Years ago, while attending a camp meeting near Porterville, California. I listened to a speaker deliver a message on Genesis chapter 5. This was a message in the names listed in that chapter. The message deciphered from the meaning of those ten patriarchal names blew me away. I was amazed. That speaker was Brad Scott, but later I learned that the source for this study was a man named Chuck Missler. These are the two men credited for the information contained in this article that I am aware of. Both of those gentlemen are asleep in the Lord.
John 5
(39) You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
A Brief Lesson in Hebrew Names
The Old Testament was primarily written in the ancient (not the modern) Hebrew language. In this language names have important meanings which provide details concerning that person’s character and potential destiny.
For instance the patriarch Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. The meaning of his given name, Jacob, means supplanter or replacement. His character trait, delineated by his name, was to usurp the birthright position belonging to his older twin brother, Esau, which he did achieve with the aide of his mother Rachel. However, after a life changing encounter with YHWH Jacob’s name and character were changed to Israel, a man who served the Most High for the remainder of his life.
Genesis Chapter 5 Names list
- Adam – lived 930 years, then died.
- Seth – lived 912 years, then died.
- Enosh – lived 905 years, then died.
- Cainan – lived 910 years, then died.
- Mahalalel – lived 895 years, then He died.
- Jared – lived 962 years, then died.
- Enoch – lived 365 years, then God took him.
- Methuselah – lived 969 years, then died.
- Lamech – lived 777 years, then died.
- Noah. – lived 950 years, then died.
The Gospel in Names
The Meaning of the Ten Names
Adam – Seth – Enosh – Cainan – Mahalalel – Jared – Enoch – Methuselah – Lamech – Noah
Man Is Appointed Mortal Sorrow, The Blessed God Shall Come Down Teaching His Death Shall Bring To The Despairing Hope or Rest.
Deciphering the Gospel Message in Genesis
Adam
Adam’s name means man.
Seth
Seth, Adam’s sons, means appointed. Note that Eve said, “For God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.“
Enosh
Enosh means mortal, frail, or miserable. (from the root anash, to be incurable, used of a wound, grief, woe, sickness, or wickedness). It was in the days of Enosh that men began to defile the name of the Living God.
Kenan
Kenan means sorrow, dirge, or elegy.
Mahalalel
Mahalalel comes from the root word Mahalal, which means blessed or praise; and El, the name for God. Thus, Mahalalel means the Blessed God.
Jared
Jared’s name came from the verb yaradh, meaning shall come down.
Enoch
Jared’s son was named Enoch, which means teaching, or commencement. He was the first of four generations of preachers. In fact, the earliest recorded prophecy was by Enoch, which amazingly enough deals with the Second Coming of Christ (although it is quoted in the Book of Jude in the New Testament).
Methuselah
Methuselah comes from muth, a root that means “death”; and from shalach, which means to bring, or to send forth. The name Methuselah means, “his death shall bring“. Indeed, the year that Methuselah died, the flood came.
Lamech
Methuselah’s son was named Lamech, a root still evident today in our own English word, lament or lamentation. Lamech suggests despairing.
Noah
Lamech, of course, is the father of Noah, which is derived from nacham, to bring relief or comfort, as Lamech himself explains in Genesis 5:29.