the Hebrew meanings of the names of the generations from Adam to Noach can be found in a Strong's Concordance or most books on Hebrew names. However, there are two names in B^ere’shiyt (Genesis) chapter five that can only be found in a good Hebrew etymological dictionary. The name of Kenan is one of those. The name qeynan (קינן) can mean to possess and it can mean to mourn, lament or sorrow after.

Y^echez^eq’el (Ezekiel) 27:32And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation [qiynah] for thee, and lament [qun] over thee, saying, What city is like Tyre, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?

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'Amos 8:10And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; [qiynah] and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.

Qiynan and qiynah (קינה) both find their roots in the word qun (קון), which is a qof, vav and nun. As you may be able to detect so far, we have already seen the unfortunate beginning of the good news proclaimed in these names. Mankind is appointed mortal sorrow ...

Next word is Mahalalel.

Shalom Alecheim! ◊