Walking With Christ

Luke 3:23-38 lists the full genealogy of Jesus all the way back to Adam. Matthew only goes as far back as Abraham with the assumption that the reader would already know the lineage from Abraham back to Adam.

The first ten names in the list, starting with Adam are: Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah. Names in the early bible always had some meaning in them. Jesus translates as “to deliver, save, or rescue”. His name literally means savior. Some scholars can argue about the actual meanings behind the names, but the general consensus tends to agree on what each name means based on the Hebrew roots. What about the first ten names? Are they different? Let’s look.

Adam means man but is very close to the word used for earth or ground because man came from the earth or ground.
Seth means appointed or placed.
Enosh means mortal or miserable.
Cainan means sorrow.
Mahalel is a two part word that means blessed God.
Jared means descends or shall come down.
Enoch means dedicate, initiate, or teaching.
Methuselah means his death shall bring.
Lamech means the despairing.
Noah means rest.

Now, let’s read those names in meaning form as a sentence.

Adam = Man
Seth = appointed
Enosh = mortal
Cainan = sorrow;
Mahalel = the blessed God
Jared = shall come down
Enoch = teaching
Methuselah = his death shall bring
Lamech = despairing
Noah = rest.

Man (has) appointed mortal sorrow; the blessed God shall come down teaching (that) his death shall bring (the) despairing rest.

Share this with anyone who asks ‘what’s in a name’ and rejoice in the fact that everything was planned from the very beginning.