Genesis 5:24

Genesis 5:24

 

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

 

a. NLT: walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: And Enoch walketh habitually with God, and he is not, for God hath taken him. [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

 

d. Amplified Bible: And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him]. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Stone Edition CHUMASH, Rabbinic Commentary And Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, for God had taken him. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE CHUMASH; Copyright 1998, 2000 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

 

1. “And Enoch walked with God…”

 

a. [And] Enoch [2585 * Chanowk] [Strong: from 2596; initiated; Chanok, an antediluvian patriach:--Enoch.]

 

b. walked [1980 * halak] [Strong: akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread, still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.]

 

c. with God [430 * ‘elohyim] [Strong: plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

 

1). Enoch walked with God after Methusaleh was born for 300 years. During Enoch’s previous 65 years it is not said if he walked with God, but after Methusalah was born Enoch walked with God for 300 years. In research concerning the name of Methuselah, I turned up some interesting things. I had heard in years past that his name meant something about the flood but it is not found in Strong’s or Gesenius.

 

a). Gleanings In Genesis, Arthur Pink: “It is not said that Enoch walked with God before his son was born, and the inference seems to be that the coming into his life of this little one God’s gift—may have been the means of leading him into this close fellowship. Such ought ever to be the case. The responsibilities of parenthood should cast us more and more upon God. The name of his son strongly implies that Enoch had received a revelation from God. Methuselah signifies, "When he is dead it shall be sent," i.e., the Deluge (Newberry). In all probability then, a Divine revelation is memorialized in this name. It was as though God had said to Enoch, "Do you see that baby? The world will last as long as he lives and no longer! When that child dies, I shall deal with the world in judgment.” http://www.davidcox.com.mx/library/P/Pink%20-%20Gleanings%20in%20Genesis%20Commentary.pdf

 

2). In order to walk with God we must be in agreement with him.

 

a). Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

 

2. “…and he was not; for God took him.”

 

a. God [430 * ‘elohyim] [Strong: plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

 

b. took him [3947 * laqach] [Strong: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.]

 

1). Because he walked with God closely, God literally took Enoch off the planet, and the New Testament backs this up.

 

a). Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

 

2). This taking away of Enoch was a pre-flood rapture that I believe was a sign to that generation that judgment was coming. After Elijah was translated they sent out search parties to look for him, but of course did not find him.

 

a). 2 Kings 2:11-18 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

2:15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

2:16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

2:17 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.

2:18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

 

3). Looking at the text in Hebrews 11:5 where it says, “and was not found”, it appears they sent out search parties for Enoch also but did not find him. There are those who have written that the translation of Enoch probably had an effect upon the people but it did not last, and I agree with that. I also believe that possibly there were some who were effected to the point of repentance but died before the flood. We must remember that all lost their lives in the flood except the eight who were saved in the ark.  

        

4). Enoch was a godly man who preached against the ungodly of his generation and prophesied of the second coming of Christ.

 

a). Jude 14, 15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

15 To execute judgmeant upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

 

5). Enoch pleased God just as sure as we can by obeying God’s word in faith: Hebrews 11:6; and by doing “those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3:22.